License Plate Bracket

[mechanic350]

So i find my self trying to design my own parts to solve issues that i find on my 72 swb chevy. right now my license plate bracket sits below the roll pan blocking my from putting in a fuel tank under the bed or a hitch reciever to haul some toys. so i designed a bracket that uses the existing bolts that hold the bed front and sides together at the top as a mounting point. Granted i do have to put in some new bolts that are longer and im going to use to LED license plate lights/bolts to keep it lit. i should be getting it back from the shop at my work soon so ill be able to put up pics but if anyone wants to make their own the design will be below here. im using 1/8" plate stainless because i had some extra but about anything will work thats 1/16" thick. next project is a cupholder that slides underneath the seat and uses the stock seat belt bolts in the center to hold it down. Not sure how it will turn out though.

[skorpioskorpio]

So the plan is for this to mount up over the front of the bed behind the cab?

[mechanic350]

Yes that is the plan. It should work in theory but we will see how well it works.

[jocko]

being a fellow Californian, the local constabulary might not agree with your choice of plate location.

[mechanic350]

We'll I can agree with that statement. I've been browsing the California motor vehicle code to find out. I do know that it needs to be in plain view and be lit for sure

[skorpioskorpio]

Cali here too, was also my concern.

[mechanic350]

We'll I just looked it up in the California motor vehicle code and as far as I can tell according to art. 5201 positioning of plates. It has to be visible and between 12 and 60 inches from the ground. My 72 is lowered so I'm pretty sure I'll be well within those requirements but I'm gonna hit up a few cop buddies to see if any see a problem with it. Good looking out though

[skorpioskorpio]

You may be fine, and I'm not sure my concern is really specifically California. Actually California is probably more forgiving about such things than a lot of states. I certainly wouldn't try it in Maryland, I got a ticket there (and impounded) for having a plate on the shelf behind the back seat.

[mechanic350]

Yeah i agree that is probably true. my cousin is a cop in LA so i just sent him a message. he joked about giving my brother a ticket when he had his lowered truck if he saw him in LA so im pretty sure he will give me a straight answer. if not we will see if i get pulled over. have definitely gotten a few thumbs up from a few cops down here in SD

[cherokeejohn]

hello , sorry for intruding. I am a Marylander and have been reading your thread, I saw your unfortunate MD experience and its no surprise too me. I drive a Tow/Repo truck part time in the tri-state area in and around Maryland. I have my tags mounted below my tail lights,but they are mounted to the sail wing, roughly 6' off the ground. I have random DOT checks very frequently (unfortunately) and have never had any problems with the plate location, However I was turning a 1 ton truck into a 4WD Wrecker and during the build I had to make several trips to other shops, parts stores, and test rides. I put the tag inside, against the rear window and didn't make it 5 miles before i saw blue & red in my rear view. Now I cant speak for other states but here the law states "that there be nothing obstructing the clear view of a lisc. plate" this includes glass, plastic, or even those plate protectors as MD uses allot of camera/photo ticketing and any of these can cause a glare or obstruction of view. I hope that this info helps in any way possible. good luck, I'm signed up. John

[mechanic350]

Yeah tha was something else I did read in my research was that nothng can obstruct the view of the plate. So that's why I went with the designing did. Got a few suggestions from buddies out here to just put it in the window but I thought this design might work better and look good too. If I can get more made I'll put out the word.

[skorpioskorpio]

Well yea, except there was valid plates on the car, which I had just bought that day, and the plate on the shelf was there from the former owner from the state he used to live in. It wasn't visible at all unless you were standing next to the car over the back window. I wasn't even aware it was there. Worst part about it was that it was a car I bought as a cheap 2nd car so my girlfriend would have something to drive. Car cost me $500, the tickets, impound, a mandatory court date I couldn't show up for because I was working in Switzerland by that time a subsequent suspension of my license (not Maryland BTW) and that $500 car cost me about $4000. Moral of the story, I'd drive hundreds of miles out of my way to avoid ever driving through Maryland again!

Oh and another note if you ever plan on leaving Florida don't ever register a car there. Come to think of it California is pretty easy, you should be fine.