Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 29-A
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 452 (2026)

Manner of display

✓ current as of May 2026
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1.  Position of registration plate.  A registration plate must be displayed horizontally. Only one set of Maine registration plates may be displayed on one vehicle. A registration plate must be attached to the front and the rear of each vehicle except as follows.  
A. A trailer and semitrailer registration plate may be attached only to the rear of that trailer or semitrailer.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. A motorcycle registration plate may not be attached to the front of that motorcycle.   [PL 2005, c. 577, §10 (AMD).]
C. A manufacturer, dealer or transporter registration plate may be attached only to the rear of the vehicle.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
D. A truck tractor registration plate may be attached only to the front of that truck tractor.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
[PL 2005, c. 577, §10 (AMD).]
2.  Farm trucks.  The registration plate for a farm truck or vehicle used for hauling forest products may be attached by means of a rigid or semirigid bracket that allows the plate to swing freely.  
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
3.  Proper display.  Registration plates must always be properly displayed.  
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §2 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
4.  Plainly visible and legible.  Registration plates, including the numbers, letters and words, must always be plainly visible and legible.  
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §3 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 452, §§Q2,3 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §X2 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 577, §10 (AMD).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases, 2000–2018 · leading case: State v. Donatelli, 2010 ME 43 (Me. 2010).
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State v. Donatelli, 2010 ME 43 (Me. 2010). “See 29-A M.R.S. §§ 452,1912 (2009). [¶ 6] Cloutier stopped Donatelli’s vehicle just north of the Auburn exit.”
State v. Chase, 178 A.3d 465 (Me. 2018). · cites it 3× “For instance, although there may be some ambiguity in the requirement that a registration plate be displayed "horizontally,” 29-A M.R.S. § 452(1) (2017), we cannot know— without a transcript — whether the court found an improper display of registration plates on that basis.”
State of Maine v. Chittim (Me. Super. Ct 2000). “7 Note, 29-A M.R.S.A. § 452 requires that “the plates, including the numbers, letters and words, must always be plainly visible and legible.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 452(1) — 1 case
State v. Chase, 178 A.3d 465 (Me. 2018). “For instance, although there may be some ambiguity in the requirement that a registration plate be displayed "horizontally,” 29-A M.R.S. § 452(1) (2017), we cannot know— without a transcript — whether the court found an improper display of registration plates on that basis.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 452(3) — 1 case
State v. Chase, 178 A.3d 465 (Me. 2018). “For instance, although there may be some ambiguity in the requirement that a registration plate be displayed "horizontally,” 29-A M.R.S. § 452(1) (2017), we cannot know— without a transcript — whether the court found an improper display of registration plates on that basis.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 452(4) — 1 case
State v. Chase, 178 A.3d 465 (Me. 2018). “For instance, although there may be some ambiguity in the requirement that a registration plate be displayed "horizontally,” 29-A M.R.S. § 452(1) (2017), we cannot know— without a transcript — whether the court found an improper display of registration plates on that basis.”
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