Is It Illegal to Not Have a License Plate on the front?
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From: San Jose, California, US
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Is It Illegal to Not Have a License Plate on the front?
I'm in California and my car didn't come with a plate frame on the front of the car and I like the clean look. I want to keep it that way. Even when my number plate comes, can I just not put the license plate on the front of the car? [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/IMG]
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From: New York, New York, US
Rep Power: 0 If you are provided with two plates, you must use two plates. I know for a fact that the State of New York and the State of California requires two plates. Other states, such as Florida, only require one. You must have the holes drilled on the front and put the plate on or you risk being stopped by police and/or summonsing.
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From: bay area, california
Rep Power: 337 silvr has got it right for california. if htey give you 2 plate, you legally have to put them both on. if they only send you one, you only gotta use one.
ive seen ricers put their plates on teh dash tho... dunno if thats legal or not, but can you do that?
ive seen ricers put their plates on teh dash tho... dunno if thats legal or not, but can you do that?
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From: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
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In Wisconsin you also have to have a front and back plate. When I didn't have a front plate on my civic, I got pulled over quite a bit for it, and eventually put it on.
I have not put the front plate on the S2000 (i dont even know if there is a spot to mount it) and have not gotten pulled over for it yet... (knock on wood) Weird to say the least. Maybe the cops just leave me alone cuz of the car? Either that or they are blinded by the HID's and can't see I dont have a front plate anyways. lol.
I have not put the front plate on the S2000 (i dont even know if there is a spot to mount it) and have not gotten pulled over for it yet... (knock on wood) Weird to say the least. Maybe the cops just leave me alone cuz of the car? Either that or they are blinded by the HID's and can't see I dont have a front plate anyways. lol.
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From: New York, New York, US
Rep Power: 0 A plate on the dash is just as bad as not having it at all, in my opinion, and it can also result in "obstructing a view" in addition to "no front plate." In the event the driver has to stop short, that tag can become airborne in the vehicle and injure a passenger. The court will not toss a summons for no front plate if the excuse is that there is nowhere to mount it on the front; you are expected to have the necessary holes drilled.
This is something that I tend to enforce....
This is something that I tend to enforce....
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From: bay area, california
Rep Power: 337 << A plate on the dash is just as bad as not having it at all, in my opinion, and it can also result in "obstructing a view" in addition to "no front plate." In the event the driver has to stop short, that tag can become airborne in the vehicle and injure a passenger. The court will not toss a summons for no front plate if the excuse is that there is nowhere to mount it on the front; you are expected to have the necessary holes drilled.
This is something that I tend to enforce.... >>
this is all personal curiosity on my part, i feel like im getting mixed signals from this. i totally agree that judges would be harsh in teh event of injury resulting on obstructed view or a flying object...
but from a purely black and white paper legal issue, it IS illegal to have it on teh dash? or is that just your opinion....
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From: bay area, california
Rep Power: 337 oh well. the guy here who has it is total rice anyways. should be pulled over anyways, his car is in such poor taste lol! like a 98 civic with cf altezzas, thundercats stickers over the reverse lights, bumblebee exaust, calipers in teh front painted red (black car) DRUMS in the back painted red, WINDSHIELD WIPERS painted red [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/IMG] of course has a full system that plays distortion wonderfully, like all riceboys.
man, why dont ppl have taste anymore....
man, why dont ppl have taste anymore....
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From: New York, New York, US
Rep Power: 0 The Corvette is in violation as well. The law requires the appropriate holes to be drilled in the front to allow the front tag to be displayed. Technicially, operators of the Corvette can be summonsed for not displaying a front plate in those states where the front plate is required.
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From: Oakland, California, US
Rep Power: 0 << The Corvette is in violation as well. The law requires the appropriate holes to be drilled in the front to allow the front tag to be displayed. >>
License plate tags? In Cali, we only get one set of tags and they are for the rear plate... don't see the point of having them on the front. (Along with the plate itself.)
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From: New York, New York, US
Rep Power: 0 In New York, no front plate is $45, as is any other equipment violation. It is not a moving violation, so your insurance company doesn't care about it. From what I have heard, I believe California issues two plates and they are supposed to be on front and back. If you receive two plates, you must use two plates. Is there a point for one in the front? I like it, obviously, because it allows me to see the plates of oncoming cars and especially helps if we are looking for a particular vehicle. I can read a plate backwards in a mirror, but I find it easier to just look in the front while passing someone.
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From: Car Audioville, Quebec, Canada
Rep Power: 0 << In New York, no front plate is $45, as is any other equipment violation. It is not a moving violation, so your insurance company doesn't care about it. From what I have heard, I believe California issues two plates and they are supposed to be on front and back. If you receive two plates, you must use two plates. Is there a point for one in the front? I like it, obviously, because it allows me to see the plates of oncoming cars and especially helps if we are looking for a particular vehicle. I can read a plate backwards in a mirror, but I find it easier to just look in the front while passing someone. >>
Speeding by them illegally you mean [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG] j/k. Cops around here fly down the roads without emergency lights on which I beleive is VERY illegal for officers to do if exceeding 10mph over the limit?. They often go 130-159km/h in 100 zones to catch up to and radar speeding traffic that they assume is up the road. Most police ifficers I've dealt with have all been fair. One officer was downright dirty, he pulled me over because he felt like it and decided to search my car without a warrant. I wonder if that coincided with the fact that I had my g/f and her brother in my car who are black.hmm..
I Have mad respect for cops. My uncles one. As long your fair, call em how it is. there 2 [IMG]i/expressions/beer_yum.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/beer_yum.gif[/IMG] for U
Cheers
Mohawk
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From: Car Audioville, Quebec, Canada
Rep Power: 0 << up in canada it is illegal >>
In some provinces yes. In Quebec we get 1 plate on the back of the car. which can be mounted in the rear windshield for pickup trucks used for work.
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Mohawk
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From: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Rep Power: 0 I don't know what the big deal is about not wanting to have plates on your car, it IS the law and we have to follow it just like everybody else. There are other things that I'm sure that we all want to do which we can't because it's illegal, like smoke in a non-smoking area, or tint your windshield really dark, and all that. If you don't like the plates sitting on your cars, then that's too bad, get one of those custom plate holders with the chain design around them or a neon plate holder or something like that...I guess that's why they would sell them in the first place. [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]
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From: New York, New York, US
Rep Power: 0 While we're on the subject of license plates, do note that it is illegal in many states (including New York) to put plate covers over the plates, even if they are see through plastic. New York State Troopers enjoy stopping people for that violation.
Mohawk, I'm not required to use my lights at all. Of course, it varies by department policy, but there is no law in my state which says I have to activate my lights when I'm doing such and such a speed. Often, at a red light, when I have to get to a call, I'll go to the left of everyone at an intersection, almost in the median, hit the "all lights" switch, and use the momentary siren if necessary and then proceed through the intersection, turning everything off once I've crossed the intersection. Many cops do that near me. I'll only keep the lights and siren on and drive on the road if--I am going extremely fast, driving in the opposite lane, have to catch up with a speeder, etc. I'll only use them to go to a call if it is serious in nature. It's all officer's discretion by me, but I'm sure there are laws in some areas which require them to be used in certain instances.
2k1 is right about the plates; it's the law (in some areas) and it's really not a big deal.
Mohawk, I'm not required to use my lights at all. Of course, it varies by department policy, but there is no law in my state which says I have to activate my lights when I'm doing such and such a speed. Often, at a red light, when I have to get to a call, I'll go to the left of everyone at an intersection, almost in the median, hit the "all lights" switch, and use the momentary siren if necessary and then proceed through the intersection, turning everything off once I've crossed the intersection. Many cops do that near me. I'll only keep the lights and siren on and drive on the road if--I am going extremely fast, driving in the opposite lane, have to catch up with a speeder, etc. I'll only use them to go to a call if it is serious in nature. It's all officer's discretion by me, but I'm sure there are laws in some areas which require them to be used in certain instances.
2k1 is right about the plates; it's the law (in some areas) and it's really not a big deal.
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From: Duluth, MN
Rep Power: 394 Here in Minnesota you also have to have 2 plates. But back to the Corvette issue, If you have noticed most of the new sportier GM cars, Impala, Grand Prix, Monte Carlo, have thier plates indented, and for states that have no front plate, the have a nice color coated vanity plate that is flush with the car. Very clean, nice look to it. I have noticed a couple of cars up here that have that, that I assume are breaking the law too. But is to ask a question, are you just going to stop and ticket someone for that and just that.
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From: New York, New York, US
Rep Power: 0 The traffic by me is just about the same, or just as worse as New York City traffic. I'm not going to go after a car like a Corvette or an Impala or whatever the car is just for a "no front plate" summons. If the car is speeding, runs a red light, or something like that, and after stopping the car I notice no front plate, I will probably take action.
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From: Toronto
Rep Power: 0 It's illegal in Ontario too. When I had my 93 Civic Si I took the plate off the front. I stashed it in my glovebox, and whenever I saw a cop I'd carefully slide it between my windshield and my dash. hehehehe didn't work too well though. I eventually got pulled over and given a warning.
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From: Markham, Ontario, Canada
Rep Power: 0 Personally I wouldn't care if my car had a stock bumper, but for cars that have full body kits, you don't want to drill holes into that aftermarket bumper! Plus it looks a loot cleaner and normally you have no where to mount it but by the radiator.
