Front Plates
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 304
Likes: 20
From: Massachusetts
Front Plates
Does anyone here have trouble from the police with not having a front plate? In Massachusetts its the law to have a front plate and on my way home today actually got pulled over for it. The Trooper was cool about it and just gave me a written warning after looking that there is on place for a front plate, but I still am bothered by the fact that, he pulled me over for a front plate. For those of you in a state requiring front plates do you adhere to the law or are determined as I am not to ruin the ethethics of the car and have a front plate. Its not like I dont have one its just under my floor mat 
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
A front plate is required in WA and I have mine on. I really don't need to be hasseled by an over-zealous LEO about my not having a front plate installed.
If people are more concerned with esthetics and/or how the car looks with no front plate, then they will probably have to deal with being stopped for that violation.
Warnings from an LEO may be fine, but if the same guy stops you again for no front plate and remembers you, then the chances of getting a ticket goes up quickly.
If people are more concerned with esthetics and/or how the car looks with no front plate, then they will probably have to deal with being stopped for that violation.
Warnings from an LEO may be fine, but if the same guy stops you again for no front plate and remembers you, then the chances of getting a ticket goes up quickly.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: New Harbor, ME
I'm in MA also and am not running a front plate. I hate the way they look so I'm taking my chances. I know my luck will run out someday, but until then my front plate is staying in a box in my garage.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 201
Likes: 3
From: Lee's Summit Mo
St. Jude Donor '07
I'm in Missouri, where a front plate is required. I am not running one, taking my chances at this point. If I get stopped, I will probably put it on. I keep it in my storage compartment in the trunk. Most people I have asked have not been stopped, but theirs, like mine, are mainly weekend drivers.
I have seen a thread on this forum describing how to put the plate on and secure the cover with velcro. If a LEO stops them, they say they are coming from a show and just forgot to take the cover off. You could find it with a search.
I don't know if this would be worth the trouble or not.
I have seen a thread on this forum describing how to put the plate on and secure the cover with velcro. If a LEO stops them, they say they are coming from a show and just forgot to take the cover off. You could find it with a search.
I don't know if this would be worth the trouble or not.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 65,010
Likes: 133
From: Title town, Champs live here.
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
I was pulled over at 6:00 am, by a county deputy and 6 squads showed up
got outta there with a written warning. I always run two plates now
got outta there with a written warning. I always run two plates now
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 763
Likes: 1
From: Oceanside Ca
California Two Plates
California with out the front and have yet to be stopped for that. I was driving in Oregon and got stopped for 79 MPH (short burst in a passing lane) in a 55 MPH zone and the state trooper never said a thing. However I am an Oregon ex-patriot and I know that I was a "three time loser" as far as Oregon goes:
Strike One: Corvette Convertible with the top down
Strike Two: Valentine One Radar Detector (I got hit by airplane)
Strike Three: California Plates (this one is the worst offense)
I have been told by California Highway Patrol that they only use "no front plate" as probable cause when they want to stop you, here in California.
Strike One: Corvette Convertible with the top down
Strike Two: Valentine One Radar Detector (I got hit by airplane)
Strike Three: California Plates (this one is the worst offense)
I have been told by California Highway Patrol that they only use "no front plate" as probable cause when they want to stop you, here in California.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,704
Likes: 548
From: St. Peters MO
C7 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2018 C7 of Year Finalist
Friend of mine got pulled over here in Missouri by a Highway Patrol officer for no front plate on his C6. When he tried to show the officer that on a C6 there is really no place to put the plate, he replied "I don't care if you have to nail it to the front end, the law requires two plates".
He got a warning but put on the plate after that exchange. At least on our C5's there is a dedicated spot for the plate.
He got a warning but put on the plate after that exchange. At least on our C5's there is a dedicated spot for the plate.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
From: Edgewood Maryland
MD requires front plate.....
I have it on (but behind the cover )
I've only been stopped once - 74 in a 55, but lucky for me it was memorial weekend, I'm prior military, and the cop was a veteran as well, so let me off with a warning. Never even mentioned the plate (or lack of one on the front).
You take your chances I guess - I'll probably pay for it eventually, but I'll take the chance (for now)
I figure most cops arent going to pull you over JUST for the plate - drive smart and within the speedlimit and you should be ok. I'd be more worried about getting pulled over for speeding, or something else, and having them give me a ticket on the plate.
Just my .02
Good Luck!
I have it on (but behind the cover
)I've only been stopped once - 74 in a 55, but lucky for me it was memorial weekend, I'm prior military, and the cop was a veteran as well, so let me off with a warning. Never even mentioned the plate (or lack of one on the front).
You take your chances I guess - I'll probably pay for it eventually, but I'll take the chance (for now)
I figure most cops arent going to pull you over JUST for the plate - drive smart and within the speedlimit and you should be ok. I'd be more worried about getting pulled over for speeding, or something else, and having them give me a ticket on the plate.
Just my .02
Good Luck!
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Washington IL
St. Jude Donor '07
Got pulled over about a month ago by a state trooper just for not having the front plate. I was polite and he let me off with a written warning. I could have kept rolling the dice, but I put it on when I got home that night. Now I need to get a Mag Red surround so I can get that black POS off there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 1
From: Rugby North Dakota
North Dakota requires two plates and not having a front plate constitutes a traffic violation for which you can be pulled over - and if you have been drinking, etc, you are in for it then
but, as w/ the rest of the posters above, I'm chancing it so far - I do expect to be pulled over for no front plate before the end of the summer - In ND your first stop for no front plate is a warning and your name gets put into the state computer - the 2nd stop for no front plate will get you a $20.00 ticket
but, as w/ the rest of the posters above, I'm chancing it so far - I do expect to be pulled over for no front plate before the end of the summer - In ND your first stop for no front plate is a warning and your name gets put into the state computer - the 2nd stop for no front plate will get you a $20.00 ticket
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,394
Likes: 4,767
From: Eastern Corn-Nation
2015 C5 of the Year Winner
In Arizona we don't need one. But I have seen on some Corvette parts sights that they make a retractable one that you can mount under the front some where. I don't know the sights for sure and have not looked into it but have seen them. That way if you do get pulled over you can just flip it out so to speak and be done. Hope this helps some.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,425
Likes: 284
From: West Barnstable MA
I'm in Mass and do not run a front plate, well sort of. I have bolted the front plate on, and then put the "cover plate" over it.
I need to remove the cover plate for inspection but keep a screwdriver in the car just in case I get stopped and can remove in a minute or so.
Have not been stoppped yet in 3 years.
I need to remove the cover plate for inspection but keep a screwdriver in the car just in case I get stopped and can remove in a minute or so.
Have not been stoppped yet in 3 years.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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Missouri requires two plates and I run both of them. No use getting pulled over for something so minor. If you want to continue to take your chances, go for it. But an alternative is to get a painted license plate surround - at least it looks better than the factory setup if you run the plate.