Hey, just curious as I have received a new license plate which is a lot smaller than my previous one that was used on my drift boat trailer. I have seen license plates mounted on a fender and am thinking about this.. anyone have any advice for pros and cons?..is this actually legal? More attention from law enforcement? (not wanted) Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I was stopped on the Hoh road with a plate riveted to a fender. We were told the plate had to be attached so it was easily read by law enforcement, which meant, at least to that LE officer, it was to be firmly attached facing directly out the rear of the trailer. I changed it and didn't bother checking the regs.

I coulda woulda shoulda have been a lawyer. One of my adult son's was pulled over a few years ago and sited on an exaggerated possession violation. One the police report it stated that the reason for pulling the truck over was that the license plate was illegal. Illegal? It was mounted on the bumper of the S10 with the trailer hitch ball in the same location.

I took the camera for a drive and snapped about a dozen pictures of the same situation. Case dismissed and hopefully the boy learned a lesson.

Oh, and lots of trailers out there with the plate on the left fender.

Instead of the "large size license"....Grays Harbor License, gave me a "motorcycle" license plate that was about 1/2 the size. Got rid of the plastic licnse plate holder....it hung down to far.....and mounted the motorcycle plate like this.....

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Mine's mounted vertically on the driver's side trailer fender. Used SS hardware and neoprene washers. Was pulled over near the Yak a few weeks ago because the trailer lights were dark (loose connection). Trooper never mentioned the plate....

They are supposed to be illuminated as well.

Yeah I got a motorcycle plate...seems when tilted up stays off of the ground way better. Just dont want law enforcement bothering me too often. I gave in and just mounted on my old license plate holder. Thanks for the responses.

After losing a few plates off the DB trailer I was going to mount the plate on the fender vertical. I called WSP to get the answer & it has to be "properly displayed" It's a little gray so I guess it depends on the officer that pulls ya over if he feels like writin ya a ticket.

Mine is bolted to the fender vertically and I have never had a problem.

CM

I think our law enforcement are being given the wrong priorities if we have to worry about how our plates are being mounted to the trailers. Sure it needs to be easy to see and so on, but let's not get crazy the fact that you care enough to worry about shows that you are in the top 10%. I see so many trailers with no lights, plates, or basic necessities to even be on the road it's not even funny.

O4D, I think the priorities of LE are to generate revenue where possible. I had a lecture given to me Kitsap Sherrifs that my boat numbers were illegal. Not because they were not visible, but because they were bi-colored. Didn't even know that was wrong when I bought them at West Marine . . .

Bolted mine vertical on the drivers side fender after it broke off the cheap plastic holder 2 years ago. Have had no problems.

Got pulled over with my full-sized plate right before the Keystone Ferry (a permanent cop trap). Cop said he couldn't see my trailer licence and that is why he pulled me over but said that once i pulled over, he could see it. Um...? Still bothered checking my ID, registration, etc. No issues but still thought it was BS.

Seems like the small ones (I have one of those on another trailer) are so small that that you'd practically have to be stopped for them to truly ID it.

Unfortunately, when you are towing a trailer, you are a lot more likely to pulled over. If it isn't the licence plate, it is the constant trailer-light battle. If not that, they can now pull you over for having ANY vegetation on your trailer or boat.

Put my new mini-plate on the fender. No problems with LEO's...yet.
I'm sure I'll meet another Barney Fife somewhere down the line this being WA state and all. When a cop gets a hard-on for pulling you over, you're gonna get pulled over. Swerving, licence plate light, erratic driving... It don't matter.

Just remember that when you bolt it on to use lock washers so it doesn't vibrate loose and fall off.

WTF? That makes no effing sense...

Next it will be, "KD, I pulled you over because I thought you were speeding, but then I re-checked my radar gun and it was 50 not 80, sorry. Oh while I'm here....."

lame

Isn't Coley a cop? Is this the norm?

Busted 3 plates off and went to the small motorcycle plate vertically on the fender. Have not had a problem, but have wondered if some day it may come into play... Knock on wood.