The Yamaha Road Star Warrior Forum

I just ordered a integrated license tail light and a new vertical license plate, is it illegal to have that in Fl? I have found a couple different answers to the question... I REALLY do not want to stop a cop and ask but will if need be...can anyone from Fl with knowledge help..... I would appreciate it.

New Florida Statutes regarding Motorcycles....

316.2085(2) Motorcycle or moped, wheels losing contact with ground
This is classified as a moving violation.
First Offense: the violator must pay $1,000 plus any other costs assessed for a moving violation.
Second Offense: the violator must pay a fine of $2,500, plus any other applicable costs assessed for a moving violation. The person’s driver license must be revoked for a period of one year.
Third Offense: the violator will be charged with a third degree felony, punishable as provided in ss. 775.082, 775.083, and 775.084, a mandatory fine of $5,000, and the driver license must be revoked for a period of ten years.

316.2085(3) Motorcycle or moped license tag improperly affixed
This is classified as a moving violation.
First Offense: the violator must pay $1,000 plus any other costs assessed for a moving violation.
Second Offense: the violator must pay a fine of $2,500, plus any other applicable costs assessed for a moving violation. The person’s driver license must be revoked for a period of one year.
Third Offense: the violator will be charged with a third degree felony, punishable as provided in ss. 775.082, 775.083, and 775.084, a mandatory fine of $5,000, and the driver license must be revoked for a period of ten years.

The plate must be at least 18" above the ground, be centrally located, be mounted horizontally, not vertically, be rigidly mounted, and be clearly visible from any angle behind the motorcycle. This means that plates mounted forward of the rear wheel, or on either side of the motorcycle, are in violation of the law. Basically, the plate needs to be in its original location. Also, if a plate is mounted on a pivoting hanger it is in violation.

316.1926 (2) A person who exceeds the speed limit in excess of 50 mph or more in violation of ss.
316.183(2) (posted speeds), 316.187(state speed zones), or 316.189 (municipal and county speeds)
This is classified as a moving violation.
First Offense: the violator must pay a fine of $1,000 plus court costs.
Second Offense: the violator must pay a fine of $2,500 plus court costs and the driver license must be revoked for a period of one year.
Third Offense: the violator will be charged with a third degree felony, punishable as provided in ss. 775.082, 775.083, and 775.084, a mandatory fine of $5,000, and the driver license must be revoked for a period of ten years.
 

 That law has been changed I believe. I ride in fl.90 percent of the time and have had no problems with the vertical tag.

So far i know that is the current law....

you are safer riding without plates than with plates in vertical position....

Here are all the changes to that statute in 2008:

http://www.flhsmv.gov/Leg2008.htm

none is related to the vertical plates, so that law still valid. for a $ 1,000 fine... dont play with that.

on the other hand, integrated tail lights are illegal, but is not a $ 1,000 fine and police usually dont make a big deal of that.  but the law says that you need a minimun separation between the left and right blinkers... i think it was like 12".

Law has been changed in most recent legislative session to allow vertical plates.

btm_fdr:

Law has been changed in most recent legislative session to allow vertical plates.

you are right, my mistake.

http://www.flhsmv.gov/Leg2009.htm

 Everything I can find on the internet says the information above is current Gilly. Says as of Oct 08' they are illegal and carry a $1000 dollar first time fine.

This is friggin rediculous. I still can't believe these State motorcycle liscense plate laws apply to out of state bikes. If it is legal in the state your ride is registered in the law should not apply to you when you visit another state.

I mean, in Texas cars are required to have front plates and inspections. In Oklahoma they are not. I don't get a ticket when I go down to texas with my truck because it is not a requirement in my state. I don't understand how we are suppose to make major changes to our bikes as we travel across the country. 

Good deal. Glad somebody found some more current info. I couldn't find anything.

 I rode my honda shadow with a vert plate on it and had no problems with it. as far as i know they made legal again.

The license plate law changes have been discussed here for a couple of years now, and they only keep getting worse.  But that is the tip of the iceburg and just a small indication of what is happening nationally that needs to be reversed. 

In the case of this Florida law, we should be more concerned about Florida's obviously income-driven political decision to make a 3rd offense on an improperly-mounted license plate a felony, which could result in loss of job, inability to find work in your selected field, loss of the right to vote, loss of the right to carry a licensed concealed weapon, loss of a professional license, and about twenty other rights.  By definition, its also likely the motorcycle would be siezed by the state since that is allowed in felony cases.   The purpose of these kinds of laws has nothing to do with license plates, it has to do with subjugating people, and making money.

Think about it.  Someone with a felony conviction for a license plate being hung wrong would have to answer 'yes' when asked if they have any felony convictions, even if they moved from Florida that would follow 'em around like a hungry dog. 

Laws like receiving a felony conviction for a license plate need to be reversed and made equipment violations again.  Until recent times, moving violations were things a driver did wrong, like speeding or illegal left turn.  How did a license plate become a moving violation and a felony?  Why didn't anyone in Florida stand up and scream?

For a list of typical things a felon loses rights to, see:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felony

I say vote 'em all out and elect all new people who will correct these assinine laws!

BTW - 2009Midnight, I see this is your first post so welcome to the forums!

Arizona Warrior:

The license plate law changes have been discussed here for a couple of years now, and they only keep getting worse.  But that is the tip of the iceburg and just a small indication of what is happening nationally that needs to be reversed. 

In the case of this Florida law, we should be more concerned about Florida's obviously income-driven political decision to make a 3rd offense on an improperly-mounted license plate a felony, which could result in loss of job, inability to find work in your selected field, loss of the right to vote, loss of the right to carry a licensed concealed weapon, loss of a professional license, and about twenty other rights.  By definition, its also likely the motorcycle would be siezed by the state since that is allowed in felony cases.   The purpose of these kinds of laws has nothing to do with license plates, it has to do with subjugating people, and making money.

Think about it.  Someone with a felony conviction for a license plate being hung wrong would have to answer 'yes' when asked if they have any felony convictions, even if they moved from Florida that would follow 'em around like a hungry dog. 

Laws like receiving a felony conviction for a license plate need to be reversed and made equipment violations again.  Until recent times, moving violations were things a driver did wrong, like speeding or illegal left turn.  How did a license plate become a moving violation and a felony?  Why didn't anyone in Florida stand up and scream?

For a list of typical things a felon loses rights to, see:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felony

I say vote 'em all out and elect all new people who will correct these assinine laws!

I know what you mean but on the other hand, I have no sympathy for anyone that gets a felony this way.  If you didn't learn the first time...or the second time, you deserve the book thrown at you.

The reason it became such a harsh penalty was due to trend of having a hinged plate or completely unreadable plate so that squids could run from the cops.   

You should have seen the proposed versions, I believe in one proposal they could take your bike on the first offense for a wheelie.  Obviously that wasn't going to pass. 

Arizona Warrior:

BTW - 2009Midnight, I see this is your first post so welcome to the forums!

Thanks for the welcome.....  Been lurking for a couple of weeks doing a bunch of reading about the Warriors.....  I just picked mine up a couple of days ago...  Thought I was going to get an 09, however; found a great deal on a left over 08 and could not be happier......

Welcome aboard.....I'm pretty sure you can still change your name via your profile... As long as 2008Midnight isn't taken.

I was born on the Jacksonville NAS and lived around the state as a Navy brat.  I don't call Florida home since we moved around.  But when I go there I always have this feeling, you know what I mean maybe, its like home anyway somehow.  So I care some.  part of me likes stronger laws, but c'mon the penalty must always be resonable and fit the crime.  Letting ahole politicians change laws that create felony opportunities is dangerous to your freedoms and just plain criminal in itself.  Plus a $1k fine for a license plate mounted less than 18" off the ground is criminal in itself.  The punishment doesn't fit the crime.  Its an equipment violation.  First offense issue a fix-it ticket.  Second offense, impound the vehicle, problem solved.  In no case is this a felony (which the USA code currently defines as any serious offense for which property can be siezed or punishable by minimum 1 year in prison or both).

Respectfully, if your child received a felony conviction for a license plate you'd be pissed and singing a different tune.  This is a law targeting motorcycles written by cagers who are afraid of their own shadow.  Of course all these stupid laws need to revert to equipment violations.  Stoooopid politicians need to be voted out!

It used to be an equipment violation and that wasn't enough to stop a squid from mounting his plate so it couldn't be read just in case he decided to run one day instead of stop. 

I completely understand why they made the punishment so harsh.  I would be pissed if I had to pay the 1K fine for the first time but if I knew the consequences and took the chance, I deserve it.  I have no problem with it being a felony on the third offense.  It would never happen to anyone that didn't deserve it.

Just like I would have no problem with the penalty for bank robbery being the death penalty...I would never have to worry about accidentally violating that law.