The real reason you need a front plate is so when you mow down a pedestrian jaywalking, they can pull an imprint from the corpse.

<---- No front plate. Civil Disobediant. ;)

 

I live in Iowa and also have been pulled over for not having a front plate ($25). While the fine was no big deal, it was inconvenient because I was visiting my grandparents in the country and a State Trooper with nothing better to do decided to brighten my day (with the fine and mas attitude!). I just decided to buy the clear front plate molding that retains the shape of the nose of the car while still having a front plate there.

 

I live in NJ where it is the law to have a front license plate on your car. I personally will never put it on and take away from the look of my vette. I have not been pulled over yet about it though. I have about 7 relatives in law enforcement in my area so if I do get pulled over maybe they will cut me some slack. :D

 

 

"The only feasable reason that I could ascertain for requiring a front plate is to ensure a good identification with photo-enforcement cameras."

There are no cameras in Illinois except for toll evasion, and those are only used for repeat violators to be billed (not fined). In Illinois the DRIVER, not the car must be identified. Thats why you don't see any intersection red-light cameras like in AZ and some other states.

Next time you get stopped just ask the nice Officer if he is familiar with the "Corvette Exception" to the front plate law.

 

:lol:

How many of us have Z06's and haven't voluntarily broken a traffic law or two already?

I'm still chuckling at that one!

 

I was nailed once for this in Md (I live in Va). The officer in question asked his partner all smugly "I wonder what the fine for this is in Virginia?" I spoke up with "$25, 0 points, non moving violation" (I dont know, but I sounded as if I did :yesnod: ) So he looks at his partner and laughs "Oh, been pulled over for this before?" I said "No, a friend of mine is a cop in Va" So the cop says "Well, what does your friend have to say about this?" I replied, "He said if I get pulled over for something and the cop starts giving me a hard time about the front tag, unless I'm giving the cop a hard time, he'd have to be a real pr*$k to give me s&$t over it."

I'm assuming it was the fact that the cop had already written me a warning, and not his partner's 3 minute burst of laughter, that prevented me from getting a ticket on that one.

In a more sincere note, I too :U at that law. Outside of providing a nice square reflective area for a cop to use radar on me, I dont see what it provides. Va recently decided that 2 tags were required. Hell, I figured lets just make 1 tag with the same price, and save some money.

Ah well.

Jeff
:bs


[Modified by Jeff Kirk, 3:11 PM 7/31/2002]

 

I throw it on the dash when I get pulled over - they have a hard time arguing that one.

D.

 

I also live in Texas and went 14 years without a front plate with NO citations. One cop mentioned it after pulling me over for speeding but no ticket. I agree with the above BS regarding "why" a state requires one. I took the attitude that I would rather pay a ticket than ugly up the front of the car.

I did consider making a bracket that would quickly attach the plate in case I decided to drive home after a couple of adult beverages. Now, before anyone gets their panties in a wad about that statement ask yourself HONESTLY if you have EVER driven after a drink or two. I am in NO way advocating DWI but here in Texas they have adopted the federal .08 BAC law. Is this really helping or just another way to increase martial law? I realize drinking and driving is a poor decision but it is definitely a sliding scale. Driving after a couple drinks is not DWI. My reaction times do drop after a few drinks but I can absolutely guarantee that I can drive better with a .10 BAC than 90% of all drivers on the road.

Driving drunk is a terrible choice but so is driving so tired that you are falling asleep, driving while distracted (about a 1000 possibilities here) or driving a car that has bad tires, brakes, etc. I am not a cop but over the years had tossed back a few with MANY officers and they always jumped in their cars and drove off...

Personally, I would love to see a mobile simulator called to the spot when someone seems impaired (for any reason, drug, alcohol, fatigue, etc) and if the person fails in the driving response they get an appropriate citation with an fine relative to their failure. A stone cold drunk deserves the book but a someone with say a .11 BAC would have a relatively minor citation. OH GEEZ... here I go again using logic when talking about government... when will I learn :rolleyes:

 

That is such a CS violation, I might stop you for it, but know way in heck would I write you for it. Maybe as a secondary violation to speeding, but generally thats just a minor to take a look see at the car, or in it as well. ;)

 

Oh, and for you smart a%$#@@! who think you can get around the law by putting your tag anywhere but where it's supposed to be, The law has a violation for that too- it falls under fictitios/unclear plates. So if you think your ok cause your plate is on the dash or in view somewhere I'm here to tell you EH EH! But look at the bright side, if I get you on the New Jersey Turnpike your in good shape, I have never written a ticket to a vette! Now having said that I'm sure I'll meet the one hammerhead that 's gonna ruin my streak tommorow! :cool:

 

I lived in TX for 33 yrs.Out of 12 cars/trucks i owned not one had a front plate.I never got a ticket or a warning.

 

Come to WA if you want to see rediculous. Fine for no front plate is $250! :eek:

Can you say "Revenue". :yesnod:


[Modified by ZeeOSix, 1:58 AM 8/6/2002]

 

I was nailed in Maryland about six months ago and received a $50, 0 point, ticket. First time in four years. The law is the law - I took a chance and lost.

What pissed me off is that a state cop pulled me through three lanes of high speed traffic on I95 to give me the ticket. I told him his judgement really sucked and that he was an insult to the Maryland State Police for writing a ticket over "that" at that time of day.

 

Not really trying to be a smart ****, just trying not to ruin the look of my car. I could care less if a police officer pulls me over to give me a ticket for that. I will pay the fine and go on. Oh, BTW the suggestion to do what I was going to do to put the plate under the facia came from a cop. So I guess it's a matter of opinion. If you want to write tickets for that go right ahead. As I am pulling away you will just validate what I think of some of you guy's. That is that the first block you fill out on the application is "are you a Richard Cranium?" If you answer no you have no chance of being hired.

 

I was with 4cefed when his neighbor the cop suggested that he install his plate on the lower airdam. He said that way the plate would be clearly visible from the front approach. He also suggested bending it to minimize it. There is no law that dictates that the plate must be in the the factory mounting area in Texas. It must only be clearly displayed on the front of the car.

If displaying a front tag was so important, why do half the states not even require one? It's silly to get bent about it.

BTW, does NJ require front plates? I noticed two of your Vettes have no front plates.




[Modified by RatRacer, 10:23 AM 8/6/2002]

 

No front plate is grounds for search and seizure? Now I'm getting pissed off.

You know NJCRUISER, we have a constitutional right to privacy and laws that require probable cause for searches. When you make statements like that it appears that YOU are the one bending the law.


[Modified by RatRacer, 9:33 AM 8/6/2002]

 

Wholly Scmolly. it never ceases to amaze me how people can read apost but not absorb it's meaning. If you read my first post you would come to understand that CS meaning chicken sh-- is what I think of that violation and I would ONLY write it as secondary to speeding saving John Q 2 to 4 points and about $150.00. Secondly, I dont need front tags on an antique car-the 1966, by LAW!. And yes my Z06 has no front tag, but should have one- so once again I wouldnt write that summons except for above scenario as I would be a hypocrite. As for you tag on the front fascia, It's NOT clearly visible there and this is why GM has a place for it. And when I say visible I mean standing right in front of the car, not 100 feet away where you can see it. All I am trying to do here is explain the law. I am NOT taking sides. If anything, I am on your side. I believe in writing hazardous summonses when I have to as do most of my co-workers. Of course we are very busy on the pike with serious mv and criminal violations so there is no need for the tag business. However, other agencies who have more rural jurisdictions and are hard pressed for activity might write you a summons for the tag. Remember ignorance is not an excuse . And I have never conducted a search without probable cause or asked for consent to search without reasonable suspicion Ratracer. Once again you twisted my words. I am talking about looking at the car (paint or whatever) or in the car(nice hooters) from outside the car. but always stopping the car for legitimate violation. And anytime you need me to explain search and seizure laws just ask.

 

Any officer that owns a Vette is all right by me!

Maybe if we made Corvettes a perk of law enforcement, more officers would understand us and cut us some slack when it is warranted. Instead we pay them poorly for the work they do, and then don't understand why they don't have any sympathy for us when we are "out testing our latest mod..."

Just a thought,

 

NJCRUISER - I got your drift. :) I've been pulled over multiple times......No, not always for speeding. Live in VA (2 plate state) have only one plate but that never seems to come up. Yeah boys, it's great being a chick in a sports car when it comes to policeMEN!
-Michelle :lol: