Front license plate problem

strother · 01-11-2005, 04:45 AM

Does anyone have a method to making the front license plate on an SC plumb rather than tilted down?

hpmad · 01-11-2005, 05:05 AM

hello,

don't put any front licence plate, this will solve the problem!
I live in Idaho, and I have never had a front licence plate, on my porsche as well as on my MG midget. BTW, front licence plate is compolsory in Idaho... but I have never had any problems with it....

regards, cyrille

fireant911 · 01-11-2005, 05:06 AM

I simply placed a square piece of foam on the lower middle portion of mine to achieve the look that I wanted. It has worked well for me.

strother · 01-11-2005, 05:09 AM

I wish Texas were the same. Before I got the 911, I received tickets in my Jetta on two different occasions for having no front plate. I think that in the 911 (a daily driver) I'll be a bigger target! Plus, my valence has some unsightly square holes in it from the license plate bracket.

drl911 · drl911's Garage

You can quite easily bondo the square recesses for the plate bolts and repaint the front valance for a nice smooth look.

I used to like my "Porsche" front plate, but now I really prefer the smooth no plate look.

Dan

mwbaum · mwbaum's Garage

I keep mine under my seat. Harder to get tagged by laser. "Gee Sir it just broke off on a curb this morning, and I have to buy new mounting brackets today."

fiminod · 01-11-2005, 08:39 AM

Not meaning to sound flip...but bend it outward. (it's what I have to do after I make that excessive driveway re-entry manuver) Also make sure it's installed correctly with the shorter arms on top.

MovOvr1 · MovOvr1's Garage

I haven't had any problems without one for 6 yrs. on both the M3 or 930.....but then again....I have only been pulled over once...for other reasons.

Brian

jmz · jmz's Garage

I don't run mine ever. My car is not a daily driver but I have had no problems.

strother · 01-11-2005, 08:55 AM

I like the foam block idea. I don't like having the front plate like all of you, but Houston is actively enforcing the law now, for some reason.

jmz · jmz's Garage

...guess I've been notified. I suppose I'll run mine AFTER I get pulled over for the first time.

ZOA NOM · ZOA NOM's Garage

Yeah, good choice. The radar reflection from a license plate is ENORMOUS. Removing it gives you a little more time to react to your detector. You have a detector, right?

creaturecat · 01-11-2005, 09:43 AM

there is less reflection with the license plate facing downward

strother · 01-11-2005, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jmz
...guess I've been notified. I suppose I'll run mine AFTER I get pulled over for the first time.

FWIW, I got one ticket on Allen Parkway in that damn trap, and the other one heading south on Milam downtown.

Moses · 01-11-2005, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZOANAS
Yeah, good choice. The radar reflection from a license plate is ENORMOUS. Removing it gives you a little more time to react to your detector. You have a detector, right?

I sprayed my front plate with that "radar invisibility" stuff then put it under the passenger seat. Can't be too careful.

ZOA NOM · ZOA NOM's Garage

LOL!

That's funny, but I'm not kidding. At the wavelength of police Ka band radar, a license plate perpendicular to the radar source looks like a barn. Especially as a percentage of the frontal signature on a small car.

umgang · 01-11-2005, 04:52 PM

Took it off and welded the mounting flush, then repainted. Got pulled over durring a highway patrol roadblock. After checking the car over they waved us by. Suddenly, a little trooper ran up and stopped us, asking "where is your front plate?" Not missing a beat I replied, "It's a german car, there is an oil cooler behind there, we're working on a way to safely mount the plate." ..and down the road we go.

randywebb · 01-11-2005, 05:15 PM

Ok, I now have an interesting question....

In your state, are you required to have the exact govt. issued plate installed? Or would it be legal to have a plastic replica made, complete with refective paint, and indistinguishable to the naked eye from the steel plate?

An interesting legal question, isn't it?

Also, some state laws require that the plate be affixed to the "front of the car." Now, what does that mean? Anything in the front half? The absolute front-most portion of the vehicle? Or what?

jhawk1000 · jhawk1000's Garage

jhawk1000 · jhawk1000's Garage

Here is my front plate. Brought it back from Germany on one of my visits to Munich. Prior one was from Stuttgart but it was stolen. No problem with the front plate even though we do not require two plates. Just bend the holder upward to straighten the plate.

Mel