3.1RS

I got a ticket for a front plate today and i remember reading on here a long time ago that its says somewhere that the front plate bracket is an option from GM and if i can produce that document to the court, they will dismiss the ticket. Anyone know what im talking about or has anyone got it dismissed in court?

NEEDforSPEED

that sounds like a good idea.... never tho of that

TexasLT1

it doesn't matter if its an option if your state requires a front plate.

BlackMagic

I know that here in texas you dont have to have a front plate unless your came with one from factory. With our cars it was optional, and you can fight your way out of it. I have gotten verbal warning, more like suggestions to put one on in my 86' Trans Am, but never a ticket because i tell the officer it did not come with one from factory.

BAD91CamaroRS

I too would like to have this information. I've been pulled over a few times for no front plate, but no tickets yet. But it would be nice to have this information.

18inchboyds

now your not gonna like what im gonna say but its the truth . its not a bs ticket , you broke the law by now having one and you got caught , so your pissed, just pay the cheap fine and be done with it or fix it and they wont fine you . Front plates are bs thats why i dont run one but i take the chance everytime i drive it .

CaysE

I personally think everyone should have their liscence plate numbers on the doors in vinyl. But I digress...

This depends on the state. I don't know the laws in Washington, but it can go one of two ways. Either your state requires the front plates no matter what, or they only require them if the car came with the front bracket. The front bracket was always an option on all US cars, but if you're car didn't come with one, you'd have to produce the RPO sheet with your VIN showing that the front plate option was not installed. You may even need a build sheet or dealer invoice. If your car needs a front plate no matter what in WA, then you're SOL.

92 Formula

iTrader: (2)

In Virginia you have to have a front tag no matter what. However, in many areas the cops could care less. Unfortunately I am not in one of those areas.

If I get a ticket, hey, I knew better. I don't like it, but that's the way it is. What DOES burn my hide is that the fine (in my county anyway) is MORE expensive for no front tag than for having your children unbelted or not in a car seat! That's just insane.

1BadThirdgen

Yeah, your gonna have to end up paying for it.......

Word or Word from the chair of the Licensing Department in Washington.......

DURTYBIRD

This is incorrect.

GodSpeedGTA

iTrader: (1)

its not correct until September...after november a bill will be almost definately (it still has to go through another committee or whatever) passed but it should pass just fine saying that you dont have to have a front plate in texas

this is CORRECT!.

91TPI5.7

18incboyds is correct. I dont put mine on and I got a verbal warning too. I just told him it came out of the body shop and i was waiting for the bracket from the dealer. Yup, been 2 years and im still waiting. On a side not, GM made it as an option because of the states that require them. In jersey it is required. I asked a cop about this who commented about it at a carshow. I told him I understand that not having one is a reason to pull me over, but when you pull me over and run the plates, which one are you reading off of. He said good point.

formula forever

I got a ticket when i came out of work on day a cop was writing me a ticket. after 4 years of driving my formula without a front plate they give me a ticket. it is stupid what are they going to pursuit you when you are driving backwards

82knightrider

iTrader: (1)

ah hell,that sux.good luck man,my prayers are with you

92 Formula

iTrader: (2)

I just wanted to add the following to everyone who hates the front plate and reads this thread:

WRITE YOUR STATE REPRESENTIVES! GET INVOLVED!

Twice in the last three years Virginia has had a bill introduced to kill the front plate only to have them tabled (killed). I actually talked to each of the representatives that introduced or co-sponsored the bill. They said the major problem is that most of the car hobbyist who, they were told, wanted this bill to become law were not being vocal to force change. Meanwhile, the State Police Commander merely says "it will endanger the lives of our troopers" and that, naturally, has more weight than a largely silent public. State Senator Chichester pointed out that there were quite a few states not requiring front tags and it did not endanger their troopers, but if there is not a large unified force of car hobbyist standing with the reps they will ALWAYS buckle to the police. I talked to my friends, I went to many state car related forums, I posted here on TGO, etc., but, sadly, few fellow Virginians were willing to take five minutes and send out letters to their state reps.

Not to rant, but it seems the biggest problem with many fellow members of the car hobby is that they whine like hell on boards or to each other but do nothing worthwhile, like contacting their state reps, when they actually could. If your local representative does not share your views, go out and vote for someone who will.

Anyway, I'm not trying to rant to you guys/gals, I am only trying to help you (and me) get these front tags eliminated.

Hals und Beinbruch.

Gunny Highway

iTrader: (1)

Well damn, I was thinking about registaring my car in VA, but if the front plate thing is that much of an issue, forget about it.

What's the deal with emissions in VA?

Zepher

iTrader: (1)

Visual inspection for smog in most of VA, northern va uses a sniffer up the tail pipe.

I ran with no plate for a couple of weeks when I accidentally ripped my front plate and bracket off with the lawnmower throttle cable and one afternoon on the way home I was behind a cop doing 40mph and he starts to slow down so I do the same down to about 20mph but I didn't want to just stop on the road so I passed him, as soon as I passed him I got pulled.
Showed him my plate on the bracket (had it in the back seat) and told him that someone ripped it off the car in a parking lot that day and he said he'd give me a warning if I promised to put it back on when I got home.

stalin05

I know in iowa you have to have front and back. But i just see sooo many without the front.

MNformula350

iTrader: (2)

Wow i actually have to agree with 18inchboyds on this one ( never thought i'd see the day ). if your state requires a front plate ( like MN BOOOO ) and you didn't have one, then you deserve the ticket. That's what is wrong with people today always trying to do anything but take responsbility for their own actions.
When i worked for Pontiac, whenever a new car was inspected the fornt plate brackets were always attached to the cars with rivits or like the T/A's the front cover was removed ( 98-02 style ) and the dealer plate was attached. sometimes the cover was put in the trunk of the car, other times it was just tossed.

92 Formula

iTrader: (2)

The good news is that in more non-rural areas of Virginia the cops seem to care less. I drove for years with no front tag in the Arlington, Fairfax, Manassas and Fauqier county areas with no hassle ever (even when stopped for speeding...only cited for the speeding ticket).

However, now, I live in a much more rural area and one of the State Policemen in particular looks for all the guys/gals who drive without a front tag. Like I said in an earlier post, when I get pulled over for that I don't mind because I know the law...but it reallys burns my hide that the fine is worse for the lack of a front tag than having your children climbing around loose all over the car while driving (this happens a lot in this area). What are they thinking?

As stupid as it may sound, my wife and I are looking to move to another state with one of the key lures being that the state has no emissions and no front tag.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I live in a non emissions area of Virginia and I know a guy who doesn't pay any attention to what is, or is not, under the hood (important for the IROC).

Gunny Highway

iTrader: (1)

Well I'm moving to VA Beach is a few weeks, but this month is my birth month, so I've got to get the sniffer done on my Camaro this week here in GA. This every year crap is getting totally annoying.

Does anybody even know why a front plate is necessary? Just seems like a way to charge for 2 tags as opposed to one.

And 2.) Does anybody know if VA Beach has the sniffer or simply a visual?

92 Formula

iTrader: (2)

If you ask the state reps and particularly the State Police they will tell you it is a Police safety issue. You figure that one out. BTW, this is really the answer I was given when I was trying to get together grass roots support for the bill that had been introduced to drop the front plate. Here are a few email I still have concerning it:

Anyway, both times the bills were tabled.

As far as emissions in VA beach area, I believe they have the sniffer...I know in Northern Virginia my Grandfather has a 93 Crown Victoria that has to run the treadmill to pass. Hopefully Zepher will reply again, he knows that area better than I do. If your car is highly modded, I suggest you find a friend and a PO BOX number in the many counties in Virginia that does not require emissions testing. I might be willing to help you out on that if worse came to worse for you.

I-rocin

i live in gloucester, and have been without a front plate for only about 2 weeks now, have seen about 15-20 cops in a spot where they could pull me over for no front platre, but tehy didn't


anyone know if its legal in va to have it in the windshield?

92 Formula

iTrader: (2)

Yes, I've read the law before and you aren't supposed to get away with having it in the windshield. I know Gloucester very well, I live on the Northern Neck (north of you). I think it's one of the areas where the cops are more interested in "real" tickets.

camaro05

iTrader: (1)

I haven't been runing my front plate for a while now and I haven't goten stoped. The area that I Live has lots of military from all over the place so I assume the cops don't waste thier time to look for MD people with no front tag.

82knightrider

iTrader: (1)

theyre gonna throw the book at you

Zepher

iTrader: (1)

No sniffer in Va Beach, just a visual.
I've got a few friends that do inspections and if the car is in good working order, it should be no problem to get an inspection sticker.

Front tag in the window only works a few times, then you'll start to get tickets. It's a non moving violation so you just pay the fine, but I am not sure what the fine is, I am thinking in the $40-60 range, which they usually drop if you mount the plate and take a picture of the car and take it to court with you.

A lot of the pro-front tag people say that the plate gives the cops something to aim thier laser guns at since it is very reflective. It also gives the prisoners something to do since I believe our plates are made at the state prisons.

redraif

Does the dealer even still make them...or are they discoed. I would get the window sticker show car did not have the option for it. Show the dealer does not sell them. The nose being pointed does not make a condusive surface for mounting a flat tag...

Worse case get 2 long L shaped brackets mount one end under the bumper where it will not hurt bumper cover. have the other end far enough away from the front of the nose that it will not touch when the wind pushes it at speeds!

What I would do to make them mad... mount in same fashion, but make the tag go down below cover. Have fun bashing Gov property on speed bumps! Let it get all mangled and say see why I don't run one! You can't read it anyway! Now way would I drill into my nose for front plate laws!

Beter yet get moterized tag kit. Mount below front bumper so you can make it tuck back under bumper. You get stopped & cop says where is tag...say its there how did you miss it. (Hit button discreetly!)

911rsq

In Illinois the front liscence plate is required, whether your car came with a plate bracket from the factory or not.
No plate = Illegal......

Difflock

We have to have front plates in the UK whether you have an Alfa or an F-body.
Hmm... seeing as Tony Blair is a good buddy of your President, you think Mr. Bush would decree that we don't need front plates?


Cheers,
Mark.

82knightrider

iTrader: (1)

haha....I wouldnt be surprised.

WILL85IROC

bottom line is that if your state requires two plates then u must have two. In P.A (im in pittsnburgh..) we only have to have one plate on the rear. so its a state by state thing...

Gunny Highway

iTrader: (1)

bottom line is that having two tags is gay and unnessary.

KiLLJ0Y

iTrader: (1)

...

irocbirdbuilder

I had issues and a few tickets when i had it under my seat Put it in the windshied on the pass side and no more issues, if i am driving it somewhere i'll leave it there and if i'm at a crusie or a show i pull it out and put it under the seat


You want a bs ticket? i got one a few months back for obstruction of vision....apparently the aurora pd think my hoods to big

redraif

You too! I just had my birthday the 11th... Failed and had to get a cat...then I passed with flying colors! Old one was in BAD shape!

Ew...visual in VA Beach...remind me not to go there. Car would fail due to no EGR... that and the cut out would tick them off... They would probably go after me for the headlights and clears too! Yipes!

I think 2 tags is just pointless!

Psycho_91Camaro

I ****ing hate having the front plate infront of my car! it looks ugly!!!

82knightrider

iTrader: (1)

I got a fix it ticket for no front plate today.

Psycho_91Camaro

Well since im soon going to be working with my local Police department they let me off the hook but the officer still urged me to install the front plate which I did.. but I think it makes my car look ugly.... and it actualy cuts off air from entering because it is in the middle of the grill.

91TPI5.7

I am planning to get on a local dept after I move. While I am now and probably as a cop, a stickler for stuff like this, I still will not put one on. Even though I may issue a ticket to you. That being said, even as a cop, I would not use that to my defense of getting out of a ticket. Besides, there is always the chance of getting it dropped, its a gamble, if you do it, repare to lose.

Puntman87

Thats what I do, easy to remove no screwdriver required and you can't get ticketed. And I'm sure that either few or none of you are worried about slight visibility loss in the bottom right corner. Stick your tag there and dont worry about tickets or how your car looks.

Zepher

iTrader: (1)

You'll get a ticket in VA since the plate is supposed to be a certain height from the ground and clearly visible on the front of the car, like I said earlier, you can get out of it a couple of times but you'll eventually get a ticket.
Some of my friends do this and get ticketed and just pay the fine.

stalin05

For a long time i stuck my front plate in the corner of my window just cuaes i was too cheap to buy a front bracket holder for it

[VU]Juan

The way I've been explained this law here in Nevada is that if the front license plate mount is an option then you either the option of getting a ticket or not. The law is there for all vehicles (of course with the exceptions of bikes and blah blah) but cars must have it on, optional or not.

TransAm12sec

lmao

Everyday when I drive, I can get two tickets. One for no front plate, and the second for a modifyed exhaust. In WI, it's illegal to modify your exhaust(not sure how the law is worded). I could get a third ticket when I have the #s on the windsheild(from the dragstrip) for obstruction of vision. All of the power is in the hands of the officer. It's whatever he wants to enforce.

The plate issue in my mind

Arguements for it
-Brings in more money for the state
-Gives the cops a reason to pull you over in many suitations(crusing, street racing, reckless driving)
-Gives the radar/laser gun a flat, reflective surface

Arguements against it

-Distracts officers from anything significant
-I can't think of anymore that would be reasonable to argue to a court, or state rep.


My dad got a fix it ticket for no front plate, and he couldn't find the plate. He called the police office and said that; the woman said "I'll just mark it down as taken care of".