Power Play

I live in a state that requires front plates but simply can't bring myself to comply. I've purchased one to the brackets that secures to the tow hook site but still can't pull the trigger. I'm feeling like I'd rather plead for forgiveness.

Thoughts?

cjcam930

Hell no! I have not run a front plate on any P-cars in 25 years, or on my current non-P daily driver in 10+ years. It really fuchs up the cosmetics and I'm sure is not good for aero either. I've gotten a few fix-it tickets over the years but the law is very loosely enforced in my area. That said, I do put/leave them on our trucks and SUVs which are rolling bricks regardless.

fiberpig

In my state it is also the law however when I picked up my plates the lady told me to keep it in the glovebox in the event you get stopped. I will play the dumb card and pay a ticket.

Ibanezgod

In nj it's required. Haven't ran one in 10 years. Never stopped for it. It's worth the $80 fine if I did.

ilko

I have never run front plates on my toy cars. But I also only park in private lots/garages where law enforcement has no jurisdiction to give citations.

Another good thing about running w/o front plate is that if you are ever pulled over for a minor speeding offense, and you have a clean driving record, the LEO often gives you a no front plate ticket as a warning, instead of a heftier speeding ticket. It's happened to me several times. And I've always beaten those in court or had them dismissed because the judge usually doesn't want to deal with these types of cases, it's a waste of their time.

cjcam930

Several years ago I got pulled-over in Malibu while driving my Audi with a lightly smoked cover (installed by the PO) over the rear plate, and no front plate. The deputy flat-out told me that the higher-ups had directed them to start citing for obscured or missing plates because there were ongoing discussions about implementing more red-light cameras. It was just a fix-it ticket and he was pretty cool about it. So I just had to pay $10 IIRC and get it signed-off at the station. I ditched the smoked cover permanently but the front plate only stayed on the car for a day or two...

KevinNY

In NY --$150 fine. Got one on my CL63. Id rather pay the fine then ruin the look on my car. I have run wout them for years ----- only pulled over twice.

jhbrennan

Who needs the headache of potential "probable cause" for a stop...and in some states, parking enforcement can ticket for no front plate. After a while you forget you even have a front plate on...and I doubt having the front plate materially affects aerodynamics.

993TurboS

10 years without them in states that care and never had a problem. Hard to justify drilling holes.

4ocious

Never pulled over in VA. It's a misdemeanor fix-it ticket here and not strictly enforced. I would say 1 in 15 vehicles I see don't have front plates.

Ibanezgod

I keep mine under the passenger seat and can throw it on the dash if needed

But honestly i've never been pulled over for it, however I did get a ticket for it once in place of a speeding ticket. So gives the cop a reason to make some money and not screw you.

drh

The parking ***** in Portland nailed me twice for not having a plate up front. Each time I duct taped it on after I got home, sent a photo with the fine and got my fine returned several weeks later.

I finally relented and put it on because I'm sick of playing their game.

Eric - Plug Guy

Hell to the no.

therock88

No way! it is a law in Illinois....I do not have one on my 997 Turbo, Boxster S, or Cayenne. Hate the way they look on these cars. Cops around my city are A-holes and have actually stopped me just for the plate and given me a ticket each time (4). They are $120 a pop.....But still not doing it.

DC

Terry Adams

Kept mine in the car when lived in CA and pleaded it just got torn off at the car wash. Worked once, but not second time when it was also a parking ticket.

Tried the tow hook but could not stand it and went naked.

Live in a no front plate state now.