lic plate on trailer?

[red]

i dont have a realistic place to mount the plate on my trailer but i see 'em mounted all over trailers runnin down the road. on the fender and curved to match the fender, sideways - vertically, ect. is there a law to where it has to or how it has to be mounted? i would like to put it just as it is intended to be mounted but on the side towards the rear. anyone seen any law regarding how/where? i cant find one related to utility trailers, 99% is written for car/truck

[Jaspro]

It is supposed to be under the left tail light where the light to illuminate it is. All but one of ours is screwed to the fender though. Just kinda depends on the cop who stops you.

[JMG]

It is supposed to be under the left tail light where the light to illuminate it is. All but one of ours is screwed to the fender though. Just kinda depends on the cop who stops you.

That is what I thought until DPS told me otherwise. Said the license plate has to have its own individual light. I told him it was 7:30 in the morning and I don't need any running lights. He still gave me a warning ticket.

[red]

i thought as well but i cant recall the last time i seen a utility trailer with the plate mounted in the "correct" location. or the correct orintation for that matter. (horizontal vs. vertical)

look at how many bikes have it mounted....somewhere, and never with a light on them unless they are still stock or a kit that relocates it and includes a light.

[bowtechman]

ok fellas the answer to your question is what i get off the DOT website for my ag mechanics teams and when we build em we have to follow strict build guide lines.... it says ...... a minimum of 1 white light on the rear above the license plate or at the side of the license plate..... i am going to see if i can copy and paste it to here so you guys can see it ......

[markm]

Mine is on the fender. I have been pulled over TWICE by DPS in the last two months and neither one of said anything about the way the plate was mounted. Both times I got warnings for speeding and both warnings have the trailer license plate # instead of my truck plate #.

[bowtechman]

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/standards/conspicuity/trlrpstr.html

i think this will work if not google Lon Shell it will be the first hit on the top of the page titled "web" then click on it and go to state federal lighting codes and it will have all info and descriptions as to where lights, license plates and stuff go..... hope this helps fellas

[nanny_slammer]

im with bowtechman....our trailers our students build have to meet DOT specs for DOT inspection at these shows we go to. the license plate doesnt reallly have a designated mounting way as long as its on the driver side and has a light for it. i usually mount it on the fender and put a light specifically for it also and have always passed inspection.

[SPUD]

Isn't DOT Inspection a little more stringent than the state requirements for smaller utility trailers???


Seems like I found this out when the big discussion was going on about trailer brakes and the 4500# rule on tralers.


*EDIT*
I found this on the Texas DPS website. This is for inspections on trailers that exceed 4500# actual gross weight. If this is case I think a small utlity trailer and boat trailers would be exempt. I remember talking to DPS guy about our trailers at work on the brake issue but never mentioned the trailer lamps. I'll see what I can dig up


What's Inspected by Vehicle Type
Items of Inspection


05.06 Inspect All Trailers, Semitrailers, Pole Trailers, or Mobile Homes Exceeding 4,500 Pounds Actual Gross Weight or Registered Weight For: (Listed in suggested order of inspection) Refer to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, if required.

* Check for evidence of Financial Responsibility on towing vehicle

1. Brakes (system) (If gross weight exceeds 4,500 pounds)
2. Tires
3. Wheel Assembly
4. Safety Guards or Flaps (if four tires or more on rearmost axle) Pole trailers exempt.
5. Tail Lamps (2)
6. Stop Lamps (2)
7. License Plate Lamp (1)
8. Rear Red Reflectors (2)
9. Turn Signal Lamps
10. Clearance Lamps
11. Side Marker Lamps
12. Side Reflectors
13. Side Marker Lamps and Reflectors (30 feet or more in overall length)
(Refer to Reference Section as per lighting diagrams and as applicable to the particular trailer being inspected.)
14. Serial or Vehicle Identification Number

[bowtechman]

from the way i see it and having been to the Ag mechanics shows for 4 years with my own projects with kids and many years throughout high school with trailers i have built all over the state all trailer requirements must meet DOT specs, if im reading your question right.... there is no difference if its a utility trailer or a 40' dual tandem float..... they must meet all specs state and federal. but i will call and ask my buddy Lon Shell or Dr. Billy Harrell who are what they call the Father of ag mechanics and is pretty sharp with all DOT and State codes and see what he says..... im kinda curious about that spud......

[Rsatt]

Red, this is little off topic, but a good place to post.

Two weeks ago, on my way to Cotulla, I got stopped in San Marcus by a Detective for the County(I don't know what county). He said he stopped me because he ran my trailer license. It showed to be a home-made trailer and it is not. I bought it from Texas Bragg, but registered it as "home-made" because it was cheaper that way. He told me that it was a 3rd degree felony(whatever that means) to do that. He checked to make sure the trailer and 4 wheeler were not stolen. Then sent me on my way, no ticket. Told about the law, said "might want to slow down a little", and wished me luck on the hunt....Really Nice Guy, just doing his job.

Anyone else(Law Enforcement Folks) know about that?

Sorry to hijack your thread, Red.

[red]

Red, this is little off topic, but a good place to post.

Two weeks ago, on my way to Cotulla, I got stopped in San Marcus by a Detective for the County(I don't know what county). He said he stopped me because he ran my trailer license. It showed to be a home-made trailer and it is not. I bought it from Texas Bragg, but registered it as "home-made" because it was cheaper that way. He told me that it was a 3rd degree felony(whatever that means) to do that. He checked to make sure the trailer and 4 wheeler were not stolen. Then sent me on my way, no ticket. Told about the law, said "might want to slow down a little", and wished me luck on the hunt....Really Nice Guy, just doing his job.

Anyone else(Law Enforcement Folks) know about that?

Sorry to hijack your thread, Red.

DOH!!! thats a scary fine......if someone was to get one.

[bowtechman]

spud.... most of all what you posted is what we go thru when we go to the shows with any size trailers..... its like a mad house trying to get in ..... you pull in they have people hittin the ground runnin.... guys with tapes checkin for 102" overall width, they hook it up to a power source check brakes for workability, lights.. blinkers, stop turn, etc.... safety chains.... oh did you know that DPS says that when in tow the trailer safety chains have to be cris crossed when attached to the vehicle... does it say on any of the paper work we have>>>> NO but i found that out the other day also.... they also check for weight rating on tires to match the weight capabilities for the trailer ,hitch and jack also..... reflective tape is a huge huge no no if you dont have it in the right areas and a full 100% across the back and at the highest point of the trailer from the rear.... insisting that you have a ramp it has to be at top also...... so i am not sure that it isnt as stringent as normal DOT codes. i do believe that some of these guys at the shows are on a power trip but the ones that are there from the actual DOT are really just doing their jobs....

[nanny_slammer]

Red, this is little off topic, but a good place to post.

Two weeks ago, on my way to Cotulla, I got stopped in San Marcus by a Detective for the County(I don't know what county). He said he stopped me because he ran my trailer license. It showed to be a home-made trailer and it is not. I bought it from Texas Bragg, but registered it as "home-made" because it was cheaper that way. He told me that it was a 3rd degree felony(whatever that means) to do that. He checked to make sure the trailer and 4 wheeler were not stolen. Then sent me on my way, no ticket. Told about the law, said "might want to slow down a little", and wished me luck on the hunt....Really Nice Guy, just doing his job.

Anyone else(Law Enforcement Folks) know about that?

Sorry to hijack your thread, Red.

well that is true and some of us tend to register them with farm tags because of it being cheaper. i have done it myself. but if for example you have farm tags on your cattle trailer and you are moving your kid to college and have all their stuff in the trailer...bed...chester drawers..etc..that is way against the law. because it has farm tags you are in viloation because you aren't hauling livestock or any type of farm equipment. i had a buddy get a hefty ticket for this. .............Back to your story you got lucky, they could have stuck it to you no doubt...even if it cost 40 bucks to get your trailer registered the correct way it is worth it especially if it is a manufactured trailer.

[Bullydog]

Red, this is little off topic, but a good place to post.

Two weeks ago, on my way to Cotulla, I got stopped in San Marcus by a Detective for the County(I don't know what county). He said he stopped me because he ran my trailer license. It showed to be a home-made trailer and it is not. I bought it from Texas Bragg, but registered it as "home-made" because it was cheaper that way. He told me that it was a 3rd degree felony(whatever that means) to do that. He checked to make sure the trailer and 4 wheeler were not stolen. Then sent me on my way, no ticket. Told about the law, said "might want to slow down a little", and wished me luck on the hunt....Really Nice Guy, just doing his job.

Anyone else(Law Enforcement Folks) know about that?

Sorry to hijack your thread, Red.

Ronnie, some folks will remove the Vin and try to register a trailer as "Home made" in an effort to avoid regisration / tax implications on the trailer. Or they will lie on the form about the weight the home made trailer can carry. The felony is for someone who Intentionally lies on the regisration form so they can intenionally avoid higher regisration fees..All trailers in texas have to be registered. The fees for registrations are set based on the trailer weight its designed to carry. If you register a "home made trailer" YOU decide what weight it can carry, not the state. The lighter weight you mark on the form, the less you pay in regisration fees.

Any person who knowingly signs a false, joint statement is guilty of a felony of the third degree. (TEX. TAX CODE ANN., §152.101)