Ducati Monster Forum

Just got tagged by my local  [leo] for not having my front license plate on my SRT-4 (it's law here in Missouri).  I know i was in the wrong but that plate looks so fugly on the bumper!  and BTW the officer was totally polite and cordial.  Anybody in MO get away with having it in their windshield?  i think thats what i'll try... So who's state doesn't require a front plate on cars?

Not required in Mississippi.   [thumbsup]

But its required in California.   :'(  I used to drive around with it against my windshield, but then found an extra bumper License plate mount from a Land Rover... doesnt look half bad, but i still prefer the clean look. 

No front here in TN either. I went to visit friends in my hometown in VA for 2 weeks last month. Took my Jeep, which still has my old VA plate on the front and the expired county and inspection stickers in the windshield (all expired in '03/'04). Got pulled over 3 times for it by cops that were passing me going the opposite direction. Not much they could do about it.

They tried to bring in front number plates for Bikes here in Australia (I know this topic is about cars), but the secret plans were leaked, some smart people decided it was going to be to dangerous and the whole idea was shit canned.

Give it a couple of years, and they'll try it again.

You have to have front number plates in all states of Australia

Not needed in Alabama

we have to have front plates here in cali, and having the plate inside the vehicle is a no go, it has to be mounted on the front of the vehicle. i have never run a front plate. i got hassled once about it, ended up talking to the cop about my car and racing because he noticed that my windshield was covered in tech stickers from going to the track, and he was interested in racing.

I think having in in the windshield looks more tacky then having it on the front bumper.

We have to have them in Texas. Cops use it as a reason to pull you over, but rarely ticket for it.

No front here in NC

JM

 [roll] [roll]


First state I've lived in that required them

It's such a pain to mount a front plate on a bike.  >:(  [laugh]

It is required in CO.  Got a ticket once for having it laying on the dash.  Cop said it needs to be mounted on the bumper.  (where photo radar camera's pick it up.)

news to me  [laugh]


I  havent had one in almost 10 years, and have never been pulled over for it.  Yay for living in "rural" california

Required in NH.

I moved from Florida (no front plate) to Texas a few years back. I refuse to drill holes in my bumper to mount it so I keep it in the car with me. I have been pulled over once, but put the plate up in the window before the state trooper got to the car. Got the warning, but no ticket. Granted this was on a rural highway, I have yet to be pulled over in 3 years of city driving.

My wife keeps hers in the window on the dash.

No front plate for bikes in Texas, just wanted to make sure that wasn't a misunderstanding.

I'm in Colorado where front plate is required... but the general rule here (around denver) is: cops won't pull you over for it, but if you park in downtown you need to have the plate displayed on the center or side of traffic.  I would just put the plate in my front windshield when I parked on the street (downtown or anywhere).  I didn't bother when I parked in a lot.  2 years never got a ticket.

picture of my old car and why I didn't want a front plate... props to the first guy who knows what my plate means. 

(http://www.jackham.net/cars/rmcb5/01.jpg)

move over

Maryland requires them on cars and trucks but I see them all the time without them. 

dude, nice GTI. were you at DATR in the springs this year?

Oh, and No front plates in NM..

mine
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r141/acalles1/DATR07035.jpg (http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r141/acalles1/DATR07035.jpg)

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d03/vc5200.htm (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d03/vc5200.htm)

Doesn't say it needs to be on the bumper.

Required in NY. I got pulled over last year  for not having one on the front of my truck. Only reason, otherwise was driving textbook with signals, speed etc. The officer(local) was a big DOUCHE. You would think I just robbed a fing liquor store! I am very respectful and have not had other experiences like this. Maybe it's because he had the rookie with him.

That's because that's not the section that covers mounting  :) :

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, 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:


As long as you securely mount the plate to your dash or windshield, it's clearly visible, and it's less then 60" from the ground you'd be OK. I guarantee you that the plate will not be clearly visible though. The glare from the windshield at different angles will obscure the plate. Those plastic covers are illegal as well.

But as others said, it's usually used as a reason to stop you and rarely enforced.

not required in PA, but it is in NJ.

Required in Illinois. Cops usually don't hassle you about it, but living and driving around downtown Chicago means you'll get tickets like crazy. They now have the parking enforcement going at it with residential parking permits, city stickers, expired meters, and front license plates. This actually influenced the car I just purchased because I hate the way the plate looks on some cars. I used to have an MB SL Class and the front license plate killed the car. I now have a 3 series coupe and the plate looks 'decent'.

I've wondered why they haven't come up with European-style license plates here in the U.S. They look much better, and they could sell them as those 'special' license plates and make more money out of it.

My favorite front plate that I saw in Md.

 TIH2 HO

geez every car i've ever seen in a showroom has had a front plate mount on it,  i don't see the big deal.

in cali you get two plates so i put it on both, in ny you get two plates again bc you get them i put them on, and in va you get two plates same there.

two plates required in MA but...............  if you have one of the older "green lettered" plates you only need one.  I have one of these plates on my vette. ;D

Minnesota requires front license plates.   I don't like it, but that's the rules around here.  :-\ 

It's unlikely that they'll pull you over for driving w/o one, but I've seen the Parking Enforcement [leo] ticket vehicles that are parked on public streets.

I think not having the plate mounted is only a fix-it ticket if you even get sited for it in the first place. Some people put a magnet on the back of the bumber, show the police it's mounted and then take it off and drive away. No fine, just time.

Fix it tickets have an admin fee now, it's $10 or $25 or something like that. The officer can also check the "non-correctable" box if he decides you aren't getting the message (like he has cited you for it before), then the fine goes way up.

You'll notice a pattern here. Typically, Southern states don't require a front plate.

Whats the pattern show? That people from southern States couldn't figure out which one went on the front and which one on the back?  ;D

The one that says "I'm spending my kids' inheritance" surrounded by palm trees goes on the front.  Everyone knows that ;)

why are people so upset about mounting a front plate?

oh it's soooooo hoorrrrible...I have to drill a hole in the front bumber of my Elise (Ferrari, Lambo...insert car here)....life is sooooooo haaaard.   The government is ruining my life and taking away my rights.

drill the hole.  mount the plate.