Question about Texas Motorcycle License plate mounting

[gwatson66]

Hello:

I was recently pulled over for my license plate placement. The plate and inspection sticker are mounted under the tail, but plainly and clearly visable and well lit. When I was installing the plates, I researched the law and tried to make the bike comply. The only Texas law I could find with specific verbiage about plates is with regard to visability and the license plate light, where it states it must be clearly legible from 50 ft from the rear. (Transportation Code Sec. 547.322(f)(2): (1) illuminates the rear license plate; and
(2) makes the plate clearly legible at a distance of 50 ft. from the rear.)
The only other code I found was Transportation Code Sec. 502.409 and this basically refers to obstructing visability of the plates, nothing of which applies in my case.

The gentleman who pulled me over said the license plate must be mounted behind the rear axle of the bike. I cannot find this printed in any law pertaining to motorcycles or license plates in Texas. Can anybody confirm, and provide the transportation code number of such law? I dont want to ride with my plates illegal, but if this officer just made that rear axle bit up I dont think I should have to move it.

Thank You.

[rgv_cop]

Were you installing the plates where u want them or where the factory has the mounts? I've seen many motorcyles where the owner has moved the plate from the factory location to another location that may make it harder for LE to see the plate. I think it would be helpful if you posted a picture on how you have them installed.

[gwatson66]

Thanks for the reply. I moved the license plate forward for personal aesthetic reasons, as well as changing the turn signals and deleting the rear "mud flap" fender. My goal was just to clean up the looks of the tail.

Here are some pics from different side angles, and from directly behind.

[Charlie705]

I did some research and you are correct. I have seen many street bikes with the plates mounted the same way and they are in compliance. Go ahead and take the ticket to court and have the statute with you.

If anything my fellow Texas lawman will leave with the knowlege for next time.

F

[TexasAggieOfc]

I'll bet when he sits on it, the tire blocks part of the lettering... tick me off and it'll be obstructed... good luck getting the court to dismiss it

[Charlie705]

I'll bet when he sits on it, the tire blocks part of the lettering... tick me off and it'll be obstructed... good luck getting the court to dismiss it

Naw, fat guys ride Harleys..

This is common in Austin. The shocks on the crotch rockets are pretty stiff. I've never had a problem reading the LP's when they are mounted this way.

F

[Bushranger]

You say that you moved the number plate from the original position, so it is a good chance that your chosen mounting position will not comply with the relevant national design rules. That's because the manufacturers' position would allow for suspension travel and maybe fitment of tyres that may vary slightly in dimensions depending on brand of tyre.

If you kept your plate fitted on manufacturers mounting position, it would be legal. That's because for a motor vehicle to be sold in a country, the motor vehicle must comply with that country's relevant design rules. Usually if a national design rule conflicts with a state/ territory design rule, the national design rule has precedence.

[Guest]

I would write you for it.

[usmcrob]

I would write you for it.

What would you write?

[rodeodeputy]

Take it to court with the pics and the statutes. That plate location is legal. The officers that disagree with it probably had run ins with sport bikes and are taking out their frustrations. NOT GOOD POLICE WORK.

[GGG]

Sit on the bike, and have a person 50ft away take the picture. I bet the plate is obscured then. Is the light that is illuminating the plate a DOT approved light or is it an aftermarket light that came with the undertail kit? If not DOT, than that is another ticket, although a CS ticket.

I have had this discussion on the roadside before. Rider points and says, "Look, you can see it." So I pull out my cell phone and show them the picture I took before pulling them over that shows it being obscured when they are riding it. Here, even if it is visible, it can be written since the code say the plate must be mounted to the rear of the vehicle. Mounting it in front of the rear tire is not the rear of the vehicle. I don't care, as long as I can see it.

[milo hobgoblin]

Its sad that you will have to spend a day on court, lose a day of pay and personal time to prove something the cop should have known all along.. especially when you were responsible and researched the law before you mounted the plate.

Cases like this should really result in some compensation for your lost time.