Hanging chairs from ladder blocking license plate

Ok, I'm sorry.

I now understand that it is perfectly legal . I was wrong. I apologize.

I still would not try it. But, that is just me.

I just am the sort of person that likes to be extra legal. I once got pulled over in SD while going down the interstate for "Loud Exhaust". He then used the excuse to write me out a couple of other tickets. I found out from my lawyer that there is no law in SD for how loud your exhaust can be on the interstate. It is up to each city to set a ordnance for that. Didn't stop him from pulling me over though .

When it came time for court. There was no court. The lawyer did a plea deal thing (or something like that I don't understand the law at all) and they dropped the loud exhaust, and one other charge. Then they gave me a 200 dollar fine that I payed my mail. I never even had to go back to SD.

Ever since that day I have been extra legal. I don't do anything to raise suspicion. I don't even use bumper stickers for fear they might say something the cop doesn't like and then he will pull me over.

As long as we are getting technical about plates. There was a article written in the local paper by the local public relations officer cop. She stated that those license plate holders that the put around your plate at the dealership that give the dealership name are illegal. They cover up too much of the plate. Same way with those plastic covers that you put over the front plate to make it easier to clean the bugs off. She says you can not have those either.

I realize that I have changed the subject and that these are 2 different subjects. I am just using this as a example of how easy it can be to be violating the law and never knowing it.

This is why I will keep my plate on the left side and lighted.

Have a nice Day .Caveman Charlie

My trailer came from the factory with the ladder on the left and the license plate on the right.
Barney

CavemanCharlie wrote:

Wadcutter wrote:

CavemanCharlie wrote:
Nope, Illegal. It must me on either the left side and lighted or in the center and lighted.
(Not so sure about in the center anymore either. It used to be that way but, I would not risk it these days. )
Moving it the other side would look really bad and get you pulled over in a second.

Please provide your state's statute stating such.

I really don't know the statute but, I have never, ever, seen a plate on the right side. Left, yes. And Center yes. But, never right.

The local cops would give you a ticket for that. You could maybe fight it out in court and win, I don't know. I not going to try it and find out.

You haven't seen it so therefore you think it must be the law and you're sure some local cop will give someone a ticket for it? That's a real reach for many reasons.
1) It's not the law. Not even in MN. All states have things called statutes. That's the laws. All states even think to write down those things called statutes. And even more all states make those statutes open to the public so people can look them up and see what those statutes say. They don't have to rely on never seeing something and thinking it must be the law. Before spouting off that something is "illegal", look it up.
2) When any LEO cites a person for any violation of the law the statute that is violated is also cited. So instead of thinking you're cited for something you've never seen and think must be illegal the cite is clearly written so a person can look up the publicly posted statute and see exactly what they violated.
3) When you go to court on any citation the prosecutor has to prove the elements of the statute which were violated. Those elements are clearly spelled out on those aforementioned publicly available things called statutes.
The general statute for every state I've ever researched their statutes only indicate a license plate must be mounted on a vehicle either front, rear, or both depending on the state and the specific vehicle. It doesn't matter either left or right. Generally a state's statute will say visible and a rear plate lighted at night.
If you look a bit more and pay attention you'll see there are vehicles with plates mounted on the right, left, center, and places in between. You'll even notice some semi trailers with plates mounted near the top.
Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean something is illegal. It only means you've never noticed it. That's not illegal and it's certainly not anything anyone can be cited for.
Anyone ever wonder how these campfire tales of what's illegal get started? Perfect example.

CavemanCharlie wrote:

doxiemom11 wrote:
I was pulled over when the license plate light burned out and we didn't know i They will pull an out of state driver over for any reason they can just to check you out. Better have it lit.

Yup, that is the way it is. Then once they have you pulled over they are going to make absolutely sure that everything else checks out too. If anything looks the least bit suspicious they will do search of you and the vehicle too.

Yep, I got pulled over and shook down one night in Conway SC,

First thing the officer yelled at me when he strutted up to the vehicle was, "so your from Illinoise huh." It went down hill from there with the next slur being, "what are you doing down here." :S

Last year I forgot to put my new sticker on my plate. Didn't realize it until I went to put this years sticker on. I pulled the trailer through 14 states and was never stopped for expired tags. I even had a flat and had a trooper sit behind me for 30 minutes while I changed the tire. I really don't think Leos watch RV's closely and doubt chairs blocking a plate will cause a traffic stop.

Bumpyroad wrote:
(4) For the purposes of this section, "conspicuously displayed" means that the required license plates are obviously visible and firmly attached to:
(a) the front bumper and the rear bumper of a motor vehicle equipped with front and rear bumpers

now every vehicle I own is in violation of this. most/all? are attached to the rear hatch, etc.
bumpy

Ah, but 1(b) says, in the last sentence, "All other motor vehicles must have one license plate displayed on the front and one license plate displayed on the rear of the motor vehicle."
It says nothing about where on the front and rear.
Then again, it is a MONTANA law. Do you plan on being here anytime soon?

(4) For the purposes of this section, "conspicuously displayed" means that the required license plates are obviously visible and firmly attached to:
(a) the front bumper and the rear bumper of a motor vehicle equipped with front and rear bumpers

now every vehicle I own is in violation of this. most/all? are attached to the rear hatch, etc.
bumpy

CavemanCharlie wrote:

Wadcutter wrote:

CavemanCharlie wrote:
Nope, Illegal. It must me on either the left side and lighted or in the center and lighted.
(Not so sure about in the center anymore either. It used to be that way but, I would not risk it these days. )
Moving it the other side would look really bad and get you pulled over in a second.

Please provide your state's statute stating such.

I really don't know the statute but, I have never, ever, seen a plate on the right side. Left, yes. And Center yes. But, never right.

The local cops would give you a ticket for that. You could maybe fight it out in court and win, I don't know. I not going to try it and find out.

Well, for your information and edification, here is the Montana law:

61-3-301. Registration -- license plate required -- display. (1) (a) Except as provided in 61-4-120, 61-4-129, and subsection (1)(b) of this section, a person may not operate a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer upon the public highways of Montana unless the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer is properly registered and has the proper license plates conspicuously displayed on the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer. A license plate must be securely fastened to prevent it from swinging and may not be obstructed from plain view.
(b) A motorcycle, quadricycle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer must have a single license plate displayed on the rear of the vehicle. A custom vehicle or street rod registered under 61-3-320(1)(b) or (1)(c)(iii) may display a single license plate firmly attached to the rear exterior of the custom vehicle or street rod. All other motor vehicles must have one license plate displayed on the front and one license plate displayed on the rear of the motor vehicle.
(c) A person may not display on a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer at the same time a number assigned to it under any motor vehicle law except as provided in this chapter.
(d) A low-speed electric vehicle or a golf cart operated by a person with a low-speed restricted driver's license must have special license plates, as provided in 61-3-332(9), displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle.
(2) A person may not purchase or display on a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer a license plate bearing the number assigned to any county, as provided in 61-3-332, other than the county where the vehicle is domiciled or the county where the trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer is domiciled at the time of application for registration.
(3) It is unlawful to:
(a) display license plates issued to one motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer on any other motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer unless legally transferred as provided by statute; or
(b) repaint old license plates to resemble current license plates.
(4) For the purposes of this section, "conspicuously displayed" means that the required license plates are obviously visible and firmly attached to:
(a) the front bumper and the rear bumper of a motor vehicle equipped with front and rear bumpers, except for a custom vehicle or street rod as provided in subsection (1)(b); or
(b) a clearly visible location on the rear of a trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer.

I would be willing to bet nearly every state has a similar law.

Here is the Minnesota statute:

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169.79

I didn't want to take up the space to paste the whole thing, It is longer than the Montana statute!

Wadcutter wrote:

CavemanCharlie wrote:
Nope, Illegal. It must me on either the left side and lighted or in the center and lighted.
(Not so sure about in the center anymore either. It used to be that way but, I would not risk it these days. )
Moving it the other side would look really bad and get you pulled over in a second.

Please provide your state's statute stating such.

The Caveman made a pretty big assumption based on observation. Here is Virginia's extensive statute on placement:

46.2-715 Display of license plates.

License plates assigned to a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, tractor truck, trailer, or semitrailer, or to persons licensed as motor vehicle dealers or transporters of unladen vehicles, shall be attached to the front and the rear of the vehicle. The license plate assigned to a motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle. The license plate assigned to a tractor truck shall be attached to the front of the vehicle. The license plates issued to licensed motor vehicle dealers and to persons licensed as transporters of unladen vehicles shall consist of one plate for each set issued and shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle to which it is assigned.
:)

Wadcutter wrote:

CavemanCharlie wrote:
Nope, Illegal. It must me on either the left side and lighted or in the center and lighted.
(Not so sure about in the center anymore either. It used to be that way but, I would not risk it these days. )
Moving it the other side would look really bad and get you pulled over in a second.

Please provide your state's statute stating such.

I really don't know the statute but, I have never, ever, seen a plate on the right side. Left, yes. And Center yes. But, never right.

The local cops would give you a ticket for that. You could maybe fight it out in court and win, I don't know. I not going to try it and find out.