Thanks a lot bairdco! I have been stressin' 'bout the legality of these bikez in the communist state of California for a while now!
The Real Deal on California Law.
- Thread starter bairdco
- Start date
I also use the bikes #s for the engine, except I don't put a 'E' in there... (no letters, just the #s.) It also works fine. 
I wish I would have followed your lead. We sent in for a plate for my son's bike and I just recieved the for and my check back in the mail. On the cover sheet stating the reason for returning my check the "other" block was checked with the following hand written: "Need correct California license plate number". I'm hoping it was just another DMV staffer that doesn't understand the process, but also scribbled above my engine number was "No Good". Now my son got creative with the engine number and used "GMC-S1963" for his initials, "S" for Schwinn and 1963 for the year of the bike. Do you think that this is what really triggered the rejection? I'm thinking of resubmitting with a note stating that this is a new registration (even though I filled in the Section A (original application) section of the form. I'm thinking we also need to dump the hyphen from the engine number. Maybe just list it as S1963.
Any further recommendations from those who have successfully recieved their plate?
Just do exactly what we did & don't try to be creative!!!
& stop throwing up red flags to the DMV!!!
& stop throwing up red flags to the DMV!!!
I hear you loud and clear. I'm thinking I'll resubmit in my name instead of my son's, even though, as they returned the form and check, I figure they do not have a way to track the previous submission with the frame serial number or the home address used. I'll make my engine number start with E too. And I guess I'll write a new check out as the DMV already endorsed the back of it, but didn't deposit it.
Are you applying for a new plate? They should not be asking for your license plate number if you checked the correct box. Did you check the box that says “Complete A and D”? Or did you check one of the boxes for B or C that indicates there is/was an existing license plate.
I'm applying for a new plate. I checked the A&D and only filled those out those sections. That is why I think maybe the DMV person who handled this perhaps didn't understand what the process was. But then that notation about the engine number also had me wondering if that triggered some rejection although the only reason given on the cover sheet was "Need correct California license plate number"
Perhaps another loophole:
California Vehicle Code Section 5039: Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no dealer,
manufacturer, salesman, or representative of motorized bicycles
exclusively is required to be licensed or permitted pursuant to
Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 11700) of Division 5.
It is hard for many people to understand because of all the misinformation that gets posted in these threads, including by you.
You are mixing up the requirements for 406(a) and 406(b). Most of what you are saying applies only to 406(b). Gas bikes don't fall under 406(b).
And where do people keep coming up with this 50cc bull. There is no reference to 50cc anywhere in the California vehicle code. The engine size of a motorized bicycle does not matter, only the maximum horsepower.
Read through this entire thread and then go look at the actual vehicle code. If you still disagree, show me the section of the vehicle code that you think backs up your statements and I will then point out your error.
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Why does everyone have soooooo much trouble reading Bairds first post on this thread???
This CA law stuff has been BEATEN TO DEATH!!!
Please, everyone reading this.... STOP THINKING THAT YOU FOUND SOMETHING THAT NO ONE ELSE KNOWS ABOUT!!!
Baird made it real easy for us with this thread... read it; do it & stop second guessing it!
This CA law stuff has been BEATEN TO DEATH!!!
Please, everyone reading this.... STOP THINKING THAT YOU FOUND SOMETHING THAT NO ONE ELSE KNOWS ABOUT!!!
Baird made it real easy for us with this thread... read it; do it & stop second guessing it!
Yeah. I concur....
Baird made it real easy for us with this thread... read it; do it & stop second guessing it!
With one exception - a single beam headlight is also legal if you want to ride at night. See vehicle code 25651, or just use CHP form 888, "Headlamps on Motor-driven Cycles and Motorized Bicycles (24252, 24406, 24407, 24410, 25651). The headlamps may be of single-beam or multiple-beam type…"
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Yes I agree... but if thats what the police want down where Baird lives, I suggest they do it.
I think we're pretty lucky here in LA... All the police want to see is a helmet & lights at night.
on a humorous note...
i had to go to the Newport Beach court for my helmet ticket monday, and didn't know i had to get the registration and M2 license signed off by the cops before going, so i got another extension.
i was having a smoke in the motorcycle parking lot and 4 MC cops rolled up, and some OC sheriffs were walking by.
one cop started talking to me about my bike, and was surprised i had a license plate on it, and when i was telling him the reason i was at court that day, all the cops and sheriffs started laughing about it, saying how the cop that busted me musta been a real pr1ck.
so, 4 cops and 3 sheriffs didn't give a crap about me riding my bike, legal or otherwise.
they were all pretty impressed with the work i had done on my bike, and one of them is interested in me building a bike for him.
a "cop tribute bike" may be in my future...
i had to go to the Newport Beach court for my helmet ticket monday, and didn't know i had to get the registration and M2 license signed off by the cops before going, so i got another extension.
i was having a smoke in the motorcycle parking lot and 4 MC cops rolled up, and some OC sheriffs were walking by.
one cop started talking to me about my bike, and was surprised i had a license plate on it, and when i was telling him the reason i was at court that day, all the cops and sheriffs started laughing about it, saying how the cop that busted me musta been a real pr1ck.
so, 4 cops and 3 sheriffs didn't give a crap about me riding my bike, legal or otherwise.
they were all pretty impressed with the work i had done on my bike, and one of them is interested in me building a bike for him.
a "cop tribute bike" may be in my future...
I probaly dot need to post this but it would make me fell better if I did:
I'm 11, my bike is 49cc, but am I legal?
I'm 11, my bike is 49cc, but am I legal?
well after six weeks and three days my license plate finally came... i guess motorized bicycle's aren't very high on the priority list.
sam, the bike's legal, but you're not. you gotta be 16 with a license, maybe 15 with a permit, i dunno.
just get a fake moustache or somethin...
just get a fake moustache or somethin...
john, yeah, it takes about 6 weeks. i xerox the form and the check before i send it in and ride around with that. technically, like a car, if the registration's pending, it's still legal to drive. but if you have proof, even if it's a copy of the paperwork, that's a lot better than saying "but officer, i mailed it in yesterday..."