The reason some bikers flip their plates

A motorcycle from the back with a blank license plate

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Motorcycles give riders a sense of freedom on the open road that often harkens back to the days of the wild west. As a result, biker culture can often be full of defying the rules of the road which can sometimes veer into the territory of being both dangerous and illegal. This is the case when motorcyclists decide to flip their license plates.

Whether you’re a biker toying with the idea of flipping your license plate or just a motorist curious as to why you’ve been seeing what appear to be empty motorcycle license plate covers on your travels, there’s a lot you need to know about it . dangerous and illegal practices and how it may affect you.

For starters, it’s worth understanding why people do it in the first place. In the end, it comes down to a combination of maintaining anonymity on the road as well as avoiding law enforcement consequences for any defiant biker who might want to skirt a few laws of the road here and there. Why do so many riders think flipping the plates will suddenly make them invisible on the road and help them avoid a ticket? The answer is as simple as it sounds, although it is not as effective as it seems.

Why do motorcyclists flip their license plates?

The back of a motorcycle with no visible license plate

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There are two typical reasons why motorcyclists decide to flip their plate. The first is to avoid having details as personal as your license plate number revealed to the world. In the internet age, people don’t think twice about taking a picture or video of a rider, complete with license plate.

While it may sound paranoid, this can be more than enough information for online haters to discover a person’s identity, which could lead to stalking, theft and other harassment. So a good way for a rider to avoid this concern altogether is to make the license plate invisible to any potential trigger.

The second reason is somewhat more sinister. Simply put, many traffic cameras and other automatic detection devices across the country rely on images of a vehicle’s license plate to find the owner and issue fines and other penalties. In San Diego, for example, Legal Center of the Mission notes that the SR 125 Toll Road uses cameras to capture the license plates of vehicles without an automatic toll transponder. This is how infringement notices are sent by mail. If the camera can’t capture a plate, however, it can’t charge the traveler for tolls.

It can also technically make it harder for the police to identify a bike they’re chasing, but that’s probably more trouble than it’s worth.

Is it illegal to cover motorcycle number plates?

Three police cars parked with their lights on

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Covering or obstructing the license plate with the intention of avoiding legal consequences is, of course, illegal. While each state has different rules regarding penalties and requirements for license plates, in general, trying to evade taxes and the police will land someone with a massive fine at best and some jail time in worst case. It’s also potentially a way to attract unwanted attention rather than avoid it.

For example, in New York, police can only pull over a vehicle if an officer notices that the plates are not visible. Conformable SILivethe penalty for willfully doing so is a fine of not less than $50 but not more than $300. So bikers who flip their license plates could end up attracting exactly the kind of law enforcement attention they were hoping to avoid by doing it in the first place. This does not include the potential consequences for being caught avoiding road tolls or fleeing the police – which is not only illegal, but also very dangerous for the rider and other drivers on the road.

What to do if you are hit by a motorcyclist with an upside down license plate

A motorcycle overturned on its side surrounded by police

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Accidents happen all the time on the road, that’s why people have insurance. However, if a motorcycle with a flipped plate causes damage to the vehicle or injury to the person, it can be a clear indication that they intend to avoid the consequences. Kidwell and Gallaghera Nevada personal injury law firm, suggests getting the police involved immediately by calling 9-1-1 if you find yourself in this situation. A rider may be willing to give up their license plate number and insurance information, but there’s no guarantee it’s not fake, and they could be faced with avoiding providing that information altogether if they’ve taken the step of turning in their license plate .

The firm suggests that it’s best to simply let law enforcement handle the situation, or at least be aware of it in case the motorcyclist decides to flee the scene.