License plate tag vertical.

[Scoop171]

I know this does not apply to all, just an FYI.

  I was riding over the weekend and was pulled over by the Sheriffs Department for running my license plate tag vertical. (Letters or numbers reading from top to bottom) Let me off with a warning but did say the fine for that is $1200.00. My eyeballs almost popped out of my head! Needless to say I went home and changed the tag to horizontal. Again this is just an FYI in case anyone runs there tags vertically on there bikes.

Ed 

[OnaWingandaPrayer]

WOW thats quite a ticket . It was nice of him to give you the warning. Did he provide the statue # ? Just curious as there are very many bikes with tags mounted this way. If they ticket them all the state would have a windfall of $ . LOL perhaps they could pave some roads .

[Flrider]

Interesting !!!

I run a vertical tag on my red valk and as far as I knew it was illegal a few years back but then the law was changed and it was ok to run it vertical.

I am going to have to do a search cause I sure don't want any issues with tickets.

Thanks for the heads up 

[Grumpy]

The 2015 Florida Statutes


Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES
Chapter 316
STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL
View Entire Chapter
316.2085 Riding on motorcycles or mopeds.—
(1) A person operating a motorcycle or moped shall ride only upon the permanent and regular seat attached thereto, and such operator shall not carry any other person, nor shall any other person ride on a motorcycle or moped, unless such motorcycle or moped is designed to carry more than one person, in which event a passenger may ride upon the permanent and regular seat if designed for two persons or upon another seat firmly attached to the motorcycle or moped at the rear or side of the operator.
(2) A person shall ride upon a motorcycle or moped only while sitting astride the seat, with both wheels on the ground at all times, facing forward, and with one leg on each side of the motorcycle or moped. However, it is not a violation of this subsection if the wheels of a motorcycle or moped lose contact with the ground briefly due to the condition of the road surface or other circumstances beyond the control of the operator.
(3) The license tag of a motorcycle or moped must be permanently affixed to the vehicle and remain clearly visible from the rear at all times. Any deliberate act to conceal or obscure the legibility of the license tag of a motorcycle is prohibited. 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. Notwithstanding the authorization to affix the license tag of a motorcycle or moped perpendicularly to the ground, the owner or operator of a motorcycle or moped shall pay any required toll pursuant to s. 316.1001 by whatever means available.
(4) No person shall operate a motorcycle or moped while carrying any package, bundle, or other article which prevents the person from keeping both hands on the handlebars.
(5) No operator shall carry any person, nor shall any person ride, in a position that will interfere with the operation or control of the motorcycle or moped or the view of the operator.
(6) A person under 16 years of age may not:
(a) Operate a motorcycle that has a motor with more than 150 cubic centimeters displacement.
(b) Rent a motorcycle or a moped.
(7) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.
History.—s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 1, ch. 76-31; s. 9, ch. 87-161; s. 320, ch. 95-148; s. 7, ch. 96-414; s. 164, ch. 99-248; s. 2, ch. 2008-117; s. 4, ch. 2009-183; s. 7, ch. 2010-223; s. 7, ch. 2012-181.
Note.—Former s. 316.108.
Copyright © 1995-2016 The Florida Legislature • Privacy Statement • Contact Us

looks like vertical is allowed, but the concern is tolls, as tag readers cannot read the tag that way. Carrying a transponder for tolls possibly makes it legal.

[John Schmidt]

Still isn't real clear to me, it says perpendicular with the numbers/letters reading top to bottom. So does that mean the number/letters have to be turned on the plate to read that way? Some states do issue a tag like that, Fla. doesn't.

[Tropic traveler]

Still isn't real clear to me, it says perpendicular with the numbers/letters reading top to bottom. So does that mean the number/letters have to be turned on the plate to read that way? Some states do issue a tag like that, Fla. doesn't.

That's the way I read that too.

[John Schmidt]

To know the actual meaning, a person would have to go look at the legislative intent. That document explains what they were actually wanting the law to accomplish, often a bit wordy but fairly clear. Over the years working in & with Fla. gov't, I often found it amazing how the final rule/law was written after reading the "intent" as published. The rule re. motorcycle plates is quite vague as applied to vertical mounting.

[Flrider]

Doing a search I found a lot of old articles, at one point the law did not give an option for vertical mount, it then got got changed and some sort of vertical mount was allowed if you had a sunpass transponder and then the law got changed again and no transponder was required but you were required to pay for tolls.

Seems to me like if it the law wanted to keep vertical mount illegal they would not have made any changes (twice) to the original law, having said that, seems to me like the statute is still vague. Considering there is no plates issued by the DMV that read from top to bottom then vertical must mean the you turn your plate clockwise so you read from top to bottom.
My guess is that cops can interpret the statute either way they feel like and if you do get a ticket then one might have to end up contesting it in court.

Here are a couple of latest articles

http://www.sinclairlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Sinclair_Plates.pdf

http://www.sinclairlaw.com/motorcycle-vertical-tags-in-florida-2

[OLDFRT]

The way I interpret it, it seems like the plate must be mounted so that the letter/number that would appear on the Left, if mounted Horizontally, would appear at the top when mounted vertically. Thus reading from top to bottom. JM NSHO

Personally, if I received a ticket like that, I would be hiring a lawyer right away. I think the Deputy Sheriff had his head in a dark and smelly location.

[Jess from VA]

This is well within the limits of traffic law/legislation, and an assist to LE in reading plates and apprehending offenders.

If we had free speech on license plates..... they would be like bumper stickers.

 

[OLDFRT]

If the law says that tags may be mounted vertically,. no LEO has the right to give you a ticket. PERIOD. End of Story. The LEOs ignorance of the Law is no excuse.

[crow]

We,  ABATE of Florida Inc., successfully got wording changed to allow vertical mounting in 2009. 

[John Schmidt]

I wish they were more specific on the wording. If it can be vertical, does it meet requirements by simply turning the plate 90 degrees to vertical? Or, as I've seen it from other states, the numbers/letters have to read thus:
 J
 D
 S
 1
 2
 3

I'd be more comfy if the law stated it specifically. In the mean time, it might be best if you have a plate mounted vertical, print out the law as written and carry it with you in case you're stopped for that reason. Kinda like the bikes with the pulsing headlight that has the federal OK. Many riders carry a copy of the law re. it and it has saved their bacon more than once. We all know that sometimes you get a LEO that's on a power trip, that type of person there is no reasoning with them so you just have to wait and humble them in court.