Has anyone had issues with cops for driving without a front license plate?
Thanks,
Sam

 

I got a ticket for no front plate a couple years ago. they where just mad because that's all they could get me for. all the othe cars I've owned since then have all had no front plate and no tickets, and I've been pulled over more than 10 times in the last 2 years.

 

It really depends on the police officer. I've been pulled over just to tell me I need a front plate, and I've been pulled over for other things and the cop did not mention it. When I got my tint ticket the first week I had the car, I had to get it signed off at a CHP station, and the officer there told me I needed a front plate. Shortly after that, I put the plate on and its been there ever since.

 

I've been driving around the bay for a year now without a front plate and nothing. I've sat at stoplights face to face with cops who haven't done anything. I think they have better things to worry about around here.

 

I've got several no front plate tickets over the past 10 years with 2 different cars.

It's a sign off, fix-it ticket, about $10-$15.

The chances of getting pulled over just for that are rare, it's always been for something else and if they know or give a dang, they'll tack it on.

I still have the front off for all 3 cars, btw.

 

I carry the front with me just incase they want to try writing a ticket. I usually say that someone had tried to steal it......
Nitro

 

Yeah, I've got a book full of excuses and keep the plate in the back of my DD.
I should probably put it in the GTA too.

If they want to be a jerk they would probably write you up regardless of where you have it, because it's not where it should be!

 

same here (im in san francisco)

 

that too. i keep mine in the back seat

 

I think alot of it depends on where you live! In our area they use camaras at the intersections and they can not mail you a ticket without a picture of the driver with the Front License Plate. It is all about revenue!!!!

Thomas

 

never had a front plate on any of my camaro's and never once had a problem

 

 

I live in a place where the cops are notorious for pulling people over for no reason (I got a speeding ticket for going 54 in a 50). And I have only once been pulled over for no license plate, and that was just his excuse. No ticket though. I wouldnt worry about it.

 

Ive heard somewhere that if you dont have have the mounting plate for a front license then you dont have to have it, not sure if its true or not though. I have a 7 series bmw that i run without a plate in the front. It has the mounting holes for the long european plates. Ive been questioned twice by cops, and I tell them i dont have a place for it, and they didnt bother with a ticket.


Thats a good idea though...keep it in teh car, and say u were taking the bumper to get painted.

 

I keep it in the car. I'd always planned to just say I hadn't made it to the junkyard yet to try and find a mounting piece for it.

 

I've been cited twice for no front plate. Each time I was parked on the street when an obviously bored cop just happened to cruise by.

A friend also got hit for no front plate. His car was parked overnight on his street, and an early morning patrol happened to cruise by.

So it's not likely anyone would be pulled over for no front plate. But if you're an easy 'sitting target,' and a bored cop happens to see you, he might just 'introduce himself' and give you a 'present.'

 

Not true. You must have a front license plate on the car no matter what. That is the way the law is written. If your car doesnt have a place for it, you must create a place. One SoCal guy made up a couple L-brackets and bolted it to the 10mm bolts that hold the front spoiler on.

 

Cited once for one in my T/A, only because the ociffer couldn't get me for anything else =P

If I'm ever cited in my maro I know plenty of cops so no big deal. But I roll with dumped headers and my car is louder than **** - cops don't even care around here.

 

.....I've even been 'hit' twice for having a clear plastic cover over my front plates...

Nitro

 

show me in the books where there is a law stating that u have to have a front license plate in california...

 

Hey RV1890, it is a law and is researchable; Infact, the officer has to cite the law I.D. number on his paperwork when he fills out his report. It's so an officer rolling toward your car in an opposite direction can identify wants & warrants on a possible crime in progress and not mix you up with a fleeing felon.
What I've found interesting is that other folks here have been cited with their car parked.
What I've done for years, once I got my first new car, was that I'd never put the plates on the vehicle. I'd get the dealership to give me a small stack of their plastic/paper dealer plates and a couple new licence plate holders. Then I'd see how long I could go without being forced to put the real one's on the car. That way I didn't have to worry about camera's, or the occasional tourist I'd just road-raged, who was frantically pulling out their cellphone when I finally passed them on the right.
I used to be really impatient with slow drivers and had a habit of lateness. I was constantly getting more than my share of unwanted cop's attention. If I could ditch them with some amount of descent odd's that they wern't able to catch me, I'd take it, plus the airplane police in the Sacramento area (from Fairfield on up to Placerville) used to do lot's of group pullovers.
Many times, when I knew it wasn't worth taking the chance to run for it, I'd give the cop the song and dance about it being my first new vehicle and I was just getting used to it's quirks. Now one would think that they would instantly check and verify how long the vehicle has been registered for, but if it's allegedly not in the DMV computor, it initially was a lot more difficult to run vin numbers and required extra paperwork; so in most cases I'd just get a verbal warning and exit stage left.
Fortunatley for me, I'm one of those lucky people who just don't get written up very often. I was always in trouble growing up, but for some reason, once I'd get behind the wheel of a car, even stolen, I could just feel when there was a cop within a kilometer or two radius. And any time I couldn't talk my way out of it, I'd take it to court and get the charges dismissed. There's been times when I've had the paper dealer plates on a car for 3-4 years. Of course, it would motivate me to keep the car highly detailed so that it would at least look the part of a brand new vehicle.

I'm currently fascinated with the TV Bullrun Show on Tuesday nights. There's been some good hints of dealing with the cops, although surprisingle, not many people have been actually pulled over, even though the cars stand out like a sore thumb. I hope that Trans-Am takes the crown.....
Nitro

 

I'm sure that it's been said before, but cops usually wont pull you over for the front plate. They might say that's why they are pulling you over, and may even ticket you for it when all is said and done. (Sometimes it's a cheaper ticket than what they're really pulling you over for.) Your attitude definitely effects the way the cop interacts with you. My personal experiences with the law over the last 15 years have been fairly good. Espeacially if you can accept your punishment for breaking the law. I know I should have a front plate. I know I shouldn't have tint on my side windows. I know my exhaust is loud. I know I shouldn't "peel out". I know what the speed limit is. So, when I do get pulled over, I remember all of the times I have got away with things that are illeagal. I remain calm, roll my windows down, keep my hands where they(the cops) can see them,(if it's night time, I turn on my interior lights), and give them the paperwork they need. If you are being "harrasssed" you probably were stupid when you opened your mouth. A little respect goes a long way. I hope some of you younger hot rodders can benifit from this.

 

vehicle code section 5200 states that you must have two plates attached if two plates were issued. all cars and p/u trucks since the 20's were issued 2 plates. section 5201 CVC tells you the proper mounting locations and that you can not have a covering over the plate.

as for "extra paperwork" putting a VIN number on a ticket, over just a license number, there isn't much difference. a license number has 7 digits and a VIN has 16 (1981 and later). it takes about 3 minutes to write a ticket-9 additional digits don't make it more difficult.

daniel makes some excellent points. when stopped the officers first name is "SIR" and you should use it. honesty will get you more breaks than anything, be polite and respectful-the officer already know why he stopped you, instantly demanding to know why you were stopped won't win you any points.

 

ive been pulled over before for no reason other than no front plate

got a tired of putting it on and off so i just left it on now

 

As mentioned above, the CA Vehicle Code states:

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.

neagan - you really know how to fill out a post, crazy guy.

 

The only exception is when you have a motorcycle. The CVC gives an exemption for them.

 

I've never been issued 2 plates for any of my bikes?

 

Everyone else posted it, but here it is straight from CA's DMV website:

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

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d03/vc5201.htm

 

i got pulled over so many time for other things and then they would walk around the car and give me a ticket i think it has to do with me being young