Does the law say it has to be in the center? Even if it does I doubt most cops would hassle you if it's off to the side. Then you could just make a simple bracket to mount it under the driving lights like this:

 

That's still ugly!

 

It may be ugly but you wouldn't have to drill your bumper cover. Just run a bracket from the driving light mounting bolts to the plate.

Luckily I live in a non-front-plate state.

 

If you must have it, and it sounds like you do until this jealous goon is either shot or transferred or retires, then I like Sterling's idea. A decal that is a reasonable facsimile is a good compromise and will be easy to remove leaving no holes.

I also like Porken's idea the best for me because photo radar is everywhere around here. Just yesterday I got stuck in an intersection with a TWO SECOND yellow to red cycle. And I didn't have on my non-photo covers. #$@%&@#$** aholes parasites !! Here we go again.

 

Two suggestions:
1. Have a strong steel bracket made that will bolt to the actual bumper (behind the cover) and come out through the top of the grill opening then turn up along the outside surface of the bumper cover forming a mounting frame. I have seen something similar used on Miatas.
2. Hang the tag below the front cover on a hinge as was done on some of the old street rods. Sure it will get scratched, but do you care?

 

What I have heard about non-photo spray is that it would be more effective to just go to jail and ask to be arrested. That way you would lower the expense to the state and we could all pay less taxes. The spray doesn't work, that's for sure.

 

Make nicey nice with Deputy Dog the county "man". Befriend him, maybe take him for a ride in your beloved shark and make a believer out of him. Then you may go peacefully for another 16 years. Amen.

 

Check the rule book, Ron... IIRC the requirement is that the yellow light should be illuminated for at least 1 second per 10MPH of speed limit. So in a 35 zone, you should get 3.5 seconds. If it's truly a 2 sec. light in a 35 zone then you may have a technicality to work with.

HTH

 

Some Miata hang the plate in front of the air intake mouth/grille on a free moving hinge - it hangs down when you slow, blows up out of the way when moving along at a clip, doesnt restrict air flow. Ours is in a cooler climate, so its fixed down there. The problem with the upright fitting in front is assh0les who back into it bend the plate and the screws scratch the nose cover.
jp 83 Euro S AT 49k

 

In Oregon the month and year stickers normally reside below the pressed letters/numbers. Instead, I put them above and simply folded the plate over to make it a more suitable size. There were already holes where a plate bracket had once been so I used those holes and double sided tape to keep the plate from rubbing or vibrating against the body. I think the tape itself would be more than enough on its own. That's an old pic, I've since reinstalled the light surround and a spoiler. It's still ugly though.

 

That's a little better though...

In CA, you don't need the stickers on the front at all, so I bet you could fold the plate up like that...
Maybe a little on the top, and a little on the bottom, and it could start to look pretty slim...

 

That's a great idea, Sterling!

 

In Kalifornia, that is correct; just a facsimile of the numbers is OK and I have seen such "thin" plates and they appear much more pleasing.

Dave, .....................(I'm biting my lip)...........you said: "check the rule book".

Rule book?? They don't need any stinkin' rule book. The manufacturers of the red light cameras share the revenue that is taken and they also process the photos and issue the citations. Get real. The lights are routinely set at less than the engineered times as part of the game. This is an established fact. The other benefit to all of this is the increase in rear end collisions that result, benefiting the insurance companies and the associated occupations like tow companies and body shops and doctors and nurses and drug companies and last...the attorneys (poor things). This is established fact. Red light cameras = Cash cows. Wherever they are the accident rate increases.

rule book indeed. Ha! Ha! Ha! Do "they" follow the rule book in setting and enforcing the speed laws??? Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
I am already preparing my defense in case there was a photo taken. HA! HA! HA! Rules huh? What a crack up!!

I am just pissed because my non-photo covers were not on.

 

Put it on with zip ties. Tell him it is temporary until your bracket comes in from Germany. He has to sign it off because it is on. Then pop it back off until the next time. All the damn crime in the world and they **** at a license plate.

 

Yeah, I know Ron... it's a sham and a scam. I have beaten a red light ticket on this basis in the past though. YMMV.