Illegal in Washington state. I've got a friend with a Victory that gets hassled about that & the blue LEDs he has glowing beneath his fuel tank. Don't know about NM...

 

To clarify IL law - It is illegal to run with a verticle plate. Read 625 ILCS 5/3-413. Would you get a ticket for a verticle plate? Probably not. Could you get a ticket for a verticle plate? Absolutely. Would you get a ticket for a verticle plate if you've been warned before? Most likely. Would the police know you've been stopped before and warned? If the ISP stops you they would. Their records go back to 1968 which can be retrieved by computer. Other agencies could find out if you've been stopped recently for the violation.
Altho irrelevant to the discussion but since Parabellum mentioned it, running only 1 plate on a car/truck registered in IL is also illegal. Again, would you get a ticket? Probably not for the first time stopped. Would you get a ticket if stopped more than once and warned? Very likely. It's a great legal reason to stop vehicles to see who is driving, if they are legal, and if they have illegal substances in the vehicle. Why draw attention to yourself?

Doing a quick search of New Mexco statutes it appears verticle plates are illegal there too. There's the old saying "You pays your money, you takes your chances." Would you get a ticket? Maybe, maybe not. But if you decide to run a verticle plate, do get stopped and ticketed at least you now know it's illegal. You played the game and lost. Once you know you have no complaints.
Here is NM's statute:

66-3-18. Display of registration plates and temporary registration permits; displays prohibited and allowed.
A. The registration plate shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle for which it is issued; however, the registration plate shall be attached to the front of a road tractor or truck tractor. The plate shall be securely fastened at all times in a fixed horizontal position at a height of not less than twelve inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the plate. It shall be in a place and position so as to be clearly visible, and it shall be maintained free from foreign material and in a condition to be clearly legible.

 

define "horizontal", it doesnt say with the longest side being horizontal. any half baked attorney would argue that and win.
we have here a law saying all vehicles must have a muffler. thing is to go with that the state has to define what a muffler is. by the states definition a piece of pipe with a bend in it is a muffler.

 

My good friend here has run no front plate for NINE years here in IL and has been ticketed, even at 110 in a 55 (which got him a suspended license) and the plate was never once even mentioned.

There is a measure that some IL lawmakers are trying to pass, to do away with the front plate but keep the same plate fees, it would net the state a few million dollars a year in much needed revenue.

I've had a vertical plate on two motorcycles now and never once has it been an issue, cops down here (I'm pretty far from the People's Republik of Chicago) don't care at all, neither does the ISP.

 

Ya, but around here you get a ticket for the frame the dealer puts on your car covering the "MICHIGAN" on the top or the slogan at the bottom. Anything to get you over, once over your getting a ticket for something. Car or bike. Here the police get a % of the fines back to the departments. They need the money.

 

If Chitown is in the mix. Forget it. I'd didn't see you.

 

A simple miner

 

First, your friend is lucky. I really question your knowledge of what was and what wasn't said to your friend when he was stopped. I wish I had a nickle for every BS story I've heard about "I had a friend who was stopped and he was told...." Those stories are pure BS.
Second, there is nothing in the IL legislature to do away with the front plate. In fact, Fed DOT is pushing states to do just the opposite and force all states to go to 2 plates. IL has no intention whatsoever to do away with 2 plates. The savings would be minimal at best. It was no where "millions of dollars". That study was done years ago.
Third, don't comment on what LE and the ISP cares about when you don't know. Clearly you don't. I've spent 33 yrs with the ISP, and not in Chicago. 3-413, improper display of license plate, including verticle plates, is one of the most common stops made in the state by all LE agencies.
Before you try BSing someone know what it is you're talking about. You don't.

 

I want to know \who is the boss!!!!

 

ok, the the above poster. just out of curiosity. lets say I am traveling thru Ill from Texas. and my plate is vertical, which passes muster here. i have inspection sticker and everything is legal. is there not a reciprocity act (maybe not right word) that says if it is legal in my home state and i am traveling thru your state then i am ok?
I ask this, because I also have two bikes and two vehicles registered in Nebraska. which does not have vehicle inspection. and from time to time I bring them to Texas for months at a time to ride , especially during the winter. I am a Nebraska resident. I have checked, and a street cop tried to inform me i would need to get a texas inspection sticker to ride here. the Texas Dept of Public Safety (our state troopers) say otherwise. legal there, legal here.