Historical Vehicle/Collector Plates...has anyone gotten shit from police?

[raptormeat]

Thinking about getting this because then I won't have to register it ever again, but fully intend to not solely ride the bike "for the purpose of historical exhibitions only"

Anybody ever gotten shit from Johnny Law?

 

[firebane]

I don't think its so much the law you have to worry about but more than your insurance broker.

Where I live if you have a collector/antique plate on your bike you are only allowed to ride it a certain amount and if you got into an accident outside of that your bike wouldn't be covered under insurance.

 

[Barnburner]

In Ohio, to run historical plates you have to sign an affidavit that says you won't use the bike for general transportation, only for shows and parades, etc. That being said, I run two bikes with historical plates and have never been hassled. If an officer wanted to get you for something, though, it'd be an option for them. Of course, so would the million other non-DOT approved mods most of us make to the bikes :

 

[mark13018]

Running "year of manufacture" plates here in Indiana. I run the year the bike was made. No stickers. Nothing extra.
They don't have any silly rules here either for it that way with insurance or dot. I had to pay fees for antique and historic plating fees to be able to do it but so worth it.

I have my kz650 with 1978 plates and I'm about to get my plates for my cl450 and that will run a 1971 plate... I have a 1964 cb77 and a 1965 cl72 that will run "year of manufacture" plates also..

Like stated above there are almost guaranteed changes you've (or everyone for that matter) made that are technically "illegal" and most, if not all, insurance companies won't cover a bike if the frame has been altered in ANY way which includes "detabbing" and welding anything on....

 

[scrambeemer]

I have been running them on both cars and bikes for about the last 15 years in Ohio. Never had a problem, I get hassled once an awhile because I won't put a plate on the front of the car. Cops don't give a shit what plate you have as long as you have plates. State troopers? never been stop by them with historical plates. Troopers tend to be dicks no matter what, just remember, you are returning from or going to a historical vehicle event /meeting. If you have a historical vehicle with the plates, shop Hagerty Insurance, its the best deal going for insurance. Don't ride like a dick and draw attention to yourself and you'll never have problems

 

[carnivorous chicken]

Never had a problem in AZ, and going to do it now that I'm in Mass. In AZ I paid for the copper and red historic plates, but figured out I could do year of manufacture plates for cheaper. And I don't think there are any restrictions -- although if you get classic bike/car insurance they sometimes limit the number of miles or stipulate that you have to be going to a show. In AZ, I'm going to year of manufacture as well. There is a stipulation about going to a show or going to get your car worked on, but all you have to do is say "I'm on my way to work on it." Still, from the people I've talked to, nobody really gives a shit and nobody gets hassled.

 

[johngofast]

It would be pretty tough for them to proove you are using it more than allowed. I know people that run vintage/classic plates here in Utah and drive all summer without hassle.

I run year of plates like Mark, no restrictions there, just allowed to run plates from the bikes year range.

 

[raptormeat]

haha im getting them in washington where my dad lives and the legislature says:

(4) A collector vehicle registered under this section may only be used for participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades, and occasional pleasure driving.

every day is occasional in my book.

 

[WeberKid]

I run one as "year of manufacture" - I get pulled over twice a month minimum. Sometimes it's no big deal:

Sometimes they call in reinforcements:

regardless, so long as you're up front with them and pleasant, I've never gotten a ticket. You WILL get pulled over in MA, though. Also, in MA you don't need to run inspection stickers on your plate, but you need them somewhere on your bike. Mine are under my seat.

 

[krafty]

Hagerty is a great insurance company for historic vehicles, but keep in mind that you have to have at least 1 regular vehicle for every licensed driver in the household or they won't cover you.

I run original-year plates on my bike and my MG (the MG actually has 1973 Michigan manufacturer tags on it, I got them registered before they decided you couldn't do that anymore, so I'm grandfathered in). I've been stopped twice in 13 years in the MG, both times just so they could see the paper registration (it's not in the computer system) and so they could say "cool car".

 

[carnivorous chicken]

I run one as "year of manufacture" - I get pulled over twice a month minimum. Sometimes it's no big deal:

Sometimes they call in reinforcements:

regardless, so long as you're up front with them and pleasant, I've never gotten a ticket. You WILL get pulled over in MA, though. Also, in MA you don't need to run inspection stickers on your plate, but you need them somewhere on your bike. Mine are under my seat.

Wait a sec -- didn't you write and say you get pulled over all the time because you don't have mirrors and/or turn signals? Are they specifically pulling you over because you have old plates? I'm about to start running old plates in MA but not if I'm going to get a headache for it.

 

[Ribo]

I was thinking of doing this too but my only concern was when I use it to ride to work with a backpack on. The law in VA says you can ride it to a garage for maintenance etc so I figured you don't even need to bullshit about any event per-se - you can just say, yeah I'm taking it to the shop to get the carbs cleaned etc.

If you do it and get too much hassle you can always change it back.... hey I had a show bike and now I want to ride it all the time.. changed my mind etc. DMV won't care.

 

[carnivorous chicken]

I was thinking of doing this too but my only concern was when I use it to ride to work with a backpack on. The law in VA says you can ride it to a garage for maintenance etc so I figured you don't even need to bullshit about any event per-se - you can just say, yeah I'm taking it to the shop to get the carbs cleaned etc.

If you do it and get too much hassle you can always change it back.... hey I had a show bike and now I want to ride it all the time.. changed my mind etc. DMV won't care.

True about changing it back, and any cop that's going to give you a ticket for an old plate because he refuses to believe you're going to go work on it, take it to a shop, take it to a show, or whatever you're telling him is lame. I think most folks dig seeing the old plates on old cars and bikes.

 

[moetrout]

I run a historical plate on my bike in Michigan. I have never been pulled over. I ride to work with a backpack on. If pulled over I am riding it to work because I want to SHOW it to my coworkers or they are having a car and bike show at work (which does happen once a year). So far I haven't been pulled over and had to give any excuses. My day is coming though, I ride like an asshole.