mschuyler

Curious about enforcement of the front plate in Washington. Have members here experienced it one way or another?

2008 Corvette

Over here on the east side of the Great Pacific Northwest they don't seem to care. Our club has several LEO's observe us at Glass On Grass and never said a thing. I have been stopped several times ( No Tickets ) and it never came up.

AaronZ51

Here's several threads where this has been discussed previously in this forum:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nt-plates.html

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-plate-wa.html

Short answer - it depends on where you live and park. I work in Tacoma and their parking enforcement will get you about every time for no front plate; even if you have it on your dash. When I first started working in Tacoma and parking on the street, I got a ticket my first time parking. Before I could get a plate holder for the front, I'd tape it to my nose using blue painter's tape when I parked (and take it back off before driving).

Many have never had an issue driving/parking in WA while others have been ticketed so it's a bit like playing the lottery. Small chance of getting ticketed (unless your in an area where they do strictly enforce it) but you're taking a calculated risk.

Aaron

MACE_Hardware

5000 miles with my C7 mostly in Snohomish County. No on-street parking. No issues with no front plate.

Daughter drives a fairly beat up Toyota Tacoma in Spokane area and she go pulled over twice in two months.

Not sure if the difference is geography or appearance of affluence.

AaronZ51

As Bertrand Russell once said, "Sin is geographical." The "sin" of not having a plate is strongly enforced in some parts of the state and ignored in other parts.

MACE_Hardware

Now Aaron, you are certainly aware Rule Six states that it is ok to revisit a topic - after three years have transpired.

I do wonder if there could be any influence on enforcement from the proliferation of cameras - particularly on the King's Highway on I-405. They want two chances to ID you.

C6 Snowboarder

Been driving my BMW X5 for 11 years now with no Front Plate. No issues so far, except the Border Patrol guy when I came back from Whistler asked - what happened to your front plate? I said it fell off and have not had a chance to get a new bracket. he smiled back and said Welcome Home.

Been driving my 2013 and my 2012 Grandpasports for 3 years and no front plate on either of them - no issues.

ExRedRacer

Must be that bright yellow Vette of yours that catches their eye.

I've driven through Tacoma any number of times without being stopped. Maybe if I had to park downtown on a daily basis, they'd be ticketing me as well for no front plate too.

Do you think that they'd bother to make a traffic stop as you're driving along or are they more likely to ticket you if you are parked on the streets of Tacoma?

JETninja

I never have front plates on mine or the Wife's car....but I have only once visited a friend in Tacoma and know better then to hang there.....

Kamran

Just get a decal made and stick it somewhere in front. At a glance, it'll look like you bent your plate to fasten it.

As long as you pick a plate with a background color that matches your car, it won't look bad. It won't interfere with air intake either. You really have to pay attention to figure out it's a decal!

I called Olympia to ask if they are legal. I was told law doesn't say they are illegal, and doesn't say they are legal. IF you get pulled over for other reasons, then it'll be at the discretion of the officer. My trick is, not to give them a reason to pull me over on public roads!

AaronZ51

Good point - I hadn't realized the threads on this topic were that old... Seemed like it was last year, not three years ago!

ErikwithAK01

No plate, no problem Police don't even look at me when I'm out in my Vette, even when it was lime green haha! I have a pretty outrageous car, so I'm a little suprised honestly. They all think I'm some pensioner behind the wheel or something; never give me the time of day. I live in Marysville WA.

I was cruising between packs on the freeway on Sat, and the speed I was going was maybe just an eency, weency, wee bit uhhh...obscene, lol cop on the side of the road had to have seen me for at least a half mile. Looking out his window, with the gun on no one but me, as I was smack dab in between packs; didn't even lift his head from the gun as I shot past him, catless longtubes belching out bald eagles as I screamed by him. No f$%&s given.

NW94Z

About 25 years in the PNW and I have never run a front plate on any of my cars. Never been ticketed. My wife has been ticketed once in the past 19 years. 90% of driving in that time has been on the Eastside.

Oh 2 Fun

Thanks for asking as I anticipate moving from Oregon to Washington in a couple of months. I display both plates on my 'Vette but have the front one under a slightly tinted cover.....makes it go with my Pewter paint better.
Covered plates are illegal in Oregon but the law hasn't bothered me.

Did find this....seems it might be okay in WA.

http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.16A.200

But it does say front and rear.

KCSODogboy

Technically, any covering over the license plate is illegal in Washington, as it affects the "reflectivity" of the paint. Smoked or tinted covers are especially verboten. That said, it is up to the individual officer to decide whether to stop or ticket the "violator". WSP tends to be more stringent, as their primary focus is traffic enforcement, but it can be a pet peeve of a city/county cop and draw their attention and a ticket. The same goes for no front plate. The front plate "sticker" is also a no go. All that being said, I don't run a front plate on my GS, spoils the look!

HeyDanNiceShot

Never had one on the front of my C7 Z06, my GTR, my C63, or my C6 Z06. Hint: Get Law Enforcement Memorial plates when you register here.