I have gotten 7 tickets for having no front plate on my car and all 7 have been dismissed. Go to the dealer/or find (an official source)online and get the options list for your year camaro. You will find that IN EVERY YEAR OF PRODUCTION the front plate was an OPTION. Take that print out to court and you win. PERIOD. D.O.T REQUIRES REAR PLATES ONLY. STATE D.O.T LAW CANNOT OVERRIDE THIS. The law states that IF your car came from the factory with 2 plate mounts you have to have both. BUT the law ALSO states that IT DEPENDS ON THE DEALER OPTIONS. MEANING even if your car came with 2 plate mounts, but THE FRONT WAS AN OPTION you can remove it legally.(Because the court has to prove that the car came with both plates. And since you have the options list they cannot.)

The same goes for "moving" lights around. I filled the front grill on my camaro and moved the turn signals there(I am currently using the original turn signal holes for a custom ram air set up) I have been given a ticket for this already(Done less then 2 weeks ago) I called the D.A. and faxed him a copy of the laws requarding turning indicators. Which stated that you have to HAVE THEM, but gives NO SPECIFICS as to placement. They have to BE CLEARLY SEEN AND HIGHLY VISABLE.(Which mine were I included a scanned pic of the front of my car) They(Other drivers)have to be easily able to distinguish the "Direction" of the indicator.(Meaning they can't be SIDE TO SIDE up against each other.) Mine are 8 inches apart. Able to be clearly defined and distinguish intended direction through normal use.

 

LOL, I doubt that any judge around here would buy it. They would find you guilty and tell you to go file in federal court if you can afford it. Nice idea, though, and worth a shot.

 

I have done this in VA courts, FLA courts and Illinois courts. They can't give you a ticket for not having something on your car that was an option! and not standard equipment.

 

Are you serious dude?

That would be good news for me

Damn Hawaii laws.

Do you have a copy of the stuff your talking about?

 

what...so on all Camaros it was an option??? or do we have an RPO..if it is an RPO tell me and I will go look to see if I have it...I want that front plate outta there......


Fudge...just checked my RPOs
.....(good thing to save on your comp)

VK3 : LICENSE PLATE, FRT MOUNTING PKG

 

cool, when I get back from college I'll check my RPO codes. Of course I've been riding around for about 6 months now without the front tag.

 

I know my car doesn't have that option, I had to pay a $70 fine for no front plate, an I am furious right now ! I need to know where I can get all of this info in writing, and I mean official writing so the cops can't say I just made it up or anything like that. If I can find that, the plate will come right back off !

 

The cops stopped hastling me around a year ago after they all tried and failed(So I sadly got rid of my hard copy, The other copy I had was on my hard drive that crashed oh around 6 months ago.sorry).. they actually learned. how about that?

LOL

Anyway I went to the dealer originally. As far as the RPO code... does the judge know your RPO code? doubtful does the cop? deffinately not. So you have the advantage. Everytime you know something more then the justice dept your ahead and more then likely will win.

Remeber INOCENT UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE. Meaning if you have the options list and can prove it was an option in that year/make/model it's just that AN OPTION NOT STANDARD EQUIPMENT. Now THEY will have to PROVE that it DID come from the FACTORY-NOT THE DEALER with the license plate mounting. And sorry to say they can't get the specifics of your car UNLESS YOU LET THEM.

 

The only problem I see in this line of reasoning is that the state issues two plates, and mandates that they must be mounted on the front of the vehicle, blah blah blah. The state doesn't specify that you must use the factory mounting bracket. I don't think they care how you mount it, only that you do. Did you run into this type of reasoning at all, and if so, how did you get past it?

 

arrgh, **** corrupted data base error messages

 

Yeah, in Illinois you must have two plates, one mounted on the front and one on the back. I just got two tickets for it, I know how it goes. If they only required one, they would have you buy one and give you the option of purchasing a second one.

 

are firbird the same way???

 

Look at my location <----- ZEIGLER ILLINOIS. I have gotten out of 3 tickets here for no front plate. By calling the DA and faxing him the info. STATE CANNOT OVERRIDE FEDERAL. I know, I have Lynn Patton(States Assistant D.A. as a sister in law!) Do you see the 2002 'vettes running around with 2 license plates? NO, Ever wonder why they get away with it?

 

Good thing I live in Florida... Only 1 plate required. Never had an FBody yet with a front plate, but when i bought my 87, the mounting kit was in the storage bin in the trunk (?) Guess the owner didnt want to mount it either.

 

Where did you find that info in the first place? I want to get my own copy, the local cops in my town are real jerks ( not enough real crime to keep them busy ) so unless I have offical proof they likely retalliate by adding on some bogus charges 'cuz thats what they do ( one of my buddies got smart with them after he got stopped for no plate, he was let out of jail the next morning and the final ticket talley was 17 ). Would the DA have this info, or do I need to call a lawyer? Could I just go the the local library?

 

I went to the dealer originally. This was around 4 years ago though. They SHOULD still have the options list available. SHOULD. If not go online to an official GM web site and ask/look around. To get the options list you will need a GM source. BE SURE TO WRITE THE SOURCE ON THE PAPER IF IT IS NOT ALREADY THERE.

 

Where would I find the info at???

 

Thanks for the info, but what about all of the law stuff? I need proof that I know the law, if I don't, in court its the cop word vs. mine, and after reading my last post, who do you think the judge would side with if I didn't have the law in writing, would the DA be a good place to call?

 

whoohoo VA....Gonna get that info and the plate is coming off, this time ill be able to shove that paper up the Military Police's noses

 

It sounds believable, where can I get a copy of this law? I have court for no front plate on the 5th.

 

Hey is it the same for Firebirds???????

 

Yes its the same for firebirds.


AS far as getting the law requirments, go to the FEDERAL DOT WEB SITE, and look under vehicle requirements. Your STATE will have different laws BUY THEY MUST FALL within the FEDERAL standards. Meaning STATE CANNOT OVERRIDE FEDERAL.

Cops, or anybody for that matter can MAKE you put a safety device on your car that is not required by FEDERAL LAW. States CAN HAVE inspections to make sure these devices are there and working, BUT they CANNOT force you to put items into your car. I know of several pre 70's vehicles that DO NOT have FRONT SEAT BELTS!, BUT they ARE STILL STREET LEGAL VEHICLES! AND WILL PASS SAFETY INSPECTIONS.

This all goes back to finding out the OPTIONS list for your car. If it was AN OPTION it is just that, an option. As far as defending yourself in court you have a simple statement.

"This is the Vehicle Manufactures OPTIONS List for my car. Right here it Lists this as an OPTION. It did not come equiped with this device installed and by FEDERAL Motor Vehicle Law (Section blah blah Not sure whice it is anymore cause they leave me alone now)requarding this states that "If the vehicle did not come equiped with or this part was an option....."

Take the direct quote from the FEDERAL STAUTE and quote it to the letter. Then if they ask to see such option list go "Yes your honor it's right here and was obtained from this source..."

They cannot do anything but dismiss it. You have proven by fact and law that you are right. The item disputed IS IN FACT AN OPTION AND NOT STANDARD EQUIPMENT, and in according to the Federal Law requarding this it is not required on my vehicle.

 

Thank You Camaro hunter d!

 

Im very curious and would be very interested to physically "see" this legal proof.

The Federal Department of Trasportation's Website says nothing about this. www.dot.gov


I wouldnt go mouthing off to any police officers yet....

 

Yeah not to whine or anything but I can't seem to find any info online either, I'm sure somebody will it find somewhere, when you do, please post a link! I am very eager to rip that ugly lump of metal off my car! BTW, in my search I found the options list for 2002 Corvettes, guess what, the front plate bracket is still an option!

 

http://dotlibrary.dot.gov/

Maybe it's here??? Government is too big, including their websites

 

It make's sense. I know, for example, that old motorcycles that never came with blinkers, STILL TO THIS DAY, don't need blinkers. You're just supposed to do the arm crap.

 

My govt. teacher said its a krock.... I just got a warning for it so i put it back on.. it work for any one else????

 

One of my aunts is a Richland county sherriff's deputy but no longer works on the roads, just office work. She told me that no matter type of car it is they are supposed to give tickets the first time. She and I talked to a deputy that drives a car now and he said that unless you own a classic camaro you better have one on or you will end up getting a $75 ticket in Ohio.

I'm glad I talked to the deputy and asked about it but my friend has not has a license plate on his 92 Buick Skylark Custom for 4 months and has yet to be pulled over for it. I'm taking mine off tomorrow.