A motorcycle cop pulled me over and asked were my front license plate was. It just so happened I was pulled in my driveway and had already open the garage door before I noticed him. So I pointed on the wall where I park the Corvette, the plate was hanging there. He asked why it wasn't on my car. I said I had been trying to figure out how to put it on with out damaging the car. I bought the car in 01. Some how we ended up talking about PIR (Portland International Raceway) and he didn't look up my license or give me a ticket.

I have put the plate on as I don't like being hassled by authority. It looks bad compared to the 6-7 years I have been driving without. I have searched for threads using front plate and other variables but little comes up. I searched the store too. The only transparent cover looks kind of cheesy for 26 bucks. Guess maybe I will take a closer look at the one for 69. It seems like when I looked for one about 5 years ago on the Corvette forum sight there was a good one. It was tinted and was the same contour as the original cover plate. I have not been able to find one like that. Does anyone have the clear one? Does it look better in real life than the picture. How about the 69 dollar one, doe's any one have it? Any info or pictures would be appreciated.

 

Buy the clear contoured cover and paint the edges (from the inside) to match the body color. Easy to do and looks much better than just the clear cover.

 

For all the people who get pissed about being pulled over for no front plate, here is my advice to you: If you live and register your car in a state that requires a front plate than put it on, if not than don't bitch when you get pulled over.

MRSTEAM I know you werent bitching so do not take thie personal, but too many people get a case of the a*s when they get pulled over for no front place when they are required to have one on by law.

I live and work in a state that does not require a front place, so if I pull you over its becasue you did not have a plate in the rear.

 

Yep, I will be doing this soon, seems as though Ohio cops are cracking down on this, so I am running the front plate.

 

Is that just a regular plate cover that you can get at any auto shop? That looks pretty good, and inexpensive to boot !!

 

no; It's specially made for the C5. Many forum vendors sell them.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1837262

 

This one is available at the Corvette store. Yes it looks good. It is kind of in the shadow in this picture but thanks. Guess you did that so your plate was not legible. Good idea. Wish I didn't have to paint it. Thanks again.

 

Where are you at in Ohio?

 

I got the idea from Mike and he got it from someone else.

 

I realize it's a C6 in the pic...but I think you'll get the idea....Like FastCop said, if your state requires it...PUT IT ON!!!...(and NO, my foot really isnt on the Vette)

 

Just for the record the California code on the subject reads:

Vehical Code Section 5201. License plates shall at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle for which they are issued so as to prevent the plates from swinging, shall be mounted in a position so as to be clearly visible, and shall be maintained in a condition so as to be clearly legible. The rear license plate shall be mounted not less than 12 inches nor more than 60 inches from the ground, and the front license plate shall be mounted not more than 60 inches from the ground, except as follows:

(f) ( )1 A covering ( )2 shall not be used on license plates except as follows:

(1) The installation of a cover over a lawfully parked vehicle to protect it from the weather and the elements does not constitute a violation of this subdivision. Any peace officer or other regularly salaried employee of a public agency designated to enforce laws, including local ordinances, relating to the parking of vehicles may temporarily remove so much of the cover as is necessary to inspect any license plate, tab, or indicia of registration on a vehicle.

(2) The installation of a license plate security cover is not a violation of this subdivision if the device does not obstruct or impair the recognition of the license plate information, including, but not limited to, the issuing state, license plate number, and registration tabs, and the cover is limited to the area directly over the top of the registration tabs. No portion of a license plate security cover shall rest over the license plate number.

( )1 A casing, shield, frame, border, product, or other device that obstructs or impairs the reading or recognition of a license plate by an electronic device operated by state or local law enforcement, an electronic device operated in connection with a toll road, high-occupancy toll lane, toll bridge, or other toll facility, or a remote emission sensing device, as specified in Sections 44081 and 44081.6 of the Health and Safety Code, shall not be installed on, or affixed to, a vehicle.


Padrino

 

Thanks very much for the thread. Shows the paint from GM and everything. I have not read/looked at the whole thread yet. I was hoping to have the Corvette imprinted like the original. It would be clear but it would be there.

Also wonder if it can be legally tinted?

 

Well here in Ohio we have selective enforcement. Almost all of the police and troopers have real work to do and stopping someone for no front plate is ridiculous. One judge I know has told all of the departments in his jurisdiction no tickets for no front plates.

I had the misfortune of getting a ticket in one of our neighboring cities (Kettering) Two things. I bitched to the clerk and she told me that her husband just got one too and the lovely state of Ohio was paying for stepped up enforcement. I went on the court web site and was amazed to see that the state was getting over half of the money for the ticket. Lets face it the $$$$$$ rules.

 

I ran without a front plate for 7 years and never got hassled. About 2 weeks ago I got pulled over for no front license plate (Missouri) and it cost me $55.00. I've since put the plate on. Don't like the looks but figured I had 7 years with no problems. Just not worth the hassle, imo.

 

Next time just say, "bite me." Note... (I cannot be held responsible for the tazering.)

 

Why are front plates even necesary? I live in a state that does not require them and I think they are kind of stupid and make the car look silly. I really don't see why this is a state law. I vote NO FRONT PLATE nationwide..

 

Ya see, there are a few of us cool cops out there.

There are several dumb laws out there that must be enforced but the front plate law has good reason. It may not be a good enough reason for you but ya just gotta do it.

 

Amen to that brother. In Pa. there are "laws" agaist smoked tail lights and other mod's but most of the troopers and police have more important things to do than writing you up for some mickey mouse law.

 

Smoked tail lights and other "mickey mouse" violations dont solve crimes...Front license plates do...I have solved countless crimes, including serious felony cases based on front plate evidence.......Keep in mind, not all eyewitnesses are BEHIND a vehicle when the driver commits a crime....Of course I realize no Corvette owner would ever commit a crime, but it wouldnt be fair to enforce the law on all vehicles except Corvettes

and YES, the Z-06 in my Avatar now has a front plate...(the pic was taken the day I bought the car)

 

Here's the deal where I live....And I'm not overly thrilled with it. Two local police agencie have received federal grant money to help purchase special equipment that puts "surveilance" cameras on the roofs of squad cars. These cameras are able to "read" the plates of cars, and they compare the plates they read to a database of stolen and/or expired plates, and, I suppose, "wanted" car owners.

Why do I have a bit of a problem with this? While I certainly like the idea of "bad people" being apprehended and removed from the street, the TV report of this device showed the officer cruising a shopping mall. In other words, this equipment wasn't simply an addition to a normal cruiser, they used this car for "fishing expeditions" in shopping malls, movie theaters, factory parking lots, etc.

To me, this is getting a little too "Big Brotherish". Secondly, if you don't happen to have a front plate, for whatever reason, you could come out of the mall and find a ticket on your car, as the police are OBVIOUSLY checking license plates. OR, if you live in a state that isn't currently a "front plate state", you may soon be, as this new device looks like it's going to get a lot of law enforcement support.