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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
Originally Posted by ColoradoGS
I think it is well known that traffic stops are used as a net to look for other infractions and generate additional revenue.
I drove home once (Subaru Forester, not a Vette) from CO to OH at Thanksgiving. I got pulled over in IL. The officer stated the reason as "did not signal a lane change". However, he asked not once, not twice, but four separate times if I had any marijuana or drugs in my vehicle. It was clear he did not pull me over for a missed signal. He saw CO plates and had no doubt been instructed to fish for a possession charge as hard as possible.
Yup. This is why I said above it depends on the state. VA is notorious for its overzealous LEOs. If I lived in VA I would also put on the front plate, no question. (Of course, I wouldn't choose to live in VA at all but that is another topic entirely...) In CO, just judging by the number of vehicles that don't have a front plate, they are much more lenient. The most common vehicles missing the plate are ones where there is not good mounting option--Vettes, but I also see it on a lot of Lexus and Audi.
Good points about VA and CO. My experience with VA anecdotally validates your point...
Fortunately, I live in Florida where front plates are not issued. However, I spend plenty of time in Nevada where they are required. Many of my friends there with sporty cars do not mount front plates, but then with the exception of a few locations, Nevada LEOs do tend to be reasonably laid back, and don't nit-pick.
My biggest concern with front plates on Corvettes and other sports cars would be reduced airflow to the radiator, especially on Z06 or ZR1 cars with inter-cooled superchargers. I would have no issue with mounting a front plate on a sedan, SUV, or pickup, if it didn't block the cooling air intake.
I guess with a cop or even a judge, you could always try the excuse that your Corvette runs too hot or overheats with the front plate installed. At least it is a logical technical reason, not just an "it offends my sense of aesthetics" reason, which can make you sound like you think you are somehow "special" and above the law.
Yeah, you could try excuses like that. They won't work because they aren't accurate, and they've heard it from hundreds of others who've unsuccessfully tried it before.
I live in Texas where it is required to have a front license plate. I really hate the idea of putting on the front of my GS. I know Texas has had several attempts to get rid of front plates in the legislature, but it always gets shot down for some reason.
What is the fine for not having it? I have seen some put it in there windshield, but I don't think that meets the requirements.
Anyone here in Texas (or any state that requires front plates) go without? What ideas do you have as an alternative?
New York is a 2 plate state, I have 3 vehicles, my ZO6, my wife's Mercedes and my pickup truck, the only vehicle that runs a front plate is the truck. I've never had a front plate on any "toy", and never had an issue, I guess the LEO's here have more important things to enforce. It doesn't hurt that our local Sheriff is a Corvette Club member, and his nickname is "one plate".
As always in these endless discussions about front plates, it depends upon where you live. Certain front plate states like MD and VA are very strict about front plate enforcement. You won't see many vehicles from those states not running them, and if so, not for long, unless they spend most of their lives parked in a garage.
Here in CA we too, have a two license plate rule/regulation/law. However, many high end sports cars (e.g., Vega, Pinto, Porsche, etc.) did NOT display their front license plate. Some never put a plate on their car, they simply keep the registration taped to the inside of their front windows with no plates.
Others display their vanity plate or special interest plate, but not on the front.
Okay, I understand the laws, HOWEVER, why must we display a plate on the front of our cars???? Seriously, motorcycles only display one plate.
Someone mentioned, scanning...seriously, why not scan the rear of your car.
BTW, enforcement of this law is purely subjective from location to location...in some counties, LEO simply does not care. However, at LAX airport parking, you're guaranteed a fix-it ticket. They simply watch via their cameras cars entering their parking garage and out goes BillyBob to write you a ticket...it's a small fix-it fine. And some areas, parking meter maids will write you a ticket...again, small fine.
So what's the reason for a front plate? And finally, there are a number of sport utility vehicles running around with their bicycle racks sticking out from their trailer hitch that completely hides their plates. Never a ticket. Hummmmm, maybe that's the reason.
Here in CA we too, have a two license plate rule/regulation/law. However, many high end sports cars (e.g., Vega, Pinto, Porsche, etc.) did NOT display their front license plate. Some never put a plate on their car, they simply keep the registration taped to the inside of their front windows with no plates.
Others display their vanity plate or special interest plate, but not on the front.
Okay, I understand the laws, HOWEVER, why must we display a plate on the front of our cars???? Seriously, motorcycles only display one plate.
Someone mentioned, scanning...seriously, why not scan the rear of your car.
BTW, enforcement of this law is purely subjective from location to location...in some counties, LEO simply does not care. However, at LAX airport parking, you're guaranteed a fix-it ticket. They simply watch via their cameras cars entering their parking garage and out goes BillyBob to write you a ticket...it's a small fix-it fine. And some areas, parking meter maids will write you a ticket...again, small fine.
So what's the reason for a front plate? And finally, there are a number of sport utility vehicles running around with their bicycle racks sticking out from their trailer hitch that completely hides their plates. Never a ticket. Hummmmm, maybe that's the reason.
Semper Fi
To answer your question in bold, many states now have automated tolling on certain roads, and at least two (Florida and Texas) I've seen have tolling by mail (for an extra charge) if you don't have a transponder. That's done by sending a bill to the registered owner as ID'ed w/ the plate. Those systems have cameras aimed at both front and rear. Such systems are now common from Maine to FL.
In addition, with increasing homeland security concerns, security cameras with license plate readers blanket most major highways these days, and they also shoot front and rear to get a picture of the driver, as well as the plate.
I predict front plate enforcement laws will get more, not less, strict as time goes on, and states that currently don't require them, will likely eventually adopt them. Having plates on both sides greatly increases the chance of getting a positive ID in both systems.
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
NCM Lifetime Member
Originally Posted by CP
The no front plate fine in Texas was raised a couple years ago. I think it is now $200.
It is. The escape clause ........ Show up at the JP or municipl court before the date shown on the citation with the front plate affixed and it will be dismissed for a piddling $10 administrative fee. All of which the local court keeps. As of late, the DPS has quit writing no front plate citations.
NJ is a 2-plate state but I have never had the front plate on my 2010 C6...never stopped; just lucky, I guess...what's ironic, though, is that when you buy a car in NJ, only ONE temporary plate is installed on the back...so, what's the big deal about having to have 2 plates...
06-09-2017, 05:16 PM
