got ticketed
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Castro Valley CA
got ticketed
(Location: Bay Area, CA)
Wasn't racing, wasn't speeding, wasn't even swearing, but I got ticketed. "No front license plate." I've passed by too many cops and drove my last car for a year without a front license plate, and now this.
I told the cop that corvettes don't come out of the factory with front license plates, and he told me he was just "enforcing the law."
Bottom line: front license plate on the C5 is a sin and I will never put one on.
Any others pulled over for something so stupid?
Wasn't racing, wasn't speeding, wasn't even swearing, but I got ticketed. "No front license plate." I've passed by too many cops and drove my last car for a year without a front license plate, and now this.
I told the cop that corvettes don't come out of the factory with front license plates, and he told me he was just "enforcing the law."
Bottom line: front license plate on the C5 is a sin and I will never put one on.
Any others pulled over for something so stupid?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,119
Likes: 272
From: SC
Dude I feel ya! BUT, the law is not gray on this... In some states it is BLACK and WHITE! If you live in a state that requires a front plate, get one. I know you have gone a year with no problem, but now you have been busted. You are a target. get a plate. That same LEO and others will get you again, and again. It's not worth it. Play by the rules. Your vette is awsome even with the front plate.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,743
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From: Omaha Nebraska
St. Jude Donor '06
I agree with the above two responders... I run a front plate...
It IS the law... It's not OK to break some laws and not others... Even though yes, we all speed on ocassion, etc...
Today I'll drive on the wrong side of the road because I feel like it... I know it's against the law... but my car looks better on the other side of the road... See what I'm talking about??
Run the plate.. it's OK...
It IS the law... It's not OK to break some laws and not others... Even though yes, we all speed on ocassion, etc...
Today I'll drive on the wrong side of the road because I feel like it... I know it's against the law... but my car looks better on the other side of the road... See what I'm talking about??
Run the plate.. it's OK...
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,454
Likes: 3
From: Hells Sister City Phoenix AZ
St. Jude Donor '03
I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you don't like the two plate law then lobby your legislature to change it. Whining here about how ugly your Vette looks with a plate ain't getting anything changed. BTW, I agree with you and thank god I live in AZ where they only require one plate.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 6,170
Likes: 1
From: Kona Hawaii
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05
Originally Posted by 2k2C5
I look at it this way. Its just a license plate. No big deal and why GIVE them a reason to pull you over?
and I don't need any more reasons for them to be looking at me
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
If that was this guy's sole pc for stopping you, he's just being a turd. The old "I'm just doing my job" is the standard fall back position. He was probably more interested in seing if you had warrants, insurance, valid license, etc, etc.
Now, if you were mis-behaving, and he writes for speed, stop sign, being stupid in a no-stupid zone, etc and he decides to add on the license plate thing, that's a little different.
It's not a moving violation, so I wouldn't get too excited about putting on your front plate.
Now, if you were mis-behaving, and he writes for speed, stop sign, being stupid in a no-stupid zone, etc and he decides to add on the license plate thing, that's a little different.
It's not a moving violation, so I wouldn't get too excited about putting on your front plate.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by eddie44
I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you don't like the two plate law then lobby your legislature to change it. Whining here about how ugly your Vette looks with a plate ain't getting anything changed. BTW, I agree with you and thank god I live in AZ where they only require one plate.
Last edited by EricR-TX; Apr 28, 2006 at 09:05 PM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
From: Spanaway WA
A funny little story since we are on the subject. I am in the military stationed here in Washington State, which has a front plate. I am originally from Pennsylvania, which does not have a front plate. I was driving my Impala SS to work one morning (which is licensed in PA) when a local cop thought it would be a good idea to waste my time. So, he pulled me over for following him (he was going 110mph without his lights on, so if the "law" can do it, so can I). After he made me wait for 25 minutes, he came back and told me that I needed a front license plate. He said, "the Washington law (and recited the code) states that all vehicles travelling in the state of Washington must have a front plate". I said, "Pennslvania does not have a front plate, what do you want me to do, call the DMV and have them custom-make me one"? He answered, "keep being an a**hole and I will write you the f**ing ticket". I said, "whatever man". Got his name just in case and rolled out. No ticket.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,119
Likes: 272
From: SC
Cops are like plummers, some are good some are bad, that does not make all of them A-holes. If the state your car is licensed in does not require a front plate, then you can drive anywhere without one. 1st year rookies may not know this, but the judge will.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Castro Valley CA
Well, a petition has been started and I am signed on. Front license plates do not affect public safety whatsoever.
Please sign the petition to get rid of FRONT license plates only in CA:
http://www.petitiononline.com/caplate/petition.html
Please sign the petition to get rid of FRONT license plates only in CA:
http://www.petitiononline.com/caplate/petition.html
Last edited by 98_corvette; Apr 28, 2006 at 09:38 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,776
Likes: 142
From: North of Atlanta GA
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by LoneStarFRC
If that was this guy's sole pc for stopping you, he's just being a turd. The old "I'm just doing my job" is the standard fall back position. He was probably more interested in seing if you had warrants, insurance, valid license, etc, etc.
Now, if you were mis-behaving, and he writes for speed, stop sign, being stupid in a no-stupid zone, etc and he decides to add on the license plate thing, that's a little different.
It's not a moving violation, so I wouldn't get too excited about putting on your front plate.
Now, if you were mis-behaving, and he writes for speed, stop sign, being stupid in a no-stupid zone, etc and he decides to add on the license plate thing, that's a little different.
It's not a moving violation, so I wouldn't get too excited about putting on your front plate.
I've had a few officers tell me they don't stop drivers for no front plate only, they consider it nit-picking and they have better things to do. I even had one tell me he doesn't because his boss "Arnold the Governor" doesn't have a front plate on some of his vehicles and that makes it hard for him to enforce a law that his boss ignores.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Goodyear AZ
Originally Posted by cooluhl
A funny little story since we are on the subject. I am in the military stationed here in Washington State, which has a front plate. I am originally from Pennsylvania, which does not have a front plate. I was driving my Impala SS to work one morning (which is licensed in PA) when a local cop thought it would be a good idea to waste my time. So, he pulled me over for following him (he was going 110mph without his lights on, so if the "law" can do it, so can I). After he made me wait for 25 minutes, he came back and told me that I needed a front license plate. He said, "the Washington law (and recited the code) states that all vehicles travelling in the state of Washington must have a front plate". I said, "Pennslvania does not have a front plate, what do you want me to do, call the DMV and have them custom-make me one"? He answered, "keep being an a**hole and I will write you the f**ing ticket". I said, "whatever man". Got his name just in case and rolled out. No ticket.
); I'm sure glad we didn't now! 
But seriously, I can't believe he was trying to tell you that!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 1
From: Longview Texas
No one likes them, but I'd rather not take the chance in getting a ticket. Every LEO makes judgement calls, so you never know.
I bought the C5 Front License Surround, and it fills that gap around the plate and really improves the look for a front plate.
I bought the C5 Front License Surround, and it fills that gap around the plate and really improves the look for a front plate.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
Likes: 894
From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
Some of the best arrests I've ever seen come from traffic stops for "minor" violations such as only one license plate, expired registration, one tail light, one headlight, etc. You'd be surprised what you find laying on the back seat of a car during a traffic stop.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
Originally Posted by VRROOOM2
Today I'll drive on the wrong side of the road because I feel like it... I know it's against the law... but my car looks better on the other side of the road... See what I'm talking about??