Busted by CHP (sort of) - no front plate.
 

Yesterday I was cruising around a backroad after installing some B-quiet sound insulation, to see how much it quieted the car down (and it works very well).

I drove past a CHP car, who then turned in behind me and lit my V1 Ka alert up like a Christmas tree from about a quarter mile back. Then his lights came on. I knew I wasn't speeding, so I was confused. Pulled over and shut off the engine.

A young guy hopped out of the cop car and said he pulled me over for a missing front plate. My car's got a new-ish IROC front bumper, and I explained that it was kind of a project car, and that I did have the plate back in my garage. He looked over the front bumper and told me I'd have to install the plate.

He wrote down my license plate number, but didn't give me a fixit ticket, and was an all-around nice guy.

I think he was disappointed that I wasn't speeding, because the car looks a bit like a juvenile delinquent should be driving it. In 7 years of driving my old '88 Targa with no front plate, I never had a problem. :D

So...here's the question. This guy will be looking out for my car now, so I'm going to back down and put on a front plate. What have you guys with IROC/RSR fronts done? The front of the piece is really too narrow for the plate, and I don't think I'm allowed to bend/cut the plate to fit. Here's what the front end looks like:<BR>
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1084727394.jpg

Colin,
Forget the front plate for being stopped, I'd stop you just to get a closer look at your 911. IROC bumper, ducktail, and great color, one awesome "project car".

My solution (admittedly, not a very smart one) is to pay the $25 ticket every time I get cited for no front plate -- which has been three times, so far. You put the plate on, bring it in for them to sign off, pay the fine, and then go home and take it back off.

Nice car!

Its a $112 fine in San Francisco.

I think at one point Todd Serota had a sticker made that looked like a plate and stuck that to his front bumper. I have seen similar things done to street cars that have been featured in magazines.

Besides, the odds of running into that same guy again are probably not that good, there's lots o highway in CA.

Man, I'd hate to cover that beautifull bumper up with a license plate.

Can't you use one of those thin and wide european license plates which would not cover up the grill area?

Like so...

http://www.autoplates.com/utsch/aud3lg.JPG

i know there is a picture of rob dickinson's car on the forum somewhere, i believe it is in the monterrey pics post. he has an orange car and he cut down his front plate to mount it, looks very clean and i dont think he has had any problems with our law enforcement officers. good luck.

p.s. my dad's 74 doesnt have a front license and we have no plans to put one on either since the front mumper is an iroc one with an oil cooler.

tie it to the cooling grill slats & drive past the same guy several times, making sure he sees it. Then take it off. Inquire about front brackets at the local parts place and some other places. If you find a place with a cheap one that has to be ordered and will take a while, order it. Keep a copy of the order in the car.

If stopped, apologize about how it must have fallen off and tell him you are looking for a new braket that won't fall off or have ordereed one.

Be sure not to lie -- it's a biggie if you are caught giving a false stmt. to a cop.

I wish we had such loose laws up here - no front plate is a huge fine in Orygun.

Put the plate on your windshield with suction cups when you're in his territory.

Ahhh, another reason to live in Alberta, they don't even give us front plates.

Not to mention there are no smog tests.

Of course we only get to drive our cars for 6 month of the year. :(

There are some requirements as to the mounting height and location of the front plate. I think it is one of those BS laws that should be removed from the books (and I am a cop). Because he is CHP and traffic is their thing, I am sure you will see this same guy over and over again. The have CHP offices set up throughout the state and patrol specific stretches of highway. It sucks, but what can you do?

Good luck, David

Thanks for the replies. Jack, I like your solution- and if my car looked like yours, I'd do the same. Mine is, er, photogenic, but needs a paint job and some other cosmetic items.

Steve, is a sticker like Serota's legal, or is he relying on fooling the cops? I'll have to search on that. I also like the Euro plate idea, but I don't know if that's legal either.

This road I was on is a constant CHP speed trap, because it's the first exit after a long highway causeway. I'd say there is a CHP car there about 25% of the time I go by, and they never fail to blast me with radar. That's why I'm thinking I need to roll over and put on the plate.

Thanks all!

not sure about the plate, but that is one sweeeeeet car !

I cut the plate down to fit the 944 Turbo I used to have. Never had any problems with that. YMMV.

They are getting more anal about the front plate mainly due to the 'red light photo' tickets. San Francisco raised the ticket price so high to force people to install them, and to get more revenue in the city. The meter maids now give them out instead of just parking tickets. I have been told by some CHP that they don't care much but then others have told me it is required and they will enforce the law. Be careful about putting 'false' plates on your car in CA. I have a friend who is a lawyer and had to defend a guy on charges because he moved a plate from one car he owned to another just to drive it home. He got pulled over and they arrested him for a fellony. Apparently you can drive with no plate and get away with it but if you even put your own plate on another car it's a fellony. I have been told to remember that in CA unless it is a vanity plate the plate is registered to the car, not the owner.

Hmmmm, maybe just run the trunk lid part of a 2 piece bra, have a clear plastic pocket sewn in to slip the plate into? I do this with my '72S splitter, but the pocket is placed wayyy low, and the plate at such an a downward facing angle I hope it screws up spy cameras...seems to me a plate at an upward facing angle could do the same?

Beautiful car Cowtown. !

I have a Porsche front liscence plate, courtesy of the Previous Owner (PO).

Never have been pulled over for it, and Ive seen plenty of police.

In fact, up in the Valley last week....I made a knowingly Illegal U-Turn in the middle of the street to pull into a gas station.

A cop pulled in after me, and he gets out and says "excuse me, you mind not doing that any more?"

I said "Im sorry officer, I dont know what you mean?"

"Dont make U-turns in the middle of the street" he said with authority.

"Oh, Im sorry...Im not from CA and dont know the law on that. It wont happen again"

"No problem...nice car." he said

Umm, the cop sounds friendlier than when I drove in LA. A cop approached me with his hand on his gun for a fairly minor offence :(

Cops will usually sort of rest their hand on the stock of their pistol as they approach the window of your car for the first time, is that what you mean? Unfortunately they get shot pretty often here on traffic stops, can't say that I blame them for erring on the side of caution until they get an impression of you. :(

As for the front plate, I always thought that you can have it on the dashboard and get away w/ it, maybe not? Lots of people keep it under the seat and stick it on the dash when they park or get pulled over. :cool:

Move to Florida, no front plates here :) - By the way where'd you get that front bumper, it's sweet!!

The famous MikeZ solution!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1084768150.jpg

Yup, that was it Speeder. In our country cops don't even carry guns (well they do, but under their jackets), and me being a sweet, and a bit niave ;) , farm boy at the age of 18 - it gave me a bit of a suprise when all I'd done was run a red light LOL.

Technically, you can't modify, duplicate or fail to use anything but what they give you. I would put it on for a while anyway.

We go in waves in CA. For some periods of time, there is little or no enforcement on a particular issue. Then all of a sudden, it's a priority. Years ago, we went thru the same thing with the plates and then it fell off with all the newer cars and the smooth plastic front bumpers.

Harleys get to have loud pipes......for now. There is only sporatic enforcement. It will never make any sense, and as a result, I have very little respect for the system.

But, that's what you have to do, Colin, just work the system.

The cop, who lives next door, told me they really don't care about the front license plate and only use it as a reason to stop a car that "looks" like it might yeild a drug bust or other suspected infraction. If the only thing about a car is a missing front plate, that car does not generally get stopped.

If your getting stopped for not having a front plate there might be something about the car (or the driver) that's making them look twice.

So, if your transporting a large boulder of cocaine, for god sakes, put that front plate on!

I used a version of the Mike Z approach, sans holes. I placed the plate in a vice and carefully bent the top and botton edges of the plate around the back to present more of a Euro look. I know it is not legal, but I figure it is more legal than those completely without. If I get a rash, then I can unbend the edges to restore to normal. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1084772499.jpg

In Germany the DMV will supply sticker "plates" for high line exotic cars that do not have a standard license plate mount. Beats drilling holes, but having to stick a 4 x 14 sticker on you 400 thousand dollar Lamborghini probably really sucks! ;)

George

To me this is the most bogus law!!! A perfect example of what is wrong with this state. It has absolutely nothing to do with safety, only to draw revenue. It's a form of taxation, I've been hit with it twice. Paid the fine and moved on. Here's a big ***** YOU to state Legislators...well maybe not, they did get my money. Since I know there are cops on this site, I challenge you to look the other way on this law because it not only is such a pointless law that many states choose not to have it on their books, but it also (in my mind anyway) compromises the respect and integrity of the position that you hold.

My province has just moved to no front plate. I'm soooo happy! As far as mounting a front plate on that gorgeous car, don't do it. Take your chances.

Many motor vehicle laws are created for the sole purpose of generating revenue - parallels between the gov't and the mafia are many.

That was my thought too, especially since he radared me first. The car looks like it should be speeding, and he really wanted a speeder.

RSBob and Moses, thanks for those pictures. If I can bend just 1.5 inches total from the top and bottom, it might fit. I just hope a modified plate doesn't draw even more attention than a missing one.

Take a picture of you plate (or scan your plate on a scanner), then print the picture on static cling vinyl that you can buy at Office Depot or such places...trim it and stick it on the inside of your windshield.

Or you can print it on a sticker type of paper, and stick it on your f-glass bumper...you can reprint it anytime you want..after the bugs and rocks boogger it up good.

No drilling...and it'll make the light weight junkies proud :D

"you can't modify, duplicate or fail to use anything but what they give you"
-- Well, that depends -- there is a case in one state where the owner blanked out the state slogan or some icon but left the ID part alone. He won after being fined for doing it. The 1st amendment will trump any mere state law - tho I don't see how you are going to argue that if you leave the whole plate off.

It is not really a bogus law (tho its enforcement may be). The reason is to catch red light runners with automated cameras. These morons endanger pedestrians and bicyclists. I've kicked several such cars over the years. Someday I will get a plate number and sue his ass until his ears bleed (citizens can enforce the vehicle code here). I am very concerned about the proliferation of cameras run by Big Brother (as well as his relative, Big Nanny) but there is a clear safety problem. Check the stats of pedestrian injuries ....


Souk - I like the vinyl idea....

BTW, anybody who is transporting a big boulder of coke should be driving a DeLorean....

Attach the plate to the underside of the air scoop and fold flat back underneath. "Sorry Officer, musta been pushed back by the parking lot pilon." Worth a try and should lower the anxiety. After all, your plate is there!

I would just keep it handy, if you get pulle dover for it, say you willput it on ASAP, pay the FIx it Ticket $10 and then make your decision as to if it worth removing it again.

$10 with the odds on my favor is worth it.

I saw someone weld magnets to the plate.
Then they could just slap it on or off.
But you don't have any metal up on the front
of your car.
Very nice car, even without the front plate.

This might be a dumb question, but what do the pop rivet cars (er, Corvettes) do? There isn't even a provision for a front license plate on most of the 80's and on models from what I can tell (It's hard to see in my rear view mirror). Maybe somebody (not me!) should lurk in a Corvette BBS and see what they do?

Ralph

I looked up the California Vehicle Code on the web and found these sections. My comments are in bold. Looks to me like you could put the plate on your windshield, where it doesn't obstruct your view, and is in plain sight. Warning: don't ask me to pay for your ticket if the officer disagrees! If it were me, I'd rig up some quick-release mount for the bumper (Dzus fasteners?) and take the plate off for pics - after all, you don't see it when you're driving.

"Size of Plates

4852. __(a) License plates issued for motor vehicles, other than motorcycles, shall be rectangular in shape, 12 inches in length and six inches in width. The number and letter characters on the plates shall have a minimum height of two and three-quarter inches, a minimum width of one and one-quarter inches, and a minimum spacing between characters of five-sixteenths of an inch.

(b) Motorcycle license plates shall measure seven inches in length and four inches in width, and the characters on the plates shall have a minimum height of one and one-half inches and a minimum width of nine-sixteenths inches, and shall have a minimum spacing between characters of three-sixteenths of an inch."

So no cutting down a plate. May be arguable whether you can bend a plate.

Devices in Lieu of Plates

4853. __The department may issue one or more stickers, tabs, or other suitable devices in lieu of the license plates provided for under this code. Except where the physical differences between the stickers, tabs, or devices and license plates by their nature render the provisions of this code inapplicable, all provisions of this code relating to license plates may apply to stickers, tabs, or device

the DMV could issue stickers or euro-type plates if they wanted to. Never heard of them doing so, though.

Positioning of Plates

5201. __License plates shall at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle for which they are issued so as to prevent the plates from swinging , (_)1 shall be mounted in a position so as to be clearly visible, and shall be maintained in a condition so as to be clearly legible. The rear license plate shall be mounted not less than 12 inches nor more than 60 inches from the ground, and the front license plate shall be mounted not more than 60 inches from the ground, except as follows:

sounds like the plate doesn't have to be on the bumper. It could be attached to the hood, the windshield, the roof, the air dam, etc. No specific requirement that it be upright although too much of an angle might make it not "clearly visible". Doesn't actually say the plate has to be mounted to the outside of the car, but taping it to the inside of the windshield might make it not "clearly legible" (reflections?).

(a) The rear license plate on a tow truck may be mounted on the left-hand side of the mast assembly at the rear of the cab of the vehicle, not less than 12 inches nor more than 90 inches from the ground.

(b) The rear license plate on a tank vehicle hauling hazardous waste, as defined in Section 25117 of the Health and Safety Code, or asphalt material may be mounted not less than 12 inches nor more than 90 inches from the ground.

(c) The rear license plate on a truck tractor may be mounted at the rear of the cab of the vehicle, not less than 12 inches nor more than 90 inches from the ground.

(d) The rear license plate of a vehicle designed by the manufacturer for the collection and transportation of garbage, rubbish, or refuse (_)2 that is used regularly for the collection and transportation of that material by any person or governmental entity employed to collect, transport, and dispose of garbage, rubbish, or refuse may be mounted not less than 12 inches nor more than 90 inches from the ground.

(e) The rear license plate on a two-axle livestock trailer may be mounted 12 inches or more, but not more than 90 inches, from the ground.

(f) No covering (_)3 may be used on license plates except as follows:

wonder if a windshield is considered a "covering"?

(1) The installation of a cover over a lawfully parked vehicle to protect it from the weather and the elements does not constitute a violation of this subdivision. Any peace officer or other regularly salaried employee of a public agency designated to enforce laws, including local ordinances, relating to the parking of vehicles may temporarily remove so much of the cover as is necessary to inspect any license plate, tab, or indicia of registration on a vehicle.

(2) The installation of a license plate security cover is not a violation of this subdivision if the device does not obstruct or impair the recognition of the license plate information, including, but not limited to, the issuing state, license plate number, and registration tabs, and the cover is limited to the area directly over the top of the registration tabs. No portion of a license plate security cover shall rest over the license plate number. (_)4

(g) No casing, shield, frame, border, or other device that obstructs or impairs the reading or recognition of a license plate by a remote emission sensing device, as specified in Sections 44081 and 44081.6 of the Health and Safety Code, shall be installed on, or affixed to, a vehicle.

ah ha, no covers designed to defeat ticket cameras.

(h) (1) It is the Legislature's intent that an accommodation be made to persons with disabilities and to those persons who regularly transport persons with disabilities, to allow the removal and relocation of wheelchair lifts and wheelchair carriers without the necessity of removing and reattaching the vehicle's rear license plate. Therefore, it is not a violation of this section if the reading or recognition of a rear license plate is obstructed or impaired by a wheelchair lift or wheelchair carrier and all of the following requirements are met:

(A) The owner of the vehicle has been issued a special identification license plate pursuant to Section 5007, or the person using the wheelchair that is carried on the vehicle has been issued a distinguishing placard under Section 12511.55.

(B) (i) The operator of the vehicle displays a decal, designed and issued by the department, that contains the license plate number assigned to the vehicle transporting the wheelchair.

(ii) The decal is displayed on the rear window of the vehicle, in a location determined by the department, in consultation with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, so as to be clearly visible to law enforcement.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a decal is displayed pursuant to this subdivision, the requirements of this code that require the illumination of the license plate and the license plate number do not apply.

(3) The department shall adopt regulations governing the procedures for accepting and approving applications for decals, and issuing decals, authorized by this subdivision.

(4) This subdivision does not apply to a front license plate.