Tag Placement Rules In Massachusetts

[Eddie]

Does anybody know what the tag placement rule in Massachusetts is? I am hearing two different versions of that the rule is: in one instance I remember someone telling me that all that is required is that he can see the tag while sitting in his car and that it has a tag light; in another instance I am hearing that the tag must be placed no further forward than the rear axle.

So in one scenario an underseat tag placement of the tag would be legal if one can see it from a sitting down position at a trailing vehicle so long it has a tag light and in the other example if the tag is underseat (therefore further forward than the rear axle) than it is in an illegal place?

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Eddie

[Eddie]

Mods: just noticed the typo on the thread title...can you please fix it?

FIXED myself. (thanks yomama)

Thanks,

Eddie

[ff36buell]

An officer I asked stated, "center of the bike, no further forward than rear axle, visible from the rear w/ a plate light" I cant remember but I think visible from 50' was the number.... don't completely quote me this was over a year ago.

[WordTooYoMamma]

Wirelessly posted (Tilt: HTC-8900/1.2 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11) UP.Link/6.3.1.20.0)

you can fix the typo in advanced edit. But no matter what the rules say it all depends on the cop. Half the bikes at bikenight have a plate under the tail just over the hugger. I got pulled over for my plate that is sticking off the very back of the bike with an aftermarket kit. All because the officer didn't like the glare of the led light. Just put it somewhere you won't have trouble explaning why its there. Or keep your stock holder. The cop that pulled me over wanted to pull me over and that was his excuse.

[Eddie]

Wirelessly posted (Tilt: HTC-8900/1.2 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11) UP.Link/6.3.1.20.0)

you can fix the typo in advanced edit. But no matter what the rules say it all depends on the cop. Half the bikes at bikenight have a plate under the tail just over the hugger. I got pulled over for my plate that is sticking off the very back of the bike with an aftermarket kit. All because the officer didn't like the glare of the led light. Just put it somewhere you won't have trouble explaning why its there. Or keep your stock holder. The cop that pulled me over wanted to pull me over and that was his excuse.

Thanks for the insight. I just don't want to give them any reason to pull me over....but man aesthetically speaking undertail placements are a lot better...

And the whole LED glare thing....that sucks.

[Eddie]

How about turn signal rules in Mass? I currently have mini led turn signal on my rear fender, but while they are visible even at day light I am unsure if they are legal.

[ff36buell]

I'm no help with signals, I went w/ an integrated light....

[Pittenger5]

If you change signals and plate location to aftermarket, they most likely are illegal. Whether a cop will bust your balls or not is another matter entirely.

[Eddie]

Here is the look I am going with for my CBR:

I guess I could leave the tag where this kid has his....only standing upstraight which may be an illegal placement or;

I could just place it just near the "Honda" decal in the second picture. The second should would probably take away the GP look of the tail section but it would probably be street legal.

[Eddie]

I'm no help with signals, I went w/ an integrated light....

Nice choice...I would get one for my CBR as well except my taillight is going to be custom as well.

[ff36buell]

Here is mine, pretty simple really.... tags still readable from behind

[Sheppo]

How about turn signal rules in Mass? I currently have mini led turn signal on my rear fender, but while they are visible even at day light I am unsure if they are legal.

they are legal as long as they are so many inches apart ( say plate length )

[Eddie]

Here is mine, pretty simple really.... tags still readable from behind

That looks great...and it has a safe tag placement

[keeena]

Turnsignals (and more, here): http://www.mass.gov/rmv/inspect/540cmr4/sec406b.htm

Excerpts regarding positioning for rear turn signals:

• Mounted on each side of the vertical center line at the same height and having a minimum horizontal separation distance (measured from center of lamps) of nine inches
• Shall be mounted at a height from the road surface of not less than 15 inches nor more than 83 inches
• Turn signal lamps shall be visible at a distance of 200 feet under normal daylight conditions

Only license plate item I found was this:

• The number plate must be undamaged, securely mounted on the rear of the motorcycle, clean and clearly visible. No accessory mounted on the motorcycle may interfere with a clear view of the number plate.

What's you're interpretation of "rear"? I do know that installed in front of the tire is grounds for "not clearly visible", as others pointed out.

HTH.

[sdog30]

I was told by the shop that integrated tail lights won't pass inspection in mass, there's a rule about the blinkers have to be so many inches away from the tail light or something. I went with some nice carbon fiber look LED blinkers on the rear and haven't had any problems with cops or inspection. I mounted them to a fender eliminator. I even bought a big LED license plate light and mounted it under my tail light. My plate placement is at the end, though, not underneath, still looks pretty clean, though. Mine is an older CBR, though, so an undertail wasn't available.

[sdog30]

Sorry, I guess I repeated some of the others that posted while I went to take the pics and upload them.

[DaveZX6r]

How about turn signal rules in Mass? I currently have mini led turn signal on my rear fender, but while they are visible even at day light I am unsure if they are legal.

Any turn signal that has a lens smaller than the stock one is technically not dot legal. When a bike is produced it actually has to have a certain surface area of lense dedicated to blinkers, brake lights, running lights, etc. Pretty much any single one of the after market blinkers or other mods are smaller than stock, thus technically not dot legal. However most cops won't give you crap as long as you still have noticable blinkers that are visible in the day time. Just bear in mind that the smaller you go the more likely you are to get crap, and they have every legal right to do so. Unfortunate but true.

Edit:

Turnsignals (and more, here): http://www.mass.gov/rmv/inspect/540cmr4/sec406b.htm

Excerpts regarding positioning for rear turn signals:

• Mounted on each side of the vertical center line at the same height and having a minimum horizontal separation distance (measured from center of lamps) of nine inches
• Shall be mounted at a height from the road surface of not less than 15 inches nor more than 83 inches
• Turn signal lamps shall be visible at a distance of 200 feet under normal daylight conditions

HTH.

Hmm perhaps I am mistaken then. Good to know and thanks for the link I'll be saving that one.