WHY do some states make you have two license plates...one for the front and one for the back?

[LongCoolMother]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Harvey

Originally posted by: NFS4
I mean, I live in NC and they only require one rear tag for our vehicles.

Maybe they're just too slow to read 'em front and rear in NC.

OmegaNauce points out the obvious. License plates are for identification, especially for law enforcement. Placing them front and rear makes it easier to ID a car from more points of view.

But if it's for an identification purpose, then why don't ALL states require you to have them...that would make the most sense.

maybe you should ask your local law enforcement people

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Harvey

Originally posted by: NFS4
I mean, I live in NC and they only require one rear tag for our vehicles.

Maybe they're just too slow to read 'em front and rear in NC.

OmegaNauce points out the obvious. License plates are for identification, especially for law enforcement. Placing them front and rear makes it easier to ID a car from more points of view.

But if it's for an identification purpose, then why don't ALL states require you to have them...that would make the most sense.

Same reason smoking and drving ages vary in states. Same reason there are totally different laws in each state. Unless it is federal law the states are always going to be different on things.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Originally posted by: Millenium<br.
Same reason smoking and drving ages vary in states. Same reason there are totally different laws in each state. Unless it is federal law the states are always going to be different on things.

what he said.

And as for the traffic cameras the ones in CA take a pic of front plate, back plate and close up of the driver so you can't say, "Hey, how do you know *I* was the one driving my car?"


Lethal

 

[CocaCola5]

Wish we had europe's skinny plates that looks integrated into the bumper, no way they would change it I'd imagine.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Harvey

Originally posted by: NFS4
I mean, I live in NC and they only require one rear tag for our vehicles.

Maybe they're just too slow to read 'em front and rear in NC.

OmegaNauce points out the obvious. License plates are for identification, especially for law enforcement. Placing them front and rear makes it easier to ID a car from more points of view.

But if it's for an identification purpose, then why don't ALL states require you to have them...that would make the most sense.

Perhaps this answer will suffice:

In BC 2 plates are required, for identification purposes. In the neighbouring Province of Alberta, 1 rear plate is required. The reason for the discrepency is because Alberta chose to go to a 1 plate system as part of a **cost cutting** program. So you see, 2 plates doesn't make more money, it simply costs more for the sake of easier identification of vehicles. States/Provinces just have varying concerns.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: NFS4


But if it's for an identification purpose, then why don't ALL states require you to have them...that would make the most sense.

most states that have two plates are up north, most southern states only have one plate

not sure why yet


where did i put that google.....

here is some info
link

Currently, 31 states have both a front and a rear license plate requirement and two states (Connecticut and Massachusetts) have recently returned to using two license plates. Because license plates are cut from large sheets of metal, labor costs are not significantly less for producing one plate instead of two. One cost which may rise however are insurance deductibles which will be paid by innocent motorists who are involved in hit/skip crashes which can no longer be solved without a front license plate.

To our knowledge, there have been not any valid studies that reveal a front-license plate appreciably affects fuel efficiency. However, it is our contention that any potential cost savings would be offset by diminished public safety, crime prevention, and criminal apprehension.

this implies that some states only have one to keep gas mileage up??

another linky
looks like one of the major considerations is cost of manufactuer of the plates themselves, so maybe its just
cheap/poor states = rear only
public safety minded/richer states = two plates

 

[Jfur]

I had the following situation:

1) front plate either fell off or was stolen
2) my annual safety check (required) was refused due to lack of front plate
3) to get a new front plate, had to show current safety check
4) safety check expired that month so was told no new front plate would be issued!
5) no one would listen to me when I told them I was in a circular logic nightmare!!! The DMV did not care...
6) I was ticketed for expired safety check (officer actually stopped me for expired registratino but that actually expired a month later)
7) soon my registration expired and I could not get it renewed due to lack of safety check :|
8) I donated the car to Kidney Cars and took it as a tax write off


Maybe Kidney Cars lobbies to have these weird requirements....

 

[DadofOne]

Folks, you are missing the point: follow the money.

The nice stormtrooper, er statetrooper needs a nice shiney, highly reflective area on your car to paint with the income produceing, er insurance surchargeing, (dang, I'll get this right yet...) er, Safety enhanceing [yea, thats the trick] laser gun.

Now we just need the IR absorbing dullcoat spray...

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: Adul
maybe for police?

yes so the cops can see your front plate,and so can other people,like at gas stations,toll booths etc
N Y State has had dual plates since before 1964,maybe before '39?

 

[Pepsi90919]

mandatory in ontario.

 

[boi]

Its so sad when you see a nice sports car have a front plate. It makes them look ugly(I would still drive them) =)

 

[T2T III]

Two license plates for each vehicle means more work for the prisoners who are stamping the plates. If they only had to make one plate for each vehicle, the prisoners would only have to work for half the day instead of the full day.