Front License Plates

[Das Texan]

This has just been bugging me for a while, so I figured I'd ask here and hope one of educated members here has an answer.


I have been seeing more and more cars driving around without the front license plates. Especially in North Texas.

Last I had known, this was a state law to have BOTH plates.


Is that not the case anymore, cause if you dont have to have them, I dont want them both :lol

[Fpoonsie]

I was pulled over recently w/o mine on the front, and was let off with a warning about it.

Apparently, it's still law, just not routinely enforced.

[Fpoonsie]

Double pizzost.

[stretch]

yeah my wife just got pulled over yesterday for no front LP. just a warning

[Das Texan]

Cops are funny.


I dont see why it wouldnt automatically be a ticket. Seems an easy way for them to make some extra cash for their little unmarked cruisers or for their new breathalizers they want to buy.

Its not like this is some new magical law on the books.

[SpursWoman]

I've gotten pulled over for it, too. Just got a warning.

[Fpoonsie]

Cops are funny.


I dont see why it wouldnt automatically be a ticket. Seems an easy way for them to make some extra cash for their little unmarked cruisers or for their new breathalizers they want to buy.

Its not like this is some new magical law on the books.

I'm wondering if it's not like gettin a ticket for not renewing your registration. Upon receiving the citation, as long as you get the renewal w/ in a certain amount of time, you can have the ticket dismissed.

Maybe the cops consider it not worth their time/effort, were that the case.

[phyzik]

I'm wondering if it's not like gettin a ticket for not renewing your registration. Upon receiving the citation, as long as you get the renewal w/ in a certain amount of time, you can have the ticket dismissed.

Maybe the cops consider it not worth their time/effort, were that the case.

Im certain that is the case. Would you want to go to court if someone decided to fight a ticket you wrote for not having a license plate mounted?

Shit, sometimes they dont show up if you fight a speeding ticket. I had a few dismissed because of that.

[DisAsTerBot]

one of those laws they use to pull you over and see if they can write you up for something more significant

[Strike]

Exactly. I get pulled over at least once a month because I have a bad tail light. The trunk seal leaks and water ends up in the light assembly. As much as it rains in Oregon, it's not worth it to replace the bulb every couple days. Every time I get pulled over it's the same thing:

Cop: Do you know you have a tail light out?
Me: No sir, I had no idea.
Cop: License and registration please.
(I hand over my papers, cop comes back 30 seconds later finding no warrants)
Cop: You should get that fixed right away.
Me: Yes, sir.

[admiralsnackbar]

one of those laws they use to pull you over and see if they can write you up for something more significant
May have been that way once, but front plates are important for busting people who are filmed breaking laws (e.g. on surveillance-equipped intersections or toll-ways).

[Wild Cobra]

I don't recall how long ago it was, but in Oregon, we used to only need the rear plate even though two were always issued. Took some time for everyone to get two plates on their cars after the law change.

[Frenzy]

I got both. Not worried.

[rr2418]

Why would a car not have the front plate, unless it was taken off. So the next question is, "why would you take the front plate off anyway?". Just wondering!

[Dex]

My car doesn't have a place for a front license plate, nor will it allow to rest the license plate on the dash (like I'd really be doing that anyways). So, not really sure what I'm supposed to do.

I've also been stopped for this "law" before, and also got off with a warning.

It's apparently a law...they just don''t really care about it. However, I don't like cops having an easy excuse to pull me over whenever they want to.

[Tinystarz]

My car doesn't have a place for a front license plate, nor will it allow to rest the license plate on the dash (like I'd really be doing that anyways). So, not really sure what I'm supposed to do.

I've also been stopped for this "law" before, and also got off with a warning.

It's apparently a law...they just don''t really care about it. However, I don't like cops having an easy excuse to pull me over whenever they want to.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bN9se-ul_aE/S_n37jOHaMI/AAAAAAAAChI/roGzjf8gbUQ/s1600/ducttape.jpg

[Viva Las Espuelas]

^^ha. Exactly. They don't care how you mount either one of your license plates. Just do it!!!!!

[phxspurfan]

My car doesn't have a place for a front license plate, nor will it allow to rest the license plate on the dash (like I'd really be doing that anyways). So, not really sure what I'm supposed to do.

I've also been stopped for this "law" before, and also got off with a warning.

It's apparently a law...they just don''t really care about it. However, I don't like cops having an easy excuse to pull me over whenever they want to.

The dealer mounted my front license plate by drilling holes in my front bumper. $40.

[4>0rings]

Why would a car not have the front plate, unless it was taken off. So the next question is, "why would you take the front plate off anyway?". Just wondering!
People that are into cars. It's a MUCH MUCH cleaner look. Not all cars come with a front plate. Lots of vettes/firebirds/camaros did not come with them. They have a place for it but left it up to the owner.

[Creepn]

People that are into cars. It's a MUCH MUCH cleaner look. Not all cars come with a front plate. Lots of vettes/firebirds/camaros did not come with them. They have a place for it but left it up to the owner.

Definitely a cleaner look. Some plates blocks the grille of the car which ruins the whole look.

Never got pulled over though. I figured cops give free passes to people with nice cars.

[bus driver]

The dealer mounted my front license plate by drilling holes in my front bumper. $40.

:lmao

$40 to drill holes in your bumber :lmao

[RandomGuy]

This has just been bugging me for a while, so I figured I'd ask here and hope one of educated members here has an answer.


I have been seeing more and more cars driving around without the front license plates. Especially in North Texas.

Last I had known, this was a state law to have BOTH plates.


Is that not the case anymore, cause if you dont have to have them, I dont want them both :lol

Our old car didn't have any bumper gaurds for the plastic frame that held the front plate on, and it was completely broken off in a minor fender bender.

We drove it around for about 5 years like that, and got numerous warnings from every level of law enforcement about it. Sherriffs, state troopers, city police, etc.

The plate was always in the trunk, and everything else like inspections and insurance was always up to date.

As long as you aren't unlucky enough to get a cop that remembers the first warning, it isn't that much of a problem.

The car was eventually used as a trade-in and we never got it fixed, although it would have been pretty easy.

[RandomGuy]

Definitely a cleaner look. Some plates blocks the grille of the car which ruins the whole look.

Never got pulled over though. I figured cops give free passes to people with nice cars.

Yeah, nicer cars probably can get away with it. We got so many warnings because our car was an unrepentant POS. Ran well, but wasn't much to look at. :lol

God Bless the Ford Motor Company, the thing was over 300,000 miles when it passed out of our hands.

[easjer]

My car doesn't have a place for a front license plate, nor will it allow to rest the license plate on the dash (like I'd really be doing that anyways). So, not really sure what I'm supposed to do.

I've also been stopped for this "law" before, and also got off with a warning.

It's apparently a law...they just don''t really care about it. However, I don't like cops having an easy excuse to pull me over whenever they want to.

Ditto. There were holes drilled, but - get this - they are too far apart. We couldn't mount the plates when we received them, so it's at home. It wasn't mentioned the only time I was pulled over in this car.

But that does remind me my registration is expired. Shit. Need to get that taken care of.

[RandomGuy]

Ditto. There were holes drilled, but - get this - they are too far apart. We couldn't mount the plates when we received them, so it's at home. It wasn't mentioned the only time I was pulled over in this car.

But that does remind me my registration is expired. Shit. Need to get that taken care of.

Bailing wire.

[CosmicCowboy]

I look at it like..."why give law enforcement a reason to pull you over and have probable cause to roust you?" Oddly enough, it's the ones that should least like to get pulled over that tend to pull the front plate off so their cars "look better".

[Wild Cobra]

Why would a car not have the front plate, unless it was taken off. So the next question is, "why would you take the front plate off anyway?". Just wondering!
Some cars have never had the nose drilled for a front license plate, and they look so much nicer that way.

[Jimcs50]

I have not had a front plate on a car of mine in 10 years.

[Dex]

some cars have never had the nose drilled for a front license plate, and they look so much nicer that way.

+1

[TheManFromAcme]

The dealer mounted my front license plate by drilling holes in my front bumper. $40.


Did you at least get a kiss?

:lol

[phxspurfan]

Did you at least get a kiss?

:lol

...because you would have done it with your pocketknife and fashioned a mounting bracket out of scrap metal with your teeth

[silverblk mystix]

I drove for many years in California and refused to put a plate in the front of any of my cars because I didn't like the look....never, ever got pulled over.

In Texas...I just placed the fuckin' plate after being pulled over a couple of times in the first month I was here....(didn't get cited)

Might as well comply if it saves you a hassle.

[Chomag]

I drove for many years in California and refused to put a plate in the front of any of my cars because I didn't like the look....never, ever got pulled over.

In Texas...I just placed the fuckin' plate after being pulled over a couple of times in the first month I was here....(didn't get cited)

Might as well comply if it saves you a hassle.

I thought it wasn't illegal in the State California to not have a licence plate on the front. I know it is here in Texas, but I'm not sure how many others states have that state law.

[silverblk mystix]

I thought it wasn't illegal in the State California to not have a licence plate on the front. I know it is here in Texas, but I'm not sure how many others states have that state law.

I think it's the same in Cali...but it never gets enforced as there are just too many cars on the road and the PD usually is busy with other stuff...so like speeding...you just get away with it because you can blend in easily and speed and get away with a lot of crap...

in texas...there are not as many lanes of cars and a LOT of police vehicles to catch speeders and other minor violations...

[phxspurfan]

I think it's the same in Cali...but it never gets enforced as there are just too many cars on the road and the PD usually is busy with other stuff...so like speeding...you just get away with it because you can blend in easily and speed and get away with a lot of crap...

in texas...there are not as many lanes of cars and a LOT of police vehicles to catch speeders and other minor violations...

There are some towns where the cops don't have anything better to do, like Mountain View, where laws like that are enforced. I was pulled over, along with the guy in front of me, for having slightly too dark window tint.

I remember my uncle got pulled over in Shavano Park for a license plate issue...but I think it was for an out of state plate.