[williamtwilder]

Does anyone know if I would get pulled over for cutting my license plate. Or is it even against the law. I only want to trim the edges a little to make it fit were I want it to go.

 

[Daedalus]

I'm sure there is some law against "modifications made to a license plate" but I'd guess that if you just trim the edges so the plate fits flush in a mount, and the trim isn't all that noticable and doesn't affect the registration tags or actual numbers at all, you won't be bothered about it.

 

[williamtwilder]

There will be no mount but I will only need a 1/4 in off each side. It wont mess with any numbers tags etc.

 

[murfnamedsmurf]

I doubt it'd be a big deal, but I'm sure it is technically against the law. Technically the tag is government property - you are just leasing it. If it's not that noticeable then you will probably be fine on the street, but don't you think the people at the DMV will notice when you finally go to turn your tag back in years down the line?

 

[929DEWD]

I actually scanned my tag, w/ the registration stickers on it, shrunk it in photoshop to the size I wanted then printed and laminated it. I took this copy and mounted it to a peice of sheet metal cut out to the same size and put it on my bike. I t looks kinda fake but have never been pulled over and all the numbers match. Every year i put the new stickers on the original and re-scan it works perfect.

 

[06RavenR6]

Its technically illegal as stated above. But i've had a hole drilled in the middle of mine on one of my race cars for years. We had to put a electrical cut off switch on it and that was the best place for it to go. I've never had a cop mess with me about it. If your just trimming the edges i doubt they'd even notice.

Bill

 

[Get_1]

i shaved my plates down from the bottom and aint gotten hasseled for it

 

[ridesideways1]

I actually scanned my tag, w/ the registration stickers on it, shrunk it in photoshop to the size I wanted then printed and laminated it. I took this copy and mounted it to a peice of sheet metal cut out to the same size and put it on my bike. I t looks kinda fake but have never been pulled over and all the numbers match. Every year i put the new stickers on the original and re-scan it works perfect.

umm why?

 

[DoppelgangerONE]

I doubt it'd be a big deal, but I'm sure it is technically against the law. Technically the tag is government property - you are just leasing it. If it's not that noticeable then you will probably be fine on the street, but don't you think the people at the DMV will notice when you finally go to turn your tag back in years down the line?

Ummmm...that must only be where you live. Here in Michigan, you BUY plates, and when you're done with them, you do whatever you want with them...throw them away, hang them on a wall...whatever.

So just because it's like that where you live doesn't mean it's the same where he lives.

 

[2true]

I had to cut my plate to fit up under my tail on my 954 - never had any problems with the fuzz

 

[929DEWD]

umm why?

Because we have to turn in our tags when done with them, if they are destroyed then your screwed, its quite a fine. Besides it takes 2 minutes to scan a tag and shrink it down.

 

[sl33p3r]

I don't understand the whole scan and shrink thing. Back on topic though, I trimmed the plate to mount on my FZ and I haven't been pulled for it. But then again It probably depends on the state you live and the cop that pulls you.

 

[williamtwilder]

ok I'm going to cut the plate then. It will be better then the place it is in now. Thank you for the feedback

 

[Spike]

Wait a second, you're scanning your plate, scaling it, printing it back out, laminating it, putting it on the bike.... AND THE POLICE ARE OK WITH THIS? Even if everything matches, it's STILL a complete ABSENCE of an actual license plate. That would be like me keeping a printed, laminated copy of my drivers license in my wallet.... WHICH IS NOT OK! Even if it all matches! Can you get into the club with a laminated piece of paper? No. Now why would you think a police officer wouldn't give you a ticket for having a printed, laminated license plate? Unless I'm TOTALLY not understanding what you're doing. Help me out here.

 

[929DEWD]

yes that is exactly what I was doing, I keep the registration on the bike that shows all the numbers match and everything. I have seen a zillion choppers around here with the rear axle mounted tags do the same thing because maryland plates are freaking huge. They do not fit into small tag holders. Now I only reduced mine bout an inch all around. From more than 10 feet it was pretty hard to tell it wasn't the real plate. I also never really thought that they WOULDN'T give me a ticket for this, but I figured because all the numbers were 100% legal and I had the paper work to show for it, they would just give me a warning and tell me to put the real tag back on.

 

[alextoader]

genius ^

 

[mercutio80]

I've never heard of states making you give the plates back. I have a bunch of old plates from previous cars hanging in my garage.

 

[murfnamedsmurf]

Ummmm...that must only be where you live. Here in Michigan, you BUY plates, and when you're done with them, you do whatever you want with them...throw them away, hang them on a wall...whatever.

So just because it's like that where you live doesn't mean it's the same where he lives.

Jeeeez, my bust, man. Despite knowing that license plates were state-regulated, I didn't stop to think that other states may not "lease" them as they do here.

Either way, I am fairly confident you are technically not allowed to adulterate your license plate in most states, whether you bought it or not. Similar to what someone else mentioned, you buy your wallet license each time, but you aren't supposed to modify those.

Basically, if a cop was having a bad day and felt like being a douche, he could probably cite you for it, or use it for probable cause to stop you. For the most part, though, they probably won't have a huge problem with it as long as you leave the numbers alone and everything matches up.

EDIT: In NC, you must have insurance to get and keep your plates, since liability insurance is required by law. Thus, if you are dropping the insurance for any reason (storage, selling the vehicle, etc) you must turn in your plates. Supposedly it cuts down on fraudulent use of the plates.