Do I need a front license plate

falcon · falcon's Garage

The brake lens thread got me thinking on this topic. In California each car is to have a front AND a rear license plate. I was pulled over once for not having a front license plate once. However I see Vettes without front plates. They seem to get around the law. I just saw a new Lexus without any holder or provision for a holder. I'm sure there are other cars that get around the issue.

Do other states require only the rear plate so the car manufacturers are saving $ by not putting one in front?

Anybody have info. I sure would like to shed my front license plate so the guy in front of me sees only the P-car crest

Jim T · 01-10-2002, 02:39 PM

Yes, in California a front plate is required by law.

Other states do not require front plates.

That being said, its only a crime if you get caught! I've never had a front plate, and in 20+ years of driving in California have never been ticketed for that.

A lot of areas are starting to crack down on it though, esp. those areas that are starting to use photo-ticketing in intersections (if you run the light, its snaps a pic of your front plate and you get a ticket in the mail).

Kurt B · 01-10-2002, 02:59 PM

I went ahead and drilled the holes and mounted mine. With my car low and the spoiler going back a bit...hopefully they can't it anyway. Until yet, they have not specified the angle. Although the law if probably specific on that as well.
Oh well. My spoiler is beat to hell anyway from hitting things!

steve911 · steve911's Garage

I don't have front plates on 2 of 3 cars (my 911 DOES have one, but since I opted for personalized plates, figured I might as well put them both on.)

Have only gotten ticketed 2x in past 10 years or so, both fairly recently.
Once, in a BART lot on a Saturday night (learned my lesson - always park nose in against another car).

Second, my wife got a ticket on her Bimmer while parked in SF - apparently, SF cops are making a major push (got to fund Willie Brown's other initiatives) to ticket cars without front plates.

still like the look without them........

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

I don't have a front plate, and I removed the bracket. It looks much cleaner without one.

BTW, the red light cameras around here take pictures of both sides of your car, so lack of a plate won't save you.

Tom

patalive · 01-10-2002, 03:08 PM

In the revenue collection-crazed city of WashingtonDC, the parking meter person will also write you up for a missing front plate. The city has a huge gang (hundreds) of these revenue foot patrols prowling the city!
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OT - the police department and seven towing companies are being sued in a class action suit by two individuals. Seems the police would have your car towed, but would not tell you where it was located for days and weeks, until the tow company rang up whopping storage bills. Reportedly, the tow companies were kicking back to the appropropriate police folks. Nice scam, indeed.

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Chuck

RoninLB · 01-10-2002, 03:23 PM

My brother got hit w/photo radar in Marina Del Rey, Calif last year. Got 2 pics. in mail, front&rear. I remove front plate on big rides when I leave NY. Cops have best shot w/Laser at front plate. Will be buying Laser jammer soon. Never got a ticket out of state for no front plate and been checked out plenty of times by HP.

pbs911 · pbs911's Garage

I have the Porsche Crest front plate. Does that count?

Never had any problems. But then again there are no photo traffic signals in my area. If your in LA you will probably be pulled over.

falcon · falcon's Garage

I forgot about those intersection cameras...Willie in SF ALWAYS needs money especially if he is going to run for guv one of these days.

So how do vettes with their "corvette" scripted plastic bumper and other cars get away with not having a front license plate holder or location to put a plate?

pwd72s · 01-10-2002, 03:55 PM

Same way some of us do..by refusing to run with a front plate, accepting the ticket risk. I've avoided drilling holes in my longnose 911 with a simple solution. I sewed a pocket in the bra. The plate slips in the bra pocket, rides way down there low under a flexible plastic cover. I really doubt that any front pointing camera could read the plate, but I've had cops look, and not ticket me for front plate violations. Perhaps it's the "special interest vehicle" stickers on the plates that helps?

mwbaum · mwbaum's Garage

Front plates are required in Washington...

Kevin Reilly · 01-10-2002, 04:36 PM

I haven't had one in a few years, with no tickets so far. I have the plate in the trunk, and holes already drilled so if necessary I'd comply.

I didn't have one on my Lexus either.

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by falcon
So how do vettes with their "corvette" scripted plastic bumper and other cars get away with not having a front license plate holder or location to put a plate?

Well, if you look that plate that says "corvette" is on it's own little panel. A friend has a new Grand Prix (also a GM product) with a similar panel. That little panel unscrews from the back, and the plate goes there.

Not that anyone actually does that, but there is provision for the plate.

Tom

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

In California, the only vehicle allowed to run without a front plate are ones with Dealer or Manufacturer plates....

RoninLB · 01-10-2002, 10:09 PM

Mike ... interesting calf. plate law. I didn't know they would pull over a Fire Truck running to a job?? Calf. land always amazes me. Did Clinton move to Laa Laa Land yet???

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Always at least one guy smoking something on this list....E Plated cars....emergency, state, county, city, special district owned vehicles also have two plates.....

RoninLB · 01-10-2002, 10:27 PM

My $370,000 ['62 356] Ruby Red 12 ton FD rig has never been pulled over. E-plate is the law here also. Would never disturb the beauty of a Porsche color with a front plate if I could get away with out it.

sander · sander's Garage

I have a front plate on my 911, but my daily driver has absolutely no provision for mounting one.

If I get a ticket, can I just have the dealership pay for it?

I find it strange that you could sell a car in a given state without that car complying with all the local rules and regulations. In the end, it's the owner that pays for it, though...

Well, I'll just keep my fingers crossed and the car parked nose-first!

epbrown · 01-11-2002, 10:44 AM

See, you guys are rebels. Maybe it's being a bean-counter by training, or the fact that living in an urban area means parking on public streets quite a bit, but the first ticket I got for not having a front plate on the SC was enough for me. The ticket was $25, the mounting kit was about half that - I mounted the plate and took a picture with it to void the ticket.

The only reason I haven't done the RR is it will require more work, and I'm stalling until I figure a way to securely mount it hanging down from the bumper instead of obscuring it.

Emanuel

robertinla · 01-11-2002, 11:59 AM

It's the law in California. I don't see the big deal in going through the little extra trouble to put front plates even if it looks cool without it. It seems too much of a nuisance to daily life to forever have to maneuver your car in parking so as to disguise the lack a plate. I don't get it.