license plate

69 Avion wrote:
There is a reason that they put a license plate mount and license plate light on those campers.

The reason they put a mount on it is because some states (like Oregon) issue camper-specific plates. After all of this discussion, I'm kind of glad to not have to be concerned one way or another. My truck has a plate and my camper has its own.

Since I've never been called on my plate being on the truck while the camper is on, and I've been a TC owner for over 30 years and drove my dad's TC's for about 10 years before that, I think I'll keep the plates on the truck and not move it to the load.

It's not an argument I'm making, it is the law of the state. If the state laws contradict, I suppose a judge would have to determine if I was wrong if it ever came to that. If I were ever pulled over and the officer told me I was in violation for my plate not being visible, (it is BTW, just have to get down low to see if from a distance) I'd thank him, make any changes he tells me to do and not argue with him over the matter. That's what courts are for.
But sure as ****, if I were to move my plate to the camper, I'd be sited and then where would all you good buddies be to help pay the fine?

Anyways, I've stated my opinion and quoted the law backing up my opinion with y'all. I doubt I'll ever have to argue the case to a judge after all this time.

skip, the only flaw in your argument is that the law often times contradicts itself. Plates can't be covered and made unviewable. The argument about pulling trailers is a weak one as the trailer has a lic. plate that allows for identification. Which is the real intent of the law we are discussing. Law enforcement has to be able to identify you as you are on the road.

mkirsch, the world may not work this way, but the California Vehicle Code sure does.

Positioning of Plates

5201. (a) License plates shall at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle for which they are issued

And as far as trying to put words in my mouth, I've never, EVER laid claim that I'm suddenly an RV. The CHP is gonna look at my registration if he stops me and see that the truck I'm driving with a camper in the bed is not an RV but instead is a commercial truck. (Pick up trucks in CA are commercial if you want to put anything in the bed at all if over 8,000 lbs. Pickups with an unladen weight of 8,000 lbs. don't pay the commercial weight fees.)

I've plenty of CHP acquaintances and they have told me that they can and will site someone who has their plate mounted to anything other than the vehicle for which they are issued including a camper if the driver tried to educate them that they are right and the officer is wrong.
I learned that when I was 16; the ticket will have the VC violation on it and all my arguments won't matter. All that matters is the language in the law.

So, enjoy what ever laws NY has and I'll enjoy what ever laws CA has.

skipro3 wrote:
So why would towing that blocks the view be any different than hauling cargo that blocks the view? You don't take your truck plate and put it on your trailer. Sure, a trailer has a plate, but that doesn't preclude the visibility of the truck's plate or even if there is a plate on the truck.

Whatever's convenient, right? Today you're a self-admitted "truck with cargo." Tomorrow when the DOT comes after you for your cargo, you'll suddenly be an "RV." You darn well know the world doesn't work that way. That logic didn't hold water when you were 6, and it ain't gonna fly when you're 66.

Towing rarely, if ever, completely blocks the view to the license plate from ALL convenient angles.

All a patrol officer would have to do is roll up alongside you and look in the gap between the truck and trailer to see and read the plate.

You simply can't do that with most larger TCs.

skipro3 wrote:
In California it is illegal to make a copy of your plate for any reason including putting one on your camper because the original is blocked by the camper.

In California it is illegal to put your license on anything other than the vehicle it's intended for. That includes any cargo you are hauling that would block the view of the plate.
Let just ask; can you see your truck's plate if you are towing a trailer or 5er 200ft behind your truck? No, of course not. So why would towing that blocks the view be any different than hauling cargo that blocks the view? You don't take your truck plate and put it on your trailer. Sure, a trailer has a plate, but that doesn't preclude the visibility of the truck's plate or even if there is a plate on the truck.

I've driven campers off and on for over 25 years in CA and have never moved the plate off the truck and put it on the camper and I've never been confronted by any LEO for doing so.

I have always planned on telling any LEO who asks me why the plate is on the truck this.

I have been pulled over for speeding in Utah, with the plate on the truck, and the officer simply looked down, read the plate, and handed me my ticket for speeding, along with the consolation prize for having my seat belt on (yea, thanks for that..)

FreeLanceing,

I can't lookup every state but you live in Michigan and this is the: Michigan Vehicle Code as last updated on 7/1/2014.

Below is some of the laws in the 383 PDF pages. Weeks of reading if you so desire. Chapter 257 is the Vehicle Code.

257.224 License on all vehicles clearly visible from 100' during daylight hours and be a minimum of 12" above the ground. If operated during non-daylight hours, the license plate must be adequately illuminated and visible.

257.686 Pickup camper must have registration plate clearly visible.

Maximum pickup towed vehicle combination length is 75'.

257.698 No decorative fender lights etc, or any kind of lamp, reflector, flashing, oscillating, or rotating lights permitted.

This is the gist of the laws for pickup camper license displaying.

If I were you, I'd move your license plate to the rear of your TC. Why, because when I went down to the Michigan State Police Post here to have my rear 24" wide porch sticking out 25" behind the Lance TC's rear bumper inspected for being legal, I was told I had the move the license plate from the rear wall of the TC to the rear of the porch and illuminate it for night time driving, so I did. The Trooper (Motor Carrier Division) stated that the entire license plate must be clearly visible from any angle behind at all times. I made the 2' X 8' porch purposely for our trip to Alaska in 2002. This inspection was in April 2002.

Traveling to other states that may have even stricter rules will keep you from being pulled over and hassled or fined.

www.legislature.mi.gov

I'm now crosseyed and buggieyed after only reading about half of it as so much is burried and defined in the different sections!

In Missouri trucks licensed for over 12,000lbs are issued only 1 plate and that is required to be displayed on the front of the truck.
If you need an extra plate, for a fee they will issue a paper plate to display on your window. I don't know how that would relate to a truck.
When I lived in Ca I had a short bed truck with an 8ft camper and pulled a horse trailer behind it for thousands of miles in ca and Arizona. During that time I did get pulled over a couple of times for speeding and even received a citation and another time a warning, both were deserved, but nothing was ever said about the license plate.
And yes the Leos are out there doing a great service for us.

6 pages later.....
Some folks are strictly by the book and some folks have forgotten enough times with no consequence that it's how we roll now. The law is clear, our behavior is varied. OP, it's that simple.

Can't you order another plate to fix to the camper?

Some places - ie Australia - will supply a smaller plate to fix to a bike carrier or hitch carrier that obstructs the real license plate.