Folding licence plates and stunt riding get two sport bikes ticketed and impounded

Two motorcycle riders are spending a week getting rides from friends after a day of weaving through traffic in Vancouver without displaying licence plates.

On August 17, 2025, just before 3:00 p.m., on Highway #1 at the Cassiar Connector, two BMW sport motorcycles were observed riding in tandem. A BC Highway Patrol cruiser that was watching could not see any licence plates at all.

Some sport motorcycles have their rear fenders removed and a licence plate on a folding mount under the rear tire, says Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. That is completely illegal. A motorcycle must have a fender and a licence plate that is mounted vertically, with a light, at the rear-most portion of the fender.

As the police watched, both motorcycles allegedly crossed highway dividers, drove over painted medians, and lane-split through traffic without signalling. The two Vancouver men were pulled over in heavy traffic near the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge.

The riders tried to bend their licence plate mounts back to vertical and pretend they were that way the whole time, says Corporal McLaughlin. It was not very convincing.

The first motorcycle rider, a 23-year-old Vancouver man, received:

• A 7-day impound for stunt driving, section 144 of the BC Motor Vehicle Act (MVA);
• Drive without due care and attention, section 144(1)(a) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) with a fine of $368;
• Improper display of licence plate, section 302 of the BC Motor Vehicle Act Regulations (MVAR) with a fine of $230.

The second rider, an 18-year-old Vancouver man, received:

• A 7-day impound for stunt driving, section 144 of the BC MVA;
• Drive without consideration, section 144 (1)(b) of the BC MVA ($196);
• Fail to display ‘N’ sign, section 30.10(4) of the BC MVAR ($109);
• Improper display of licence plate, section 302 of the BC MVAR ($230).

Both riders also received:

• Six points against their licences which will result in hundreds of dollars in high-risk driver premiums;
• A review of their licence status by the BC Superintendent of Motor Vehicles.

If you make an effort to follow the rules, it’s less stressful for everyone and you probably won’t get verbal abuse from passing motorists as you watch your motorcycle get towed, says Corporal McLaughlin. Not to mention the thousands of dollars you’ll save in tickets and high-risk driver premiums.