Motorcycle Side Mount Laws

There are laws to govern the use of side-mounted plates.

Side-mounted license plates are an alternate means of disclosing plates without restricting the back end of the motorcycle. Due to the growing numbers of motorcycles on the road with side-mounted plates that are difficult to read, a number of laws have been put into place to regulate the use of side-mounted license plates.

State Law

Some states have prohibited drivers from using vertical side-mount plates. Examples of this are the California Vehicle Code, which stipulates that all rear-mounted license plates should be mounted in a position that is unimpeded and easy to read. In Maryland, Vehicle Law Article 2 states that all license plates should be mounted in a horizontal position.

Federal Law

As outlined by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 49 C.F.R., all vehicle license plates must be illuminated for nighttime readability.

Warning

Check with your local DMV to ensure that your state does not prohibit the use of side-mounted license plates before operating the vehicle. A violation of the law incurs fines of up to $1,400.

References

• Lawonecle: California Vehicle Code Section 5201
• Lawjustia: Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment
• Maryland Statues: Transportation

Resources

• The Unofficial Guide to the DMV