Alberta.... Vertical plate

[xpdoodoo]

I got the story from Alberta Government on vertical plate mounting:

Thank you for visiting the Alberta Government feedback web site. Following is the response to your question prepared by Transportation :

Thank you for your provincial government web inquiry of February 2, 2010 regarding motorcycle licence plate location and lighting.

Alberta's Operator Licensing and Vehicle Control Regulation doesn't specifically allow or prohibit a vertically mounted motorcycle licence plate. However, a peace officer may not consider a vertically mounted licence plate to be legible, meaning easily read.

The vehicle owner is required to have the licence plate securely mounted to the rear of the vehicle, legible and clearly visible at all times. Alberta's Operator Licensing and Vehicle Control Regulation section 70, requires the licence plate of a motorcycle to be on the rear mudguard or rear fender so that it is clearly visible. Section 71 requires the plate to be legible and clearly visible at all times. You may wish to review sections 70 and 71 of the Operator Licensing and Vehicle Control Regulation on the Queen's Printer's website:

Alberta Queen's Printer: Legislation PDF

Licence plate lamps are mandatory in Alberta. The Vehicle Equipment Regulation section 14 requires a licence plate to be illuminated by the tail lamp or a separate licence plate lamp so the plate is clearly visible from at least 15 metres to the rear. A separate licence plate lamp may emit white light. You can view the Vehicle Equipment Regulation at this web link:

Alberta Queen's Printer: Legislation PDF

For further information please contact Howard Greenway, Vehicle Standards Specialist, 780-427-7573 or, email: Howard.Greenway@gov.ab.ca

Thank you for using the government website.

[northernman]

I was on a group ride here in BC and 2 guys got busted in a road block for their plates mounted up and down, but not so much the cop said, for the vertical mounting, but because they were mounted up on one side, making the plate unreadable from the other side of the bike.
As expalined to them while getting a fine, and required to fix it and bring the bike for inspection within 7 days to show it was fixed, is that the plate must be able to be read from a reasonable angle to the rear.
And with it mounted up from the very rear, its basically just readable from one side, and completely blocked on the other.
I have to agree with the cops on this one.
Seems logical to keep it at the very back so it is easier to see for sure.

[xpdoodoo]

I wonder, is anybody in western canada running with a side mount vertical plate? With or without legal trouble?

[northernman]

I wonder, is anybody in western canada running with a side mount vertical plate? With or without legal trouble?

Here it seems to be dependant how busy the cops are.
Slow day for them you get a ticket, if they are busy or eating donuts they do not stop you.

[Elgordo]

I live on Vancouver Island and run a side mount vertical plate, haven't had any problems with that.... or anything else for that matter. Straight pipes, suicide clutch.... knock on wood. I have had police behind me at red lights and all that and no one has ever said anything.

I have had 2 seasons with no problems so far, but near as I can tell... it is the officers discrestion to write you up for that.... they can't seem to get a rock solid definition.... so I chose to ride in the grey area...lol.

[trikebubble]

I believe the BC legislation specifically mentions having a "horizontally" mounted license plate.
Having said that, I used to run a vertical plate on my old MS, was stopped on at least one occasion, and the officer didn't even mention anything about it (or the lack of a plate light for that matter)

Probably depends on how you ride, and your attitiude is stopped.

[Elmer]

I remember back when we were required to have license plates on the front and rear of our cars and trucks. Put a trailer behind our motorcycle and the entire motorcycle plate visibility thing becomes a mute point. The trailer plate of course would be visible.

[mwmalotte]

I remember back when we were required to have license plates on the front and rear of our cars and trucks. Put a trailer behind our motorcycle and the entire motorcycle plate visibility thing becomes a mute point. The trailer plate of course would be visible.

Missouri still issues two plates. Kansas stopped it a long time ago