Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Legislation FL goes Vertical - Hooray!

The law has been amended that required the license tag of a motorcycle or moped be permanently affixed horizontally to the vehicle ground ... Bout time eh?


2009 law as modified by Senate Bill 1100 rewritten Fl Statute section 316.2085

WELL!, I'm glad I didn't change my tag mount, which doubled as my chain guard around the rear sprocket, when I had to change the tag from vert. to horiz.
I will be putting the tag back to vert. real soon.
Thanks Moe, someones got to keep up with the boring crap.

The AMA's September '09 American Motorcyclist had an update.

Couldn't understand why it was counted as a moving violation in the first place.

Went to "Thunder in the Streets", in Sanford this weekend. We asked several different Sanford police if they heard about and agreed with the statement that the vertical restriction went away for MC tags. ALL of them said "NO", and they didn't get any briefing updates on the subject.

I've printed the above material, and have it wraped in a plastic bag with the registration, so I MAY have proof of my line of thoughts to defend myself from a ticket.

HOWEVER, A thousand dollars is a large wager to make, hoping the cop agrees with me, or at least understands why I put the tag back vert. (and HOPE he gives me three minutes to swap it back, while apologizing profusely for pulling that sh1t in HIS yard.)

Your asking them might have started the ball rolling. Maybe those same leos that you talked to will ask around.

Ya, hopefully. I hope Daytona/Ormond beach cops got the memo, as my son & I will be testing the waters there tomorrow.

Yep! I saw another commentary in some vintage Triumph rag about it too. Its for real, but I still have two printouts with my sons registration, as the larger half of ALL cops I've asked have NOT got the memo.

Well, HERES how the State Trooper explained my ticket for the tag being vertical to the ground last weekend.

Fl. 316.2085 is one section, BUT, there is ALSO 316.605, which say's;

316.605 Licensing of vehicles.--

(1) Every vehicle, at all times while driven, stopped, or parked upon any highways, roads, or streets of this state, shall be licensed in the name of the owner thereof in accordance with the laws of this state unless such vehicle is not required by the laws of this state to be licensed in this state and shall, except as otherwise provided in s. 320.0706 for front-end registration license plates on truck tractors and s. 320.086(5) which exempts display of license plates on described former military vehicles, display the license plate or both of the license plates assigned to it by the state, one on the rear and, if two, the other on the front of the vehicle, each to be securely fastened to the vehicle outside the main body of the vehicle not higher than 60 inches and not lower than 12 inches from the ground and no more than 24 inches to the left or right of the centerline of the vehicle, and in such manner as to prevent the plates from swinging, and all letters, numerals, printing, writing, and other identification marks upon the plates regarding the word "Florida," the registration decal, and the alphanumeric designation shall be clear and distinct and free from defacement, mutilation, grease, and other obscuring matter, so that they will be plainly visible and legible at all times 100 feet from the rear or front. Vehicle license plates shall be affixed and displayed in such a manner that the letters and numerals shall be read from left to right parallel to the ground.




Did Ya'll catch the last sentence there? "Vehicle license plates shall be affixed and displayed in such a manner that the letters and numerals shall be read from left to right parallel to the ground."

Did Ya'll catch the last sentence there? "Vehicle license plates shall be affixed and displayed in such a manner that the letters and numerals shall be read from left to right parallel to the ground."


Yes
but
this
is
written
left
to
right
parallel
to
the
ground

Just curious, what was the fine for this infraction? I hope it wasn't the $1,000 one!

later, Tom.

To bad tags don't come that way, ay!?

I forgot to ask, but I'd think not. (BUT,WHO KNOWS)

Actually, my "Silver tongue" got me out of that ticket. (No jokes please!)
I pleaded my case to him, in the pouring rain. I was soaked through and through due to getting caught in the rain from Apopka to Orlando, coming home from Ormond Beach. No fenders, no gear, no helmet, just barebones fun!
I told him about the paperwork I had about 316.2085, and showed him where the holes in the tag were, from having it horizontal until I heard otherwise. So after a five minute briefing about 316.605, all the time I'm standing in the rain while he's under his little umbrella, (with a little smirk on his face ),and a promise from me that the tag WOULD be horizontal before I went to bed (second time I've made that promise in the last 15 months), he let me off with a warning, and a ticket for a burned out tail light.
From now on though, I'LL JUST LIVE WITH A HORIZONTAL TAG!

I once had a cop follow me for about a mile and into a gas station, and tell me "nice bike". I had no license plate whatsoever on my bike. I said, "Thanks"

The sad statement of fact is that the primary function and creed of law enforcement - "To Protect and To Serve",(a proud and noble one), takes a back seat in the eyes of some and gets replaced by - To Bust The Public's Balls. While most LEOs will treat the public the way the public treats them, the few who took the job for the wrong reason will be remembered long after the good guys who let a brother slide are forgotten.
My 2 cents worth

What?? My understanding is that it CAN'T go Vertical!! I think our Fl tags look great laid flat against the rear fender anyways... BUT its nice to know so if and when i get that big fat ticket My wife is so kicking my butt

If your interested, Google Florida statue "F.S. 316.605".
(I think)

Sooo the subject line SHOULD say FL CAN NOT go Vertical- BOOOO which is good to know !

this new law makes leaps and bounds toward public safety

speotjy]pewtoj

2010 FL Code
316.2085(3)

The license tag of a motorcycle or moped must be permanently affixed to the vehicle and may not be adjusted or capable of being flipped up. No device for or method of concealing or obscuring the legibility of the license tag of a motorcycle shall be installed or used. The license tag of a motorcycle or moped may be affixed horizontally to the ground so that the numbers and letters read from left to right. Alternatively, a license tag for a motorcycle or moped for which the numbers and letters read from top to bottom may be affixed perpendicularly to the ground, provided that the registered owner of the motorcycle or moped maintains a prepaid toll account in good standing and a transponder associated with the prepaid toll account is affixed to the motorcycle or moped.

I am like you also hold a Class A And I'm not taking the chance ! All is a big pain in the butt besides it looks okay in the stock spot!

the transponder requirement nixs the idea for me. big brother wanting to be Big Brother. Seems two wheels vehicles are the whipping boy for those Tallahassee asshats.