Front Plates and Cops

[Oakley]

If the state you live in requires a front plate, you should have a front plate.

You, nor your car, are above the law. Get a front plate.

It is probably a lower risk driving around without a front plate if you insist you are a special someone; but it is likely to increase your traffic stop bill if you get pulled over for something else or if you are parked in a metered/surveillance lot you might see a higher parking ticket amount.

there are several ways to enact change.

the soap box
the ballot box
the jury box
the ammo box

but the most commonly used is simply refusing to comply with stupid ideas.
civil disobedience is its own soap box.

bad laws should be disobeyed.

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[ORRadtech]

there are several ways to enact change.

the soap box
the ballot box
the jury box
the ammo box

but the most commonly used is simply refusing to comply with stupid ideas.
civil disobedience is its own soap box.

bad laws should be disobeyed.

Why is a front license plate a bad law?

For some It's unsightly, inconvenient or unpopular sure but why is it "bad"?

 

[Mum4rdV8]

Personally, i could care less, but when the dealer busted out his drill to makes holes into the bumper, i was like nope and opted to go the Sto n Sho route. If a front license plate is required, make a proper spot for it. If it's something you feel passionate about, then contact your state representative. In reality, we should have other things to concern ourselves with and front license plates isn't the hill worth dying on.

 

[Oakley]

Why is a front license plate a bad law?

For some It's unsightly, inconvenient or unpopular sure but why is it "bad"?

Take those reasons and add the fact that it doesn't serve much of a purpose beyond making things slightly easier for cops sometimes and the owner has to live with the negatives constantly.

 

[MAGS1]

Why is a front license plate a bad law?

For some It's unsightly, inconvenient or unpopular sure but why is it "bad"?

I don’t think it’s bad as much as it’s a waste of money. A cop isn’t going to read your front plate coming from the opposite direction, it’s really not possible unless their dash cam is running and they stop to review it. And you’re long gone by that point anyway. Tollways capture both front and back, as do red light cameras if you have those in your area, so it’s not like it’s being done to avoid things of that nature.

 

[Crew4991]

I don’t think it’s bad as much as it’s a waste of money. A cop isn’t going to read your front plate coming from the opposite direction, it’s really not possible unless their dash cam is running and they stop to review it. And you’re long gone by that point anyway. Tollways capture both front and back, as do red light cameras if you have those in your area, so it’s not like it’s being done to avoid things of that nature.

I don't understand what the big deal is. Lived most of my life in two plate states and either had a bracket on the bumper or used a Sto-N-Show removable license plate holder.
Now I live in a 1 plate state and sure aesthetically not having a front plate looks a bit nicer but outside of that people should just follow their state's laws regardless if they agree with it. They can always relocate to a 1 plate state too or they could do nothing and just pay higher fines if they get pulled over if that truly is worth it to them.

 

[MAGS1]

I don't understand what the big deal is. Lived most of my life in two plate states and either had a bracket on the bumper or used a Sto-N-Show removable license plate holder.
Now I live in a 1 plate state and sure aesthetically not having a front plate looks a bit nicer but outside of that people should just follow their state's laws regardless if they agree with it. They can always relocate to a 1 plate state too or they could do nothing and just pay higher fines if they get pulled over if that truly is worth it to them.

For me it’s an aesthetic thing. I hate the way it looks. Does that justify breaking the plate law? No, it’s not a good excuse. The only place it’s really enforced is in the city of Chicago itself. If you’re parked on the street or in an open lot, they will 100% write you the ticket. Parking garages are hit and miss, but if you back into a spot or if they can see the front plate missing as they drive through the garage, they will write you the ticket as well. So I guess it’s really enforcement. If it was that big of a deal, they’d enforce it more. I did actually have a Sto N Sho bracket mounted to my GT before I got hit. I have to get the bracket for the Mach 1 now since I put a Mach 1 style bumper on and the splitters/mounting points are different.

Long winded response but I suppose I should be a good citizen and put the Sto N Sho back on and actually use it.

 

[Sycostang67]

I live in Idaho but got my car in Washington. It didn’t have the plate mount or holes drilled when I got it. I did order a plate bracket and even a sto n show bracket but never installed either one. About a year and a half later they changed the plate laws. If your vehicle doesn’t have a front plate mount, you’re not required to have one.

 

[docmogas]

You would think at this point knowing the mustang community that Ford itself would actually come up with some type of aesthetically pleasing weight amount of front plate or just have the option of a stow and show from the factory. But that's assuming that they actually care, which is probably not the case.

 

[ORRadtech]

I'm sure Ford does care. They care about doing the minimum necessary to meet government requirements at the least possible cost to themselves.

 

[thompsje]

Take those reasons and add the fact that it doesn't serve much of a purpose beyond making things slightly easier for cops sometimes and the owner has to live with the negatives constantly.

I think it's also been shown to be more effective for police reports when there is a hit and run or other incidents like that. I live in a 2 plate state and ran without one for years on my E36 M3, which did not have a factory plate mount. I would zip tie the plate to the lower grille to pass inspection and cut the ties right after.

Was only cited for it in combination with other violations, and now I run a lower grille mount on the Mustang to avoid the hassle.

 

[CATM]

PD use a front plate as a flat surface to aim their SMD (radar). It's more accurate than curvatures of bumpers.

 

[Grintch]

Why is a front license plate a bad law?

For some It's unsightly, inconvenient or unpopular sure but why is it "bad"?

If does nothing for the citizen, it just provides the state with another excuse to pull you over, write a ticket, and makes their illegal surveillance systems (cameras everywhere/plate readers) work "better". Mandating a front plate was one of the first steps to the highly lucrative (for state and/or local governments) use of red light cameras (UK also uses speed cameras, but I haven't heard of those being used in the US, yet).

If it was a good law, you could point to increased highway safety and/or reduced crime as a result. Good luck finding a study that shows that. Even just unsightly and inconvenient is a fine reason to avoid it when it has no upside. Though I bet the two plates states charge you more for registration to cover the increased cost of 2 plates. And I bet it hurt aero a little and thus increases fuel consumption and emissions.

 

[CATM]

It is a 100% silly law.

 

[docmogas]

It is a 100% silly law.

No way, It's a great law, maybe the greatest. I feel way safer when I drive in and around cars with front plates. Plus I heard it adds at least 15 HP.

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