California - Front License Plate
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Frank P. (02-25-2017)
02-23-2017, 12:00 AM
#44
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Just use the aero plate. You have to drill holes in the aeroplate to mount the front plate to it but that's easy. I think there's no holes from the factory as it's legally too low to the ground by a couple inches. The way it mounts to the grill is non invasive as well. Looks about as good as a front plate can. Won't overheat unless you track it, so take it off beforehand. One less reason to get pulled over.
But, your choice on what you do.
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Frank P. (02-25-2017)
02-23-2017, 10:49 AM
#45
Team Owner
Some cities, like San Francisco, are tough on plate - meter maids will cite you. Some cities have LEOs who are tough - I've heard Los
Gatos is one of those. Other than that, you may be ok unless you get stopped and they decide to add that onto a ticket.
Personally, I didn't have a front plate on my C5 the entire 18 years I had it with no problems. I'm still waiting for the new plates for my C7 and don't intend to put them on unless cited.
Gatos is one of those. Other than that, you may be ok unless you get stopped and they decide to add that onto a ticket.
Personally, I didn't have a front plate on my C5 the entire 18 years I had it with no problems. I'm still waiting for the new plates for my C7 and don't intend to put them on unless cited.
But be especially careful of CHP on freeways or anywhere you see them. They love to cite for tinted windows then they look for the front plate = 2 violations.
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Frank P. (02-25-2017)
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Frank P. (02-25-2017)
02-23-2017, 10:57 AM
#47
Team Owner
I live in OC, going on 6 years, never had a front plate, never pulled over for it. I've been pulled over 2X for speeding, cited once, and they never mentioned the front plates. The citation was a CHP using LIDAR aimed at the front of the car.
Get a removable plate and only put it on if you are cited. Then you'd go to a CHP office so they could stamp your ticket with proof of correction, and then you take the plate off again. Easy peasy.
Get a removable plate and only put it on if you are cited. Then you'd go to a CHP office so they could stamp your ticket with proof of correction, and then you take the plate off again. Easy peasy.
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Frank P. (02-25-2017)
02-23-2017, 10:58 AM
#48
Team Owner
Been daily driving my C7 in SoCal for over a year with no front tag, tinted windows and lights and have had no problems (knock on wood). OTOH, six months aft moving to SoCal, I was pulled over in my Mini Cooper S specifically for window tint and then the officer added no front tag after checking for that. A large proportion of drivers run no front tag and tint here so it's at the officer's discretion - it's a target-rich environment so the revenue stream is constant and convenient whenever the need arises or a reason to pull a car over is needed. Gotta' pay to play.
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Frank P. (02-25-2017)
02-23-2017, 10:00 PM
#49
Drifting
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Frank P. (02-25-2017)
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Frank P. (02-26-2017)
02-24-2017, 12:29 PM
#52
Team Owner
Last edited by LS WON; 02-24-2017 at 12:31 PM.
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Frank P. (02-25-2017)
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Frank P. (02-25-2017)
02-24-2017, 03:19 PM
#55
Drifting
Not displaying a front plate gives the cops probable cause to pull you over at any point.
So, even if you aren't speeding or driving erratically, if you are breaking any other laws that they may be disposed to ignore, then this may just what they need to pull your *** over and say smell your breath, check to make sure your registration is current, your proof of insurance is current, your driver's license is on your person, your….
I've been pulled over often enough for no front plate that it's just not worth it for me, anymore.
Not a CA specific reply, just every state has it's cops willing and able to do just this.
So, even if you aren't speeding or driving erratically, if you are breaking any other laws that they may be disposed to ignore, then this may just what they need to pull your *** over and say smell your breath, check to make sure your registration is current, your proof of insurance is current, your driver's license is on your person, your….
I've been pulled over often enough for no front plate that it's just not worth it for me, anymore.
Not a CA specific reply, just every state has it's cops willing and able to do just this.
That being said, I lived and driven in CA for almost 50 years and had many sports cars with no front plates. Never, ever got stopped for not having one.
Tinted windows? Got stopped at a freeway on ramp near Sacramento by the CHP for the tinted windows on my Saleen Mustang. Got a fix it ticket. When he ran my plate and saw I was a LEO he said, "You should know better."
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Frank P. (02-25-2017)
02-26-2017, 01:18 AM
#56
Team Owner
Good answer. When an officer is looking for a reason to make a T-stop, not having a plate is golden.
That being said, I lived and driven in CA for almost 50 years and had many sports cars with no front plates. Never, ever got stopped for not having one.
Tinted windows? Got stopped at a freeway on ramp near Sacramento by the CHP for the tinted windows on my Saleen Mustang. Got a fix it ticket. When he ran my plate and saw I was a LEO he said, "You should know better."
That being said, I lived and driven in CA for almost 50 years and had many sports cars with no front plates. Never, ever got stopped for not having one.
Tinted windows? Got stopped at a freeway on ramp near Sacramento by the CHP for the tinted windows on my Saleen Mustang. Got a fix it ticket. When he ran my plate and saw I was a LEO he said, "You should know better."
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Frank P. (02-26-2017)
03-06-2017, 03:08 AM
#57
Intermediate
I have never run a front plate on any of my sports cars over the last 20 something years. I have never gotten a ticket for it either. I asked a police officer friend the question do I really need a front plate. His answer was yes, you legally need a front license plate here in California. However most of us will not stop you for not having one. He continued with, in fact it might be to your advantage to not have one. He said if he pulls someone over for any routine stop to check papers or suspicion of something, they are usually compelled to site you for something. If your plate is not there they will write you for this instead of something more serious. And the plate doesn't usually cost you anything.
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Frank P. (03-12-2017)
03-06-2017, 05:07 PM
#58
Instructor
Front License plate
At Laguna Seca I did a visual survey at the car corals. In the Corvette Coral, less than 10% of the cars had front plates. In the Lamborgini coral none did.
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Frank P. (03-12-2017)
03-06-2017, 08:10 PM
#59
Pro
I'm just back from visiting my son in Glendale and noticed this seems to be a trend since there are no dated "Temp Plates" in CA. I noticed several cars on his street with the "Rusnak" dealership paper plate on the rear for several years now!! Nice cars (A Maserati and a Porsche, just to name 2) and very noticeable.
Last edited by monicatomokc; 03-06-2017 at 08:11 PM.
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Frank P. (03-12-2017)
03-06-2017, 09:36 PM
#60
Pro
I lived in Woodland about 8 years ago. My sons car was parked at the curb in front of our house and he received a no front plate ticket at 1:00 AM in the morning! This is amazing they actually have time to do this.
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Frank P. (03-12-2017)