Michigan front lic.plate for straight truck

Monty · Oct 27, 2011

For example, Illinois requires that IRP plates on trucks be displayed on the front of the vehicle as opposed to the rear.

Making a call to Illinois IRP I learned that a "straight truck", even under IRP requires 2 plates, one front and rear.

They will provide the 2nd plate at no additional cost.

(I need to get back on the road, I have waaaay too much time on my hands!)

ATeam · Oct 27, 2011

Minnesota issues two license plates for commercial vehicles. It is permissible to place both of them on the front, if you drive backwards most of the time.

moose · Oct 27, 2011

ATeam said:
Minnesota issues two license plates for commercial vehicles. .

well, they gave Me only one

TeamCaffee · Oct 27, 2011

OntarioVanMan said:
Linda ....so your light was just a light...? but it had to be there?

A rear WORKING light is required on the back of a CMV it says nothing about illuminating a license plate.

Kind of silly the law is the law

ATeam · Oct 27, 2011

moose said:
well, they gave Me only one

They gave us two but we are in a straight truck. Maybe it is different for tractors. I don't know. My bad for lumping all CMVs together and making an assumption.

mjmsprt40 · Oct 28, 2011

Illinois uses two plates, except for tractors which have only the front plate. Indiana uses one plate, rear.

I sometimes wish I had a place to put those "novelty" plates you can buy at the truck stops, but since Illinois has two plates I have no place for the "novelty" plate.

Tennesseahawk · Oct 28, 2011

TeamCaffee said:
A rear WORKING light is required on the back of a CMV it says nothing about illuminating a license plate.

Kind of silly the law is the law

I had my plate mounted on the roll up door. No one ever said a thing. I guess "must be illuminated at night" could mean by the tail lights as well.

Have to do the current truck the same way. There is no rear plate mount; and thus no light.

layoutshooter · Oct 28, 2011

Tennesseahawk said:
I had my plate mounted on the roll up door. No one ever said a thing. I guess "must be illuminated at night" could mean by the tail lights as well.

Have to do the current truck the same way. There is no rear plate mount; and thus no light.

I had mine on the read door at one time. Got pulled over by MSP. They informed me that it is required to be lit. It can be on the door but it is required to be lit. I tried putting a light on the door but it kept breaking. I made a mount for the plate so it can be illuminated by the "plate light".

I explained to the cop that I was "told" (for what that is worth) that IF the plate was able to be read it was legal. His was VERY nice, even went back to check on that for me. He said that made sense but that he had never heard it before. He came back and informed me that was incorrect and just said to get it fixed when I got the chance.

Turtle · Oct 28, 2011

greg334 said:
SoS, MSP both say on the back. Even tractors are supposed to have them on the back.

Should have stopped after the first sentence. There is a conclave taking place to discuss whether or not the second sentence should be ignored, and whether it's OK to mention it one way or the other once a decision has been reached. <snort>

AMonger · Oct 28, 2011

When I was in a straight truck, I've gone through chicken houses, and get chased down upon exit because of no front license plate. Before they catch up to me, though, they see the rear Illinois plate and shut down the lights and go back to the chicken house.

greg334 · Oct 28, 2011

Turtle said:
Should have stopped after the first sentence.

Should have stopped where?

Go tell that to the SoS people who handed me plates for my tractors - they said in the back because they are power only units. The MSP officer who did the inspections said in the back for the same reason so when you drive or own something more than a van, tell me about it.

Turtle · Oct 28, 2011

greg334 said:
Should have stopped where?

I can't see how that sentence could have possibly confused you. You should have stopped "after the first sentence."

Go tell that to the SoS people who handed me plates for my tractors - they said in the back because they are power only units. The MSP officer who did the inspections said in the back for the same reason so when you drive or own something more than a van, tell me about it.

You're gonna hang tough and stick with that, are you? OK. I find it hard to believe that the SoS and the MSP would tell you the exact opposite of what the law is. It's not even complex and ambiguous, and open to wide interpretations like many Michigan laws are. It's very clear and precise. The law makes no exception for, or even mentions, a "power only unit", whatever that is, with regard to license plate positioning. Are you implying that you bought more than one actual truck tractor or road tractor specifically to use them as "power only units" and not ever haul a trailer of some kind with any of them? As personal touring vehicles, perhaps?

But I took your advice and talked to the SoS people who handed you your plates for your tractors (just how many tractors do you own, anyway?) and they said a truck tractor or a road tractor must have the plates on the front. They said a plate goes on the rear of a trailer being towed by a truck tractor or a road tractor, and on the front of a "power only unit" if the "power only unit" in question is a truck tractor or a road tractor. They were quite sure of this. They wondered what kind of tractors you have, since you didn't specify, and wondered what kind of tractor that's not a truck tractor or a road tractor, which would require both a license plate and a MSP inspection. A farm tractor or some kind of other off-road tractor, maybe? They were all a twitter, though oddly enough no one Tweeted.

I don't need to own or drive something other than a van to be aware of and understand the laws governing other vehicles.

What I won't do, however, is remain ignorant of the facts, make wild guesses about them instead, and then dispense authoritatively sounding advice based on those wild guesses. And yes, I am speak for EO when I say that.

Dynamite 1 · Oct 29, 2011

well, i am registered in illinois through the IRP program and have been for 11 years with this truck and 8 yrs before w/another and have never been given 2 plates for a straight truck. even asked at the irp office in springfield and was told we only supply one. as for requesting a second plate, no comment, as i have never done that or been offered that option. in researching the IRP manual for illinois, i did find under "credentials" stated that illinois only supplies 1 plate/cab card and they are to be placed on the front of tractors and straight trucks and the rear of IRP trailers and on buses.

i had my plate on the front for about 6 mo. till mi. pulled me over cause they could not see it when driving behind me and wanting to run the plate #. msp informed me at that time that they realized IL. required them in the front but, if a msp officer wanted to run the plate and could not get the # driving behind me that they would pull me over to obtain it. since then and since illinois doesnt seem to be to anal about placement on a straight truck the plate has been on the rear. i have been inspected in illinois and they have never hassled me. the state of LA. has however but i just blew it off and so did they after telling me in LA. its suppose to be on the front and me informing them that the vehicle is not registered in LA. but in illinois.

60MPH · Nov 10, 2011

Why is the light required on the tag ONLY when on the rear?? Makes no sense cause if the light is there to illuminate the tag so someone can see it, wouldn't the front need it to in the dark?? I guess in the dark whats on the front tag must not be important, even if you only have 1 tag