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The front plate is for the cops. They can catch more evil doers on average. That's the reason they gave in NY. Same with tint. I'm entering new legislation with my congressman to have people stay home and stare out the window so less crimes in general will happen.
The front plate is typically where LEOS aim the laser gun, as it gives a nice solid return for optical or radar. I've had my Z since early '03, and that's how long the front plate has been under the pass. seat. I've only driven in WA. and OR., but it's illegal in both states. My car hasn't left the Tri-Cities in about 7 years. Last road trip was to Seattle to shop for my son in law's C6.
I can confirm that Marylandistan is bad for pulling over for no front tags. I was pulled over several years ago in an older car for no front tags. The problem was the tag was there in the factory location. Steve
We have the front plate law in NH. I have mine on, but under the cover, which is secured by Velcro. Haven't been stopped for the "offense" yet, but if I do, I can pop the cover off and plead temporary insanity.
One less thing to worry about when running legal plates, plus the C5 has one of the best plate mounts than many other vehicles. Try to make one look good on a 81 Camaro, or most cars with 2 self tapping screws right into the bumper cover.
I must be one of the lucky folks from Maryland. I don't run a front plate on my historically tagged '84 and have never been bothered. Then again I haven't been stopped for anything in over 40 years.
I have several police officers in the family. They all tell me they have never pulled someone over simply for a missing front plate. There are always other offenses to go along with the traffic stop.
3 friends in MD with no front plates..... None of them have ever been pulled over for that and none of them have tickets for lack of front plate. I live in PA....
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They do enforce for not having a front plate here in NH ... ask me how i know. $150 fine . Had the plate on as soon a i got home. Not worth the hassle or the fine.
In California, the fine is $197.00 for not having a front plate installed, and the vehicle code states it must be installed properly.
I take that to mean that anything that "hides" the plate from view at all times would also be illegal.
Putting the plate behind the Corvette cover in the front would be illegal, as well as installing those devices where the plate slides under the vehicle are also illegal.
I don't see cases where the law enforcement are actively enforcing this, but my feeling is, why take the chance?
With all states(especially California) being financially strapped, perhaps they might wise up and start collecting fines that in the past they have overlooked.
I had hoped that one day California would drop the two plate requirement, but now I know for sure that will never happen.
The governor just signed a bill requiring all new cars sold here, be issued temporary plates.
It has always been the dealer sticks a temporary sticker on the windshield that serves as registration until the plates arrive, but now that is out the window in favor of temporary plates.
I would like my Corvette plate cover on the front, but I can live with not having it.
It makes a nice center piece on my fireplace mantle.
There are a lot more important things in life than having a plate cover on my car.
Besides, lots of people remark about my personal plates, and that's ok with me.
I noticed at Corvettes at Carlisle this past August that about 90% of the cars there did not have a front plate. There were cars from many states. I don't know if they took them off just for the show.
Since I live in a front plate state, I have mine on. No reason to give the police an excuse to pull you over. I agree that the car looks better without a front plate. It's ok with me since I don't see it when I am driving and that's all that matters to me.
Last edited by laurent_zo6; Dec 12, 2016 at 03:10 AM.
Reason: had to spank autocorrect
In California, the fine is $197.00 for not having a front plate installed, and the vehicle code states it must be installed properly.
I take that to mean that anything that "hides" the plate from view at all times would also be illegal.
Putting the plate behind the Corvette cover in the front would be illegal, as well as installing those devices where the plate slides under the vehicle are also illegal.
I don't see cases where the law enforcement are actively enforcing this, but my feeling is, why take the chance?
With all states(especially California) being financially strapped, perhaps they might wise up and start collecting fines that in the past they have overlooked.
I had hoped that one day California would drop the two plate requirement, but now I know for sure that will never happen.
The governor just signed a bill requiring all new cars sold here, be issued temporary plates.
It has always been the dealer sticks a temporary sticker on the windshield that serves as registration until the plates arrive, but now that is out the window in favor of temporary plates.
I would like my Corvette plate cover on the front, but I can live with not having it.
It makes a nice center piece on my fireplace mantle.
There are a lot more important things in life than having a plate cover on my car.
Besides, lots of people remark about my personal plates, and that's ok with me.
Bob.
Face it. Most **** is illegal in the Republic of Kalifornia.......
Here in the democrapic peoples republic of new yorkistan, our supreme and beloved leader has decree'd that window tints are now required for inspection in 2017. Our front plates, are not. On all my cars I've not run a front plate for 10+ yrs. They're considered a "moving violation". No points. Paid maybe 2-5 tickets on the Camaro at $150 each. Daily driver (monte carlo, then a cobalt, then 2 jeeps) - nothing because they don't really draw attention. Camaro they were "add on violations" as I call them. I got pulled over for something else stupid (usually the window tint) and got hit for the plate too. Vette, not yet. I won't run front plates if possible. Wrecks the lines of the car.
Jury is out to lunch though on this stupid tint law and failing NYSI tho. Camaro's windows are 2x the legal limit on the tint...
I live in Ohio, where we are suppose to have front plates. I haven't had a front plate in over 3 years now and have never had a problem. At the corvette shows I see maybe 1 in 10 Ohio Vettes with them.
If the fine was $5 I would still run a front plate just to draw less attention. Actually, when you are supposed to have a front plate, and don't run one, you just look like another dork. Just be glad you don't live on the other side of the pond, and have to run a plate 2 feet wide on your Ferrari. I don't like front plates either, but it's not that big of a deal when everyone else has to have one, except you. I'm the dork zooming around having a blast with a front plate, quiet exhaust, no window tint, or black covers on the brake lights.
I live in MD where front plate laws are very strictly enforced, and there is no such thing as a "fix-it" citation. It's real money every time you're stopped, which is often if you try running without.
I think the best-looking, sturdiest, most reliable, and cost-effective option is the Sto-N-Sho. I have one on my C7 (pictured below) and used it on my Jaguar F-Type. It's sold by a forum vendor and inexpensive. It's made in the USA and very high quality.
It's a 5 minute initial install, and the plate is on and off in less than a minute. Moreover, when it's off the small mounting block is not visible, and there's nothing to malfunction such as on the sometimes finicky retractable mechanism.
The do sell a version that fits both splitter and non-splitter (e.g. Z06) models.
