California ATOT: Do you need to have a front license plate?

[beat mania]

What I want to know is, is it okay in CA to make a sticker that looks identical to the plate and stick it on your bumper.

I see that shenanigan all the time on TV car shows like Top Gear with the Ferraris and stuff.

 

[indamixx99]

Originally posted by: Eeezee
Anyone got a good idea for putting the front plate on? I can just drill holes in the bumper, yes?

Not sure about that, but I know on my honda the mount doesn't drill directly to the front of the bumper. There's holes at the underside of the bumper, and the mount screws into that. This way, if I wanted to take my front plate out I could without having any visible holes.

 

[Eeezee]

Think molding tape would do the job? I just need it to be visible on the front, right? I don't actually have to drill holes in my car, right?

I don't plan on staying around in CA forever.

 

[yhelothar]

*shrugs*
I've been driving around for nearly two years with no plates, never got pulled over.
In fact, when I bought my car used, the guy had vanity plates so I had to get new plates, and the DMV only gave me one plate.
That just shows how well the state themselves enforce the front license plate.

 

[IGBT]

..yup. Got a fix it tic on my dakota. I put a smitty built tube bumper on it years ago and left the front plate off. Got a ticket few months ago so I had to spend a day looking for in in the garage. Found it. Installed it.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: MotionMan
Arizona only gives you one plate?!? Weird.

MotionMan

Uh, FL does as well.... Sexier one plate cars FTW

 

[rh71]

why is there no emissions testing in CA?

 

[summit]

there is emission testing in CA just only after 6 years of owning a car. they assume your car is good then after 6 years its every other year, we have some of the hardest emission standards in the union.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: MotionMan
Arizona only gives you one plate?!? Weird.

MotionMan

Uh, FL does as well.... Sexier one plate cars FTW

woot.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Summit
there is emission testing in CA just only after 6 years of owning a car. they assume your car is good then after 6 years its every other year, we have some of the hardest emission standards in the union.

We don't have emissions test here in FL either... Nor a state income tax...

I kinda like living here

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Eeezee
Anyone got a good idea for putting the front plate on? I can just drill holes in the bumper, yes?

Try going to the dealer and getting a bracket. The bracket on my wife's car didn't even require drilling (fortunately).

And states have been requiring front plates since long before red light cameras existed, so I doubt red light cameras are the reason CA requires front plates.

 

[joejld1]

yep, you need one in California.
They usually won't bother you with it until you get a parking ticket or get caught doing something else. They'll notice it and tag it on top of the other problem.
Some car dealerships will ask you if you want to put in a front license plate. If you decide not to, they makes you sign a release form that states that you recognize that you must have a front license plate but declined to do so.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
Having no front plate makes it so the traffic light camera can't identify your car. That's what the big deal is.

Not true actually, this has been the law here for long before there were red light cameras and I've been hassled for it. I had a CHP officer pull me over for tinted headlight covers and no front license plate. No other reason at all and this was years before the red light cameras were installed. I was driving a red '94 Mustang GT with a few mods.

If you drive without a front plate you're just giving the police a reason to pull you over. If they think you are suspicious or if you have a fast car and they just want to check you out you've given them a reason to stop you even if you've done nothing else wrong.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
yes you do need to.

quite a few ppl get away with it.. but the worst you get is a $10 correction ticket from the cop or a warning.

otherwise, you can do what those ricers do - put the front plate on top of the dash board right behind the windshield

That's illegal too.

And, yes, both my wife's car and my car have a front license plate. I made sure I put a front plate on both our cars when we bought them.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
If they think you are suspicious or if you have a fast car and they just want to check you out you've given them a reason to stop you even if you've done nothing else wrong.

That must be why they pulled over my wife and two kids in the minivan leaving Costco to give her a front plate fix-it ticket.



MotionMan

 

[dirtboy]

Yes it is required in CA to have a front license plate.

I never used to do this, but then one day I realized why I should... let's say I've been out and had a few drinks. I'm driving home and an officer wants to take a gamble on me. If they notice I am missing a front plate, they now have a reason to pull me over, assuming I was doing nothing else wrong.

For that matter, you could get pulled over for any reason, perhaps not get a ticket, but get a fixit ticket for no front plate.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: dirtboy
I never used to do this, but then one day I realized why I should... let's say I've been out and had a few drinks. I'm driving home and an officer wants to take a gamble on me. If they notice I am missing a front plate, they now have a reason to pull me over, assuming I was doing nothing else wrong.

On the other hand, you could simply not drink and drive...

...or are you one of those people who are actually a better driver with a few in you? :roll:

MotionMan

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
If they think you are suspicious or if you have a fast car and they just want to check you out you've given them a reason to stop you even if you've done nothing else wrong.

That must be why they pulled over my wife and two kids in the minivan leaving Costco to give her a front plate fix-it ticket.



MotionMan

Well, I didn't say you wouldn't get pulled over in a nondescript vehicle like a minivan.

Maybe they thought she was running illegal aliens? :laugh:

 

[AUMM]

yup, i just got pulled over 2 weeks ago for not having my front license plate in, the cop said something about homeland security....
if i don't want to put in the front plate, does the fine go up? how does it work if i dont fix it?

 

[FoBoT]

screw it onto the bumper or use tie wraps

i got pulled over and told to put mine on five years after moving to MO , so they'll get you eventually

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: MotionMan
Arizona only gives you one plate?!? Weird.

MotionMan

Uh, FL does as well.... Sexier one plate cars FTW

Michigan is one plate as well. I have to find someone to fill in the holes on my front bumper because I bought my new car from out of state and I want to take the front plate holder off.

 

[dirtboy]

Originally posted by: MotionMan

Originally posted by: dirtboy
I never used to do this, but then one day I realized why I should... let's say I've been out and had a few drinks. I'm driving home and an officer wants to take a gamble on me. If they notice I am missing a front plate, they now have a reason to pull me over, assuming I was doing nothing else wrong.

On the other hand, you could simply not drink and drive...

...or are you one of those people who are actually a better driver with a few in you? :roll:

MotionMan

It was a hypothetical situation dumbass.

 

[zanejohnson]

been there, done that, got the ticket, in Texas though....

and who the hell PAYS someone to install the front plate lol, that was the biggest laugh i've had all day... what pansys.

 

[thomsbrain]

By law, yes, you need one. Many modern cars have the holes to attach the plate frame on the underside or backside of one of the vents on the front of the car. That way it can be attached and removed with no changes to the visible part of the bumper.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: astroidea
*shrugs*
I've been driving around for nearly two years with no plates, never got pulled over.
In fact, when I bought my car used, the guy had vanity plates so I had to get new plates, and the DMV only gave me one plate.
That just shows how well the state themselves enforce the front license plate.

actually calif issues you 2 plates...that just goes to show you probably are not living in calif.