License Plate Not Properly Positioned
A CVC 5201 citation for plate position means your license plate was not mounted the way Vehicle Code 5201(a) requires: securely fastened so it cannot swing, clearly visible, with the characters upright and reading left to right, kept clearly legible, with the rear plate 12 to 60 inches from the ground and the front plate no higher than 60 inches. Remounting the plate, then getting the correction certified, resolves this violation.
Correction Window
The deadline is printed on your citation. Check the date on your ticket.
Fee After Correction
These steps apply when your ticket was issued as correctable. An officer does not issue it that way if there is evidence of fraud or persistent neglect, the violation presents an immediate safety hazard, or you cannot promptly correct it (Vehicle Code 40610(b)). When the court accepts your proof of correction, the court clerk collects a $25 fee for each corrected violation (Vehicle Code 40611). There is no fee if the agency that cited you handles the correction and nothing is sent to the court (Vehicle Code 40611(c)). Without proof of correction, you may owe the full fine. Check your notice or ask your court for the amount.
Who Can Certify
A police department, the CHP, a sheriff, a marshal or another agency that enforces the Vehicle Code can certify this correction once the plate is properly positioned.
The court must dismiss a corrected violation when you deliver proof of correction on or before the date on your ticket (Vehicle Code 40522). After that date it may not accept the correction, and you may owe the full fine. If you fail to appear without good cause, the court may add a civil assessment of up to $100 after mailing you a warning notice (Penal Code 1214.1). Willfully failing to appear, or willfully failing to deliver proof of correction, is a misdemeanor (Vehicle Code 40508 and 40616). If you need more time, ask the court before the date passes.
Step by Step
How to Correct This Violation
- 1
Inspect how the plate is currently mounted. Note whether it is tilted, facing the wrong direction, or improperly secured.
- 2
Reattach the plate in the upright position using the existing bracket or a replacement bracket if needed.
- 3
Confirm the plate is clearly readable from a normal viewing distance.
- 4
Have a law enforcement officer inspect and sign the correction certificate on your citation.
- 5
Submit the signed citation and the $25 fee to the court before the deadline.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does a frame or border around the plate count as improper positioning?
- Not as a position problem. A frame falls under the same section: Vehicle Code 5201 requires the plate to be clearly legible and bans a frame that keeps law enforcement cameras or toll readers from reading it. If a frame hides part of the plate, remove it before sign-off.
- What if the mounting bracket is broken?
- Replace the bracket before going for sign-off. Auto parts stores carry universal plate brackets. The plate must be properly secured before an officer will certify the correction.
This guide covers passenger vehicles. Some rules differ for commercial vehicles and truck tractors (for example, where registration tabs go under Vehicle Code 5204(a)). If you were driving one, check with your employer or a licensed attorney.
This guide provides general procedural information only. It is not legal advice. For questions specific to your citation, contact the court listed on your ticket.
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