Randy V

I'm thinking about it, but still not sure what you are saying there.

largecar379

Randy,

My trooper friend was implying that it's just easier for the cops if the car has plates front and rear....nothing more to it than that, I suppose.

--Russ

kiesan

Here are a couple better daytime pics:

kiesan

Nope. This is just vinyl that sticks without adhesive. As long as your painted surface is good and sound, no lifting in the future.

kiesan

Yeah the no plate solution with it in the car is one way to go. I want to avoid getting pulled over at all and then you have the parking ***** here on Capitol Hill that will write up a no front plate infraction for an otherwise legally parked car.

Yes I'm that Ducati crowd guy. Bike world guy actually with a semi-specialty in Ducs and such in my shop.

Tony

Plan C...Id perhaps patent that idea and gain certifictaion somehow from various states. Sell the fact that states could add a $$ surcharge for use of a "sticker plate" on the front.

Better hurry....

JWise

OK, just to summarize, you can GO TO JAIL even though:

-the tag number is valid

-you are the rightful owner of that tag number

-you properly registered the vehicle and paid the King his ransom (one would think this would be the most important point)

-you are in possession of the real tag

-you are simply properly displaying a tag that's visually identical to the real tag, just that the fascimile doesn't DISFIGURE one of the world's most beautiful front ends

ARRRGGHHHH!!!! That's ridiculous! For some reason, this just pushes my button. I haven't gotten this worked up since the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on eminent domain (which is a much more important issue).

Where's Ron_H? I want to hear his rant...

Marine Blue

Like others mine stays under my seat and I can reach for it as needed. Was pulled over for an expired inspection sticker a couple of weeks ago and the officer did not have any problems with no front plate. I like to think that some officers just understand we're not trying to break the law, just trying to avoid injustice to the lines on our cars.

kiesan

One could put the registration tabs right on here, yes. However, WA state no longer requires the tab on the front plate anymore. They just require the plate.

michaelathome

OK, Kiesan, for you here is your answer for the state of Washington pay close attention to the italics:

"RCW 46.16.240
Attachment of plates to vehicles — Violations enumerated.

The vehicle license number plates shall be attached conspicuously at the front and rear of each vehicle for which the same are issued and in such a manner that they can be plainly seen and read at all times. However, if only one license number plate is legally issued for any vehicle such plate shall be conspicuously attached to the rear of such vehicle. Each vehicle license number plate shall be placed or hung in a horizontal position at a distance of not more than four feet from the ground and shall be kept clean so as to be plainly seen and read at all times. In cases where the body construction of the vehicle is such that compliance with this section is impossible, permission to deviate therefrom may be granted by the state patrol. It shall be unlawful to display upon the front or rear of any vehicle, vehicle license number plate or plates other than those furnished by the director for such vehicle or to display upon any vehicle any vehicle license number plate or plates which have been in any manner changed, altered, disfigured or have become illegible. License plate frames may be used on vehicle license number plates only if the frames do not obscure license tabs or identifying letters or numbers on the plates and the plates can be plainly seen and read at all times. It is unlawful to use any holders, frames, or any materials that in any manner change, alter, or make the vehicle license number plates illegible. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any vehicle unless there shall be displayed thereon valid vehicle license number plates attached as herein provided.


[2006 c 326 § 1. Prior: 1987 c 330 § 704; 1987 c 142 § 3; 1969 ex.s. c 170 § 10; 1967 c 32 § 18; 1961 c 12 § 46.16.240; prior: 1947 c 89 § 1; 1937 c 188 § 36; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 6312-36.]"

So it looks as though you CAN run w/out a plate WITH permission and you WILL be ticketed for the vinyl one that you have on. Man it sucks some times cause I really like your solution.

I'll still take mine this time with a few changes, reflective, 3D lettering and fake screw heads.

Michael

inactiveuser92616

Maybe you could roll the plate to follow the car's lines? A metalshop that has downtime could probably do that easily.

michaelathome

That would be against:

"Each vehicle license number plate shall be placed or hung in a horizontal position at a distance of not more than four feet from the ground and shall be kept clean so as to be plainly seen and read at all times."

and

"or to display upon any vehicle any vehicle license number plate or plates which have been in any manner changed, altered, disfigured or have become illegible."

Per Washington state law.

Michael

kiesan

Thanks Michael. Good old RCW 46.16.240:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.16.240


Yeah I suspected it was illegal to make/display my own plate, as stated in post #1. I was not aware one could gain permission to not display it, although I think that permission might be tough to get considering the car did indeed come with all the stuff to put a plate up there.

I guess this is my own version of anarchy. Some people deface flags, burn draft cards or blow up buildings. I choose to make and display an exact 2-dimensional duplicate of my front license plate on my semi-daily driver, realtively obscure 16-year old sports car. To hell with authority I say! Who's with me???

Anyway, as an experiment, I purposely, shamelessly and without further remorse broke the law today. My bike shop/place of business is in the heart of metropolitan Seattle, the Capitol Hill neighborhood. One block from Broadway and right next to a major community college. The police precinct is within 2 blocks and the place is crawling with LEO's and especially parking enforcement personnel on pedal bikes, on foot and in their 3-wheeled vehicles with names like "Parking Interceptor II" on the back. Its a freaking war zone I tell you!

I observed the most dedicated parking enforcement officer (you get to know them, whether you like it or not) on my block. When she wasn't looking, I whipped froggy (the nickname given to my turquoise '91 S4 by my gal) from his legally parked position on the street to dead center in the middle of the sidewalk. This 928S4 was blocking pedestrians, my own driveway, etc. A genuine menace to society froggy was.

From the safety of my own shop, I watched Officer Ratchet approach with her computerized revenue generator in hand. She circled froggy once, twice, slowly sizing up her victim. She looked at the rear, she looked at the front, she measured things with the tape on her hip.

Within seconds her handheld device was spitting out its deadly ammo. Before froggy could react, he had a very neat and crisp white envelope under his driver side wiper. Dead to rights.

Violation: SIDEWALK IMPOUND/NO PARKING ON SIDEWALK

FINE: $38.00 AFTER 15 DAYS $63.00

Bear in mind not one week previous froggy had been cited by Officer Ratchet for no front plate.

Victory was mine!

F451

I like your version of the "blame it on the bracket" excuse much better then my "the bracket is too expensive for me to replace, but I can afford to drive this Porsche, so don't give me a ticket" excuse.

I am immediatley implementing your excuse for the S4 - if you don't mind.

Besides being a much better explaination, I'll be able to remove the stupid license plate bracket for the back seat floor. Heh heh...

Bill Ball

I haven't had a front plate on my cars or over 20 years. I've been stopped more times than I can count for various infractions usually involving speed in CA and NV and I have never had one comment made to me about the lack of a front plate. I don't think a single officer ever even walked to the front of the car.