Are License Plates Allowed On The Dash In Montana?

I'm sure you have seen it a few times.

A license plate stuffed in the space between the dash and windshield of a vehicle on the driver's side.

There are a number of reasons why someone would have it there.

No skirt or front bumper on the car, no screws to fashion it to the bumper, or just haven't got to putting it on yet.

It seems pretty relaxed with the law seeing as though many people do not get pulled over for an equipment or a plate offense.

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Although you see this a lot on the road, what is Montana law's stance on where a license plate is positioned?

Apparently Montana has some pretty cut and dry laws in place on where license plates are positioned on a vehicle whether you have a front plate or not.

According to Montana code 61-0-301, there are 2 places where license plates belong.

 61-3-301. Registration -- license plate required -- display: A person may not operate a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer upon the public highways of Montana unless the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer is properly registered and has the proper license plates conspicuously displayed on the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer. A license plate must be securely fastened to prevent it from swinging and may not be obstructed from plain view.

They define conspicuous display.

"conspicuously displayed" means that the required license plates are obviously visible and firmly attached to:

-the front bumper and the rear bumper of a motor vehicle equipped with front and rear bumpers, except for a custom vehicle or street rod as provided in subsection (1)(b); or
(b) a clearly visible location on the rear of a trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer.

With these guidelines in place it might be a good idea to screw that plate on the front.