Yikes! I was stopped last week on I-5 for no front license plate. Fortunately, the officer only gave me a warning, but I wanted to let folks know that maybe they are cracking down. I hate to do it, but I guess I'll have to put it on.

 

That sucks to hear. I have the Top Flight front plate mount (removable) sitting in the trunk. Held off on putting it on all year - I'll probably need to do it soon.

But of course I drove around for a full year without putting on the '07 tags on the WRX. Seems like they just aren't as picky around here as I'm used to.

Glad they just gave you a warning though!

 

Look at the Corvette National museum website. I bought a front plate holder that sits way back under, but vertical. Don't know for sure that it's legal, but haven't had any trouble ... and I have been stopped. The mount is about $15. Worth a try.

 

Corvette National museum website

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

 

Been living on the Eastside for 15 years and have never run a front plate. Pulled over once and given a warning. I continue to run with no front plate (on any of my cars) and never will. I'd rather pay the fine than disfigure the appearance of the cars.

Besides why are front plates required in WA? Is it so they can identify you when they look in their rearview mirror, or as you try to get away in reverse. lol. Naw, license plates are nice flat reflective targets that are more easily tagged by traffic enforcement equipment.

 

So they can charge you double when you're required to purchase new plates every few years.

 

WA requires front plates (and replacement every 7 years) simply because the coating on the plates have a metallic reflectorized surface that works to bounce back radar and laser beams. It has absolutely nothing to do with them being able to be more easily seen with light.

The WSP always lobbies heavily against any bill introduced in the legislature that would do away with the front plate requirement. It will probably take an Initiative to dump the front plate requiirement (YO, Tim Eyeman, are you listening??).

The revised Transportation Budget that was just sent to the Governess contained an instruction to DOL to find a way to exempt vehicle owners from having to replace their plates every 7 years if those plates still reflect light.

Whether or not this can (or would ) be done by DOL is going to be another matter. Obviously some cars are not driven as much where the loss of the reflective coating would not be a problem. But knowing DOL, I would expect them to simply say that it ca't be easily done and keep going with the 7-year itch (so to speak).

As far as running a front plate, I have them on both my Vettes and if nothing else, I won't get hasseled or stopped for violation of that (stupid) law.

And trying plates in locations that are different from the factory locations (like on the lower air dam or even up in the windshield) may not always be an answer; there is a blurb in the RCW that gives LEO's a lot of discretion in ticketing for a plate that is not easily visible. IIRC, there ar minimum and maximum heights and even what angles are acceptable.

Cross paths with a LEO with a 'tude or if you bitch about the front plate law and you can wind up with a ticket if the front plate is there but not in the "perfect" postion.

 

I had a front plate mounted on the spoiler of my 94 Vette for many years and although it was too low by law I was never stopped for it.

Living and driving in high traffic areas is usually a safe place to be for people not running a front plate.

Driving through small country towns where tickets can be a large source of income for the town's coffers is where you can better expect to be pulled over.


Pat

 

You don't need a plate on the front to get tagged by a laser. Don't ask me how I know this.

 

I'm sorry, but I don't intend on putting a front plate on my car. I figure two things can happen, either I'll end up forced to pay the fine (what is it, like 200 bucks?) or I'll take it to court with a plate on the front, show the judge I've added it and get the ticket thrown out.

Either way all they'll have is another guy who's pissed off at the cops on their hands. Generally I'm very polite when I get pulled over, especially when I'm wrong. I try and do everything right...turn the car off, hazards on, windows rolled down, interior lights on, radio off, hands on the wheel, etc. I don't get the license or registration/insurance out until asked. I always inform the officer if I'm carrying, where it is before I do so, and ask him if he'd like me to continue. And I ALWAYS say yes, sir or no, ma'am.

But if a cop pulls me over for a front license plate...yeah. I would definitely be upset about that.

 

In my trunk with my front plate I keep a receipt of a removable front plate bracket that it looks like I ordered. I set up the order and printed it off hoping if I get stopped I can show it and say..."It is ordered"....not very honest but I don't want to put one on my C6 either.

 

Now that is an idea I like. You can still be pulled over but I'm liking your chances of not getting a ticket - as long as you regularly print out a new order "confirmation". A smart cop just might look at the order date.

 

just order one of thoes flip down kits for the front plates

 

WSP or Seattle City police?

 

Get over the front plate thing.

Sure, it looks better w/o it but,
you will be hasseled forever.

Just a get TOPFLIGHT removable
plate holder, you can remove it in
3 seconds, when you want to be cool.

 

Of course if it is over 30 years old and has a "collector vehicle" plate then only a rear plate is required.

 

was that the only reason they pulled you over.???

 

WSP I was about 10 miles south of Tacoma.

 

Good point. I was absolutely not speeding, but I was pulling a trailer with my track tires and I think maybe that had something to do with it.

 

So here's another question.

I have my front plate mounted in the factory position, but I have a slightly tinted cover over it. It looks good on the Pewter color but I've heard that I could get a ticket for it that costs MORE than having no plate at all.

Any truth to this? Does anyone know?