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TX license plate question
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,467
Likes: 8
From: 972 and 405
TX license plate question
I've seen a few Corvettes in TX get away with not having a front license plate. Do you all get harassed by cops often for it? I HATE the look of the front license plate on any car. All of my cars have been registered in OK. So just how strict is that law, I notice several doing without the plate up front?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 817
Likes: 1
From: Killeen Texas
I myself have only had my C5 for about a month now, but I bought it from my brother who never has run front plates on it or the numerous F-Bodies hes owned. As hes told me, in 10+ years of driving something without front plates, hes only been talked to 3 times and each time, it was only because he was pulled over for some other reason. Its a risk you have to choose to take if you think its worth it.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,148
Likes: 477
From: NM
I did not like the idea of giving the LEO's an open invitation to stop me any time they wanted, so I am now running the front plate. Luckly I never got a ticket, just a warning for the front plate.
tom...
tom...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,024
Likes: 18
From: DFW Texas
Three plus years with the C5 in Big D and all parts all around. Never been hassled.
The Mrs's G35 - 4 years, no front plate . no hassle.
18 yr old VW GTI - no front plate - 2 tickets, 1 wreck in last 2 yrs....never was asked about front plate in any of them.
Guess it depends on where you are and if they have any provocation to look for something else to **** them off to cite you for no front plate.
It's got to be a really boring nite for the LEO's around here to stop for a mising plate only.
The Mrs's G35 - 4 years, no front plate . no hassle.
18 yr old VW GTI - no front plate - 2 tickets, 1 wreck in last 2 yrs....never was asked about front plate in any of them.
Guess it depends on where you are and if they have any provocation to look for something else to **** them off to cite you for no front plate.
It's got to be a really boring nite for the LEO's around here to stop for a mising plate only.
All Men Die, but Few LIVE
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,836
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Texas
Cruise-In IX Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
The secret is to carry your front plate in the car with you...but not installed...if you get pulled over respond by pulling it out and going "Oppps, I forgot to put it back on after the last car show..here it is.." And if you REALLY get hassled let me know..I'll tell you how to get around THAT as well...BTW, the fine for not having a front plate is $10.00, EFFECTIVE as of Sept. 1, 2007...per changes in the laws. All you have to do is put it on, take a picture of the car with it on...then take pic with you to court, pay the 'fee' and then go home...take plate off, and put plate back into car until the next car show @ which you will 'forget' to put the plate back on afterwards. MOST, but not all, Cops will just mention it and let you go....Some will say just put it on and that you can't see it...maybe YOU can't...but we can see 'you' with that ugly front end that looks hacked and hideous as you drive down the road :
~Maverick
~Maverick
Last edited by ~Maverick; Aug 26, 2007 at 01:05 AM.
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Down in the west Texas town of El Paso TX
Here in El Paso, we run our Corvette, SS Malibu, and 88 Fiero GT. without front plates. I do keep the plates in the each car. We have never been stopped for it yet. I understand the DPS are more prone to giving citations for this than the local PD. I think is is mostly enforced if you are stopped for another citation. Just to the north of us in New Mexico front plates are not issued. I'm not sure why Texas runs two plates.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 529
Likes: 1
From: Princeton Texas
I think the fine is about $118 if they give you a ticket. I know a girl who got one from the DPS and was stopped for that reason only. Made me put mine on. You don't notice it when your behind the wheel anyway.
Administrator
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 66,409
Likes: 2,061
From: Bel Air (by way of Fort Worth, TX) Maryland
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '21
I run the front plate on my Vette down at Fort Hood. In the two months before I deployed, I drove it everyday without one, just had it in the car. I have only had 3 tickets in all my years of driving (all in Virginia when I was a recruiter and not in my own car). I just didn't want to open myself up to be hassled so I bought a smooth license plate frame and installed it when I went home on leave from Baghdad. I don't think it looks too bad:
Last edited by Chemdawg99; Aug 26, 2007 at 01:04 AM.
guilty.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 380
Likes: 1
Cruise-In 9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09
Best line of the day -
We parked about a dozen cars in front of the DPS office next door to the Hard 8. I went back to the car to get my phone and there was a Trooper walking around looking over the cars.
I asked him if it was OK that we parked there and he said :
"Nah, makes our parking lot look good... Funny thing though - must be a million dollars worth of cars out here and nobody seems to be able to afford a front plate..."
We parked about a dozen cars in front of the DPS office next door to the Hard 8. I went back to the car to get my phone and there was a Trooper walking around looking over the cars.
I asked him if it was OK that we parked there and he said :
"Nah, makes our parking lot look good... Funny thing though - must be a million dollars worth of cars out here and nobody seems to be able to afford a front plate..."
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...1752747&page=2
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,770
Likes: 3
From: Dallas Texas
I've been driving cars in Texas now for 24 years. I've never had a front plate on any of my cars. I've received one warning back in 1995 for my 300ZX, but not yet for the vette or my other cars.
But, it is the law - so its a chance we take not running a front plate.
But, it is the law - so its a chance we take not running a front plate.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
Local police don't seem to bother people about it, but the state troopers take the law seriously, and will stop you for no front plate.
I don't want to give any policeman a reason to stop me if I can avoid it.
I would just put the front plate on and forget about it. It really does not look bad, even with just the factory black trim piece. No reason to ask if you can get away with it. If you leave it off, and get a ticket, no whining!
I don't want to give any policeman a reason to stop me if I can avoid it.
I would just put the front plate on and forget about it. It really does not look bad, even with just the factory black trim piece. No reason to ask if you can get away with it. If you leave it off, and get a ticket, no whining!
