If you want to take chances by not obeying the law, sometimes it comes back to bite you. We have to have two plates here and it's just not worth it to leave the front plate off.
I got caught
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 387
Likes: 47
From: Redmond, WA Bermuda Dunes, CA Chelan, WA
I got caught
In Washington you are required to have a front license plate. Ever since I purchased my C5 in June of 2014 I have had the filler in the front...not a plate. No problem, I thought as have had the gen d'arms give me many thumbs up in my drives.
Yesterday I was parked in front of the Tacoma Municipal building and got a ticket (while parked) for no front license plate. I guess that was tempting fate too much parking there... (BTW, it is an $86 ticket in Tacoma).
So, do I pay (consider it dues?) and not put my plate on and be more careful where I park?
Or, put my plate on and go to the court to show them a possible mistake?
Or pay and put my plate on as a lesson learned?
BTW, my company (which I own) wrote the software that Tacoma Court uses to runs their business. I asked my programmers to help me out and they all laughed and said no...it would impinge the integrity of our contract. They said pay the ticket and we'll add it to our annual service contract fee....
Yesterday I was parked in front of the Tacoma Municipal building and got a ticket (while parked) for no front license plate. I guess that was tempting fate too much parking there... (BTW, it is an $86 ticket in Tacoma).
So, do I pay (consider it dues?) and not put my plate on and be more careful where I park?
Or, put my plate on and go to the court to show them a possible mistake?
Or pay and put my plate on as a lesson learned?
BTW, my company (which I own) wrote the software that Tacoma Court uses to runs their business. I asked my programmers to help me out and they all laughed and said no...it would impinge the integrity of our contract. They said pay the ticket and we'll add it to our annual service contract fee....
Last edited by 00Midnight; Aug 16, 2017 at 07:32 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 169
Likes: 22
From: Shelton WA
Hahaha! that is good-i was wondering whether to take mine off as i have the matching cover. I know the head gal at the DOL in my town (her husband painted 2 of my vintage stangs) and she said i needed a front plate so i left it on 
Man, i would pay the stupid thing and put it on there. I would hate driving around with something that gives the police a reason to pull you over. On live PD, they are ALWAYS pulling people over for no license plate lights, expired tabs, etc, and it almost always leads to more stuff!
jp
ps-i would say open season on practical jokes on your employees that wouldn't help you out
Man, i would pay the stupid thing and put it on there. I would hate driving around with something that gives the police a reason to pull you over. On live PD, they are ALWAYS pulling people over for no license plate lights, expired tabs, etc, and it almost always leads to more stuff! jp
ps-i would say open season on practical jokes on your employees that wouldn't help you out
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Melting Slicks
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From: jefferson texas
Awhile back I got stopped in my C5 for going 6 mph over the limit. The Officer walked around the car, looked at my documents and said "you are the first guy I've seen driving one of these who has a front plate, I appreciate you putting it on there, have a good day". No summons, just a word of appreciation for following the law. Like everyone else, I really dislike the look of a front plate on a C5, just doesn't look right, but its not worth the PIA of having to deal with a traffic stop.
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Drifting
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When you live in a two plate state, it is wise to not give LE a reason to pull you over, or in your case get , ticketed while parked.
As long as the state says you need a front plate, then the best possible solution is to get a personal plate.
You have to have the plate anyway, so why not make it interesting?
Bob.
As long as the state says you need a front plate, then the best possible solution is to get a personal plate.
You have to have the plate anyway, so why not make it interesting?
Bob.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
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From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
I went to state inspection today. In NJ they have reduced, due to expenses, the inspection to merely a quick visual and a tailpipe emissions check. They really check nothing else. Lights, tires, brakes, nothing else is checked, none of those things. So I went up to the woman who was doing inspections and told her I had a question. She said not to worry, no Vettes ever have front plates and you'll pass. NJ is a two plate state. As a matter of fact I've been told by state troopers not to worry about, I'll probably never get stopped for it. I once got stopped for an illegal u-turn at the exact moment a trooper was coming around the bend to see me do it. He was quite upset with me for doing it and during his yelling at me adds in that I also didn't have a front plate. No ticket anyway, he didn't give me any tickets. I also don't have a front plate on my regular car and I've never been stopped for it.
Melting Slicks
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Interesting to note how some people don't think the laws apply to them. Maybe you can tell the officer your car is registered in a sanctuary area. 
(Yes, the car looks much better without front plates)
(Yes, the car looks much better without front plates)
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
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From: Fords, NJ
As silly as this sounds, when I'm on way to Carlisle PA, as soon as I cross the border I'll pull over at a rest stop, remove the front plate and put the filler plate on. PA is a one plate state...
Last edited by SG Lou; Aug 17, 2017 at 05:11 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Rotonda West, FL 2015 Z51 M7 3LT
Oldtimer
When I lived in Emperor Cuomo-land (ie - the communist state of New York) they had a two plate law. I just put it on and got over it. Corvettes draw enough attention without adding to it. Now that I've moved to America, I don't need a front plate so I put the cover back on.
As for you, that's totally your call. You've been pretty lucky up to this point and if you're a baller and a hundred bucks a pop doesn't matter to you then wth. But know that ANYTIME you get stopped, be it for a speed warning, improper signal, bulb out, anything, you're probably going to get written up.
As for you, that's totally your call. You've been pretty lucky up to this point and if you're a baller and a hundred bucks a pop doesn't matter to you then wth. But know that ANYTIME you get stopped, be it for a speed warning, improper signal, bulb out, anything, you're probably going to get written up.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 65
Likes: 9
From: Westerville Ohio
Ditto for me, only I was exiting a interstate and there sat the good ol Ohio State patrol. Made a right hand turn and passed him. His lights lite up and I had to pay my due's. Front plate is now on, not throwing away my money anymore.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,820
Likes: 34
From: Ravensdale WA
In WA once a car is 20 years old it can get collector plates. No front plate is issued for those. And it's a low 1 time fee. My C5 gets those this year. The first 2 years of C5s are mow eligible for those.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
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From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
In Washington you are required to have a front license plate. Ever since I purchased my C5 in June of 2014 I have had the filler in the front...not a plate. No problem, I thought as have had the gen d'arms give me many thumbs up in my drives.
Yesterday I was parked in front of the Tacoma Municipal building and got a ticket (while parked) for no front license plate. I guess that was tempting fate too much parking there... (BTW, it is an $86 ticket in Tacoma).
So, do I pay (consider it dues?) and not put my plate on and be more careful where I park?
Or, put my plate on and go to the court to show them a possible mistake?
Or pay and put my plate on as a lesson learned?
BTW, my company (which I own) wrote the software that Tacoma Court uses to runs their business. I asked my programmers to help me out and they all laughed and said no...it would impinge the integrity of our contract. They said pay the ticket and we'll add it to our annual service contract fee....
Yesterday I was parked in front of the Tacoma Municipal building and got a ticket (while parked) for no front license plate. I guess that was tempting fate too much parking there... (BTW, it is an $86 ticket in Tacoma).
So, do I pay (consider it dues?) and not put my plate on and be more careful where I park?
Or, put my plate on and go to the court to show them a possible mistake?
Or pay and put my plate on as a lesson learned?
BTW, my company (which I own) wrote the software that Tacoma Court uses to runs their business. I asked my programmers to help me out and they all laughed and said no...it would impinge the integrity of our contract. They said pay the ticket and we'll add it to our annual service contract fee....
I'd consider $86 bucks every 3 years a deal. It equates to just 8 cents a day 
Seriously, pay the ticket, put the plate on, and buy one of these:
