89rs-red

Question on whether u need both license plates in California?

jliroc

iTrader: (1)

Yes front and rear, and must be mounted to the car. Although the whole time I lived in Cali I didn't have one

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

Supposed to. Do I? Nope. When I get a ticket will I? Yup. and if I get a ticket tomorrow im holding this thread accountable.

Base91

iTrader: (1)

I've got two cars that don't have them. Never been pulled over or anything. A local deputy sheriff told me if there is nowhere on the front to fix one and the car never came with one then it's ok. Don't know for sure if he meant that was the law or just what cops went by. I didn't push any further.

itsMikey

i dont have a front plate either..makes the front look thrown off to me..
my 66 impala doesnt have one either

1982MSETA

CVC 5200. (a) When two license plates are issued by the department for use upon a vehicle, they shall be attached to the vehicle for which they were issued, one in the front and the other in the rear.


CVC 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 so that the characters are upright and display from left to right, 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

BUT WAIT, DONT HAVE A FRONT BRACKET??

V C Section 11713.17 Front License Plate Bracket


Front License Plate Bracket

11713.17. (a) Following the retail sale or lease of a motor vehicle for which the department issues two license plates, a dealer may not deliver the motor vehicle unless either of the following occurs:
(1) The motor vehicle is equipped with a bracket or other means of securing a front license plate.
(2) The dealer obtains a signed written acknowledgment from the person taking delivery of the motor vehicle acknowledging both of the following:
(A) The person expressly refused installation of a bracket or other means of securing the front license plate.
(B) The person understands that California law requires a license plate to be displayed from and securely fastened to the front of the motor vehicle and that the hardware necessary to securely fasten the front plate is available from the dealer.
(b) A manufacturer or distributor may not sell or distribute in this state a new motor vehicle for which the department issues two license plates, unless that motor vehicle is equipped or provided with a bracket or other means of securing the license plates.

Added Sec. 1, Ch. 365, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005.


ARE YOU SORRY YOU ASKED YET???

Base91

iTrader: (1)

So a guy asks a policeman if it's ok to park on a street. The policeman says no. The guy asks why all the other cars are parked there. The cop replies "they didn't ask". Words to live by.
Don't ask don't tell.

Guest

On my camaro I just bent the top of the plate so it would fit. Looks fine to me. Before I got pulled over for it, It's not that I didnt want one, it's just I never took the time to make it work. Reminds me I have to tighten up my front plate on my other car. Dam auto shop put big screw bolts in and I hope they tighten up.

rock861261

I take it jan 1 2005 was the date that was added... grandfather law it is.. it also seem the word DEALER is who it applys too

JulieGTA

I don't have a front plate on the GTA, or the 85 Corolla I inherited. (I also don't have tinted windows.)

In 10 years I got one fix-it ticket for the front plate. It was near an airport, and the rear plate light was out.

My theory is, cops are really busy, understaffed, and a little paranoid. If they HAVE to pull you over for something, then you WILL get ticketed.

jliroc

iTrader: (1)

Awesome, me too!!

rock861261

worst case you get a fix it ticket pay your local pd $15 to sign it off, find a officer to do for free or go to chp and get it signed off for free no real big deal

JulieGTA

I think it costs more than $15 this year, does anyone know?

ron reece

iTrader: (2)

the chp signs them off for free, our local police department (bakersfield PD) charges 15.00. plus the court charges 25.00 for the fix it ticket fee.

Jstcrzyengh

iTrader: (2)

Here you go:

http://www.jegs.com/i/Altec+Products...400EU/10002/-1

irocdan

front plates look like crap on our cars.so i don't have 1 on but it is a open invite for an officer to look deeper into your car and it's other illegal uhh things

RoelSS

iTrader: (1)

Yes they are required as many have stated.

I got pulled over in my cobalt for no front plate, got off with a warning. I got 2 tickets while the car was parked on the street for no front plate. Having it on the windshield doesn't count either. It really depends on the officer. I have 2 friends which are officers and they both tell me the same thing. It gives them a reason to pull you over. Weather it's a front plate, tinted windows, exhaust, lights, etc....

Red87SC

As stated by many before, you do have to legally have a plate on the front of the car.

I actually got pulled over in my 04 Titan for no front plate. Granted, i think he really pulled me over because the truck has limo tint all the way around and its lowered on black powdercoated 22's so it looks kinda sinister and it caught the officer's eye.

It helps to have a friend in law enforcment to sign the tickets off. I went to the DMV and made the dealership i bought the truck from pay for new plates. I figured why give them a reason to pull me over besides the window tint right? It doesnt look terrible on my truck but when i had the 87 T/A, it never had holes in the bumper so i never mounted one.

My fiance was driving the t/a and got pulled over and ticketed for no front plate. 2 days later, she was pulled over again for the same thing (plate was in the window this time) and the cop said thats not legal. She simply said "well officer, where would you like me to mount the plate? There is absolutly no place on this bumper to mount it on the front bumper" the cop looked at her and said "Screw it into the bumper like everyone else" She said "oh so you want me to punch holes in this perfect bumper?" He said "Just attach it and get it signed off"

We used some boxing tape, taped it on and snapped a pic and the court accepted it.