Advocacy & Safety - License Plates

From the Missouri motor vehicle code-2006:..


The license plate on buses, other than school buses, and on trucks, tractors, truck tractors or truck-tractors licensed in excess of twelve thousand pounds shall be displayed on the front of such vehicles...

Most pickup trucks here in the Ozarks where I ride fall into the 12000 lb. category because they often pull trailers (maybe once a month, maybe once a year, maybe never). So most trucks around here only have plates on the front. Ever try and get the tag number of a dually pickup that passes you on a hill with about 6 inches to spare with the license plate on the front? Seems like a stupid law to me. Anybody else have laws like this?

It cancels out the effectiveness of Missouir's recently passed '3-foot requirement' for vehicles passing cyclists if you can't get the offending motorists tag number.

If they only have a plate on the front, my guess is that they are misinterpretting the law. As far as I know, plates are ALWAYS required on the rear of the vehicle, yet some states, like NJ, also require them on the front. Have you read the full text of the law to see what it says about plates on the rear? If indeed they are only required on the front, that is a ridiculous law.

If they only have a plate on the front, my guess is that they are misinterpretting the law. As far as I know, plates are ALWAYS required on the rear of the vehicle, yet some states, like NJ, also require them on the front. Have you read the full text of the law to see what it says about plates on the rear? If indeed they are only required on the front, that is a ridiculous law.

+1

FYI. I did read the whole thing. Here's a link if interested. It's a fact, trucks over 12k need one plate and its on the front. Stupid. Dangerous too.

http://www.moga.state.mo.us/statutes/C300-399/3010000130.HTM

If they only have a plate on the front, my guess is that they are misinterpretting the law. As far as I know, plates are ALWAYS required on the rear of the vehicle, yet some states, like NJ, also require them on the front. Have you read the full text of the law to see what it says about plates on the rear? If indeed they are only required on the front, that is a ridiculous law.
12,000 pound + heavy trucks generally only require a front plate as they are considered a "Tractor Unit". Under circumstances then you have the trailer plate to work with. Ca, by the way, requires F&R plates even on a tractor registered truck registered in that state.

12,000 pound + heavy trucks generally only require a front plate as they are considered a "Tractor Unit". Under circumstances then you have the trailer plate to work with. Ca, by the way, requires F&R plates even on a tractor registered truck registered in that state.

I had that thought after posting. You typically cannot read a rear license plate on a truck with a trailer attached so why require one, assuming the truck is always towing a trailer.

To the OP, when you say "most pickup trucks here in the Ozarks where I ride fall into the 12000 lb. category" is this an exagerration or is it really more than 50% of the pickups on the road are over 12,000 lbs.? I find that hard to believe but I also wouldn't have believed someone if they told me that 90% of the vehicles on the road in NE Florida were pickups but I've been there and confirmed it (ok, maybe not 90% but it's an astonishing percentage).

Why not insist that plates go on the front and the back on all motorized vehicles (motorbikes excepted)?

I had that thought after posting. You typically cannot read a rear license plate on a truck with a trailer attached so why require one, assuming the truck is always towing a trailer.

To the OP, when you say "most pickup trucks here in the Ozarks where I ride fall into the 12000 lb. category" is this an exagerration or is it really more than 50% of the pickups on the road are over 12,000 lbs.? I find that hard to believe but I also wouldn't have believed someone if they told me that 90% of the vehicles on the road in NE Florida were pickups but I've been there and confirmed it (ok, maybe not 90% but it's an astonishing percentage).

If you read my post a little more carefully it's because they pull trailers that the vehicles are over the 12000 lb limit. I did not say that the trucks themselves weigh 12000 lb. We're talking ordinary 3/4 ton and 1 ton pickup trucks here. And my point is that they only pull trailers occasionally and yes you can still read the plates just fine even with a trailer. A plate only on the front is worthless for reporting any traffic violations and as a cyclist removes my only recourse to identifiying hazardous drivers.

If you read my post a little more carefully it's because they pull trailers that the vehicles are over the 12000 lb limit. I did not say that the trucks themselves weigh 12000 lb. We're talking ordinary 3/4 ton and 1 ton pickup trucks here. And my point is that they only pull trailers occasionally and yes you can still read the plates just fine even with a trailer. A plate only on the front is worthless for reporting any traffic violations and as a cyclist removes my only recourse to identifiying hazardous drivers.

I did try to read your post carefully but what you've just stated was not clear to me in your first post (probably not my fault or yours). I've never seen a vehicle classified at a certain weight because it will sometimes pull a trailer. That makes no sense. Light trucks are light trucks and light trucks with a trailer are light trucks with a trailer, not a "truck...licensed in excess of 12,000 lbs." If pickup truck drivers are driving around with only a front license plate, they are in violation of the law.

Unless those 3/4 and 1T pickups are registered as a commercial truck with a 12K pound licensure, they're supposed to have front and rear plates just like any other passenger vehicle, regardless of how much weight they might be towing.
What I'd be more concerned with is the "passenger carrying commercial motor vehicle" regulation that means any livery transport only gets issued a front plate. Limos, shuttle vans, hired town-cars, taxis (unless there's a special regulation for them?)

3. All property-carrying commercial motor vehicles to be registered at a gross weight in excess of twelve thousand pounds, all passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles, local transit buses, school buses, trailers, semitrailers, motorcycles, motortricycles, motorscooters and driveaway vehicles shall be registered with the director of revenue as provided for in subsection 3 of section 301.030, or with the state highways and transportation commission as otherwise provided in this chapter, but only one license plate shall be issued for each such vehicle except as provided in this subsection.

I just checked the Missouri DMV page which says just what Clifton has posted. If the trucks are registered as commerical vehicles, then this applies:

Trucks (“Commercial Vehicles”)

Registration fees for trucks, including all pickup trucks and all utility-type vehicles that are registered as trucks, are determined by your truck’s weight, and whether you will be using the truck locally (within 50 miles from home) or over a wider area. Your truck’s weight includes the weight of any other trailers or property that you might haul during the registration period.

I just checked the Missouri DMV page which says just what Clifton has posted. If the trucks are registered as commerical vehicles, then this applies: <cut>


I used to have my CDL (airbrake/hazmat endorsed.) No weight restrictions like those mentioned above affect passenger vehicles. The only general rating that I can think of affecting passenger vehicles is width restrictions (certain tunnels, narrow bridges, and construction zones) and it's against regs to take something like a big wide RV down it.

I used to have my CDL (airbrake/hazmat endorsed.) No weight restrictions like those mentioned above affect passenger vehicles. The only general rating that I can think of affecting passenger vehicles is width restrictions (certain tunnels, narrow bridges, and construction zones) and it's against regs to take something like a big wide RV down it.

Missouri has an interesting system for registering passenger vehicles. You pay by horsepower: http://www.dor.mo.gov/mvdl/motorv/fees.htm

The "high" limit is so low though that any passenger car/truck will be charged that rate, only scooters and motor cycles get the lower rates.

Missouri has an interesting system for registering passenger vehicles. You pay by horsepower: http://www.dor.mo.gov/mvdl/motorv/fees.htm

The "high" limit is so low though that any passenger car/truck will be charged that rate, only scooters and motor cycles get the lower rates.
Kinda sucks for people with really powerful motocycles, though. Bikes like the BMW R1200GS crank out 100+ HP. It's great for somebody that wants to register something like a classic Vespa or a moped, though.

I did try to read your post carefully but what you've just stated was not clear to me in your first post (probably not my fault or yours). I've never seen a vehicle classified at a certain weight because it will sometimes pull a trailer. That makes no sense. Light trucks are light trucks and light trucks with a trailer are light trucks with a trailer, not a "truck...licensed in excess of 12,000 lbs." If pickup truck drivers are driving around with only a front license plate, they are in violation of the law.

Here in MO 'light trucks'-3/4 ton and 1-ton pickup trucks-that will be pulling trailers (read farm stuff-hay and livestock) where the combined weight of truck and trailer exceeds 12k lbs are classified as commercial vehicles and are required to have their one-and-only plate on the front. Which I Think is both stupid and dangerous-especially from a cycling perspective. I only wish that all these morons driving around town in their dually pickups with only a front plate were violating the law. Then we would see a few tickets written. But they aren't. Which I am hoping to change. Just looking for a little input from other advocates.

Here in MO 'light trucks'-3/4 ton and 1-ton pickup trucks-that will be pulling trailers (read farm stuff-hay and livestock) where the combined weight of truck and trailer exceeds 12k lbs are classified as commercial vehicles and are required to have their one-and-only plate on the front.

No they aren't. The weight specification isn't relevant to passenger vs. commercial truck registration. Missouri Revised Statues, Section 310.010 (7) defines Commercial Motor Vehicle as "a motor vehicle designed or regularly used for carrying freight and merchandise, or more than eight passengers but not including vanpools or shuttle buses."
Section 310.010 (60) defines Truck as "(60) "Truck", a motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained for the transportation of property."
To legally drive a registered Commercial Motor Vehicle, the driver needs a CDL A, B or C class or an "E Class" endorsement (for-hire) on their license.