CA vehicle code status for out of state vehicles?

[patz]

Does anyone know the code or have any experience driving in CA or another state with an out of state plate?

I know that speed limits and burned out lights are enforced but what about front plate requirements and other stuff like tinted windows or amber lights, etc?

[Tobra]

Are you going through San Francisco? If so, and you park on the street, you will get a ticket for no front plate. The other stuff, probably not.

[Joe Bob]

Oregon vintage plates don't have a front plate, so I can't comply even if I wanted to.....

[John Rogers]

If the car you are driving is LEGAL in the state it is registered in, then you are okay. The police in most CA cities and the CHP all have the ability to check all states vehicle codes from their cars now. They can also call it in and make you wait while they get an answer. The bottom line is make sure the car has NO burned out tail lights 'cuz that is the excuse they use on COPS all the time to pull over people!

[Arizona_928]

Or the infamous burned out license plate light....

[slodave]

Amber lights are fine. Tint on the drivers and passenger windows can only be one or two shades darker than the untinted window (I think). My Porsche windows are illegal, but I havecyet to be pulled over did that. My previous car was also illegally tinted and never had an issue. Inthink the cop has to be in a foul mood to pull one over just for tint. Being in Hollywoodland, most celebrities have the windows tinted to keep prying eyes and paparazzi out.

[GH85Carrera]

When I drove out to Monterey a couple of years ago I was getting gas as a highway patrol officer cam out of the store. He looked at the front of my car and pulled out his ticket book and walked to the back of my car. He closed up the ticked pad and walked back to his car when he saw my Oklahoma tag. I just smiled.

[look 171]

D3pending on what city (part). I have gotten ticketed for no front lic plate. Meter maid never come up the hill, but someone had a bug up their ass and happened to cell them out. Half my S2000 was parked with the nose hanging out of the garage. I walked out there and found a nice envelope on the windshield. They will get ya on the streets if meter maid sees ya without a front plate. I don't have tint. I hate them

[slodave]

I forgot to add.... I drive around with expired tags (car is registered, I just get lazy putting the sticker on the plate). Never get pulled over, nor a parking ticket. I guess it's all about police priorities out here.

[John Rogers]

I for got to mention OBEY ALL TRAFFIC LAWS!!!!! Especially the speed limit signs abound school zones! There was a post a year or two ago about some Navy guy who rolled through a stop sign in the middle of the night in Southern CA and he was stopped and ticketed. He cried and moaned and..........

[Tobra]

I keep the registration stickers in my trunk until they are expired. Have been pulled over once for it since 2005 when I started doing this. Got one stolen, despite the slicing it up trick. Cost $20 for a replacement from the DMV. CHP guy pulled me over for just that a few years after I quit putting them on the car. I know they can run the plates and see if the registration is current, it is just a waste of time. Would have had to pay $20 for a new one if it had been stolen. As it was, I showed it to him, and he told me I had to put it on the rear plate. Did not even give me a ticket, which I am sure he would have if I did not show him the registration sticker.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by patz

Does anyone know the code or have any experience driving in CA or another state with an out of state plate?

I know that speed limits and burned out lights are enforced but what about front plate requirements and other stuff like tinted windows or amber lights, etc?

This seems like the biggest issue

https://www.chp.ca.gov/notify-chp/cheaters-out-of-state-(out-of-state-registration-violators)

[intakexhaust]

Only Ed Roth was lifetime exempt

[john70t]

It probably depends who the official registered owner on record is:
In state. Or out-of-state.

Some local parking sweepers for short-term street or neighborhood parking will notate your plate to their database with a camera or manually.
The computer will then check if the registered owner is located out-of-state and a visitor.
YMMV.

https://www.dmv.org/ca-california/car-registration.php
New residents to California are required to register their vehicle(s) within 20 days of establishing residency.

How To Register A Vehicle from Out-of-State (Nonresident Vehicle)
When Do I Have to Pay Fees to Register My Nonresident Vehicle?
Registration fees for your nonresident vehicle must be paid to DMV within 20 days of the date they become due. The date that registration fees become due varies.

With dual-residency this becomes more complicated.
Some athletes and actors have paid hefty fines.