Quick tip: Front license plates

[Bugman Jeff]

Front plates on these things stick out like a sore thumb, and generally look terrible. There's also the matter of drilling holes into a fairly expensive bumper for a bracket. No-drill removable brackets are available, but again, the car looks stupid with a plate hanging off the front. I opted to put mine on the dashboard. After putting it on the dash, I needed something to make sure that the plate stands up in the window and doesn't slide around. Tape would work, but look tacky. So, I came up with another solution. I went down to the hardware store, and found some suction cups that fit into the bolt holes. They work like a charm, keep the plate in place, and are almost invisible. It's technically still not legal, but is one of those things where you generally only get called on it if you're doing something else stupid or are a jerk to the guy who pulls you over.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-olSUZnny_tw/U3OcLf_nalI/AAAAAAAAAjM/MPZaZN7oVas/s1600/SAM_1464.JPG

[GT Venum]

I like the idea but I purchased the holder from Jon B at the parts rack. I just keep it in the back and if needed I just clip it on the front.

http://www.viperpartsrack.com/viper-accessories/front-license-plate-bracket

[Steve M]

It's technically still not legal, but is one of those things where you generally only get called on it if you're doing something else stupid or are a jerk to the guy who pulls you over.

Driving a Viper kinda falls into the "doing something stupid" category all by itself from the amount of attention it generates. Not having a clearly visible front plate around here is just asking for trouble since the locals seem to be running short on cash. I prefer to give them no reason to pull me over...even for the petty stuff.

[City]

I'm pretty certain this issue is location sensitive, but here in NYC/NYS, a dashboard plate is essentially an advertisement for trouble. If you don't receive a ticket, you WILL get pulled over by the first LEO who isn't in a lovely mood. Either you get cited or at a minimum, you get a warning and a "next time I see you" ticket threat.

As much as I don't like the look of having a front plate, JonB's clip gets you to the same place. If you get pulled over for no front plate (less likely here than with your plate on your dash), keep your plate in the passenger footwell and make up some forgetful excuse while clipping it on in front of the LEO, your odds are far better.

Again, in some states the previous may not be as convincing.

[Fatboy 18]

keep your plate in the passenger footwell and make up some forgetful excuse while clipping it on in front of the LEO, your odds are far better.

^^^^
This is what I do ;)

[LeadfootRT10]

Gotta love being a state that only requires a rear plate....

[FrgMstr]

Red Yes
Blue No
Pink Maybe

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/License_Plate_Laws.png

[Bugman Jeff]

The JonB bracket is a nice solution for some, but I drive the same route and pass the same cops enough that they'd quickly pick up on the "I forgot to clip it back on" routine. YMMV.

[GABOON]

yeah, sure is!! got any idea if we need to have front plate in some states we will pass thru? wondering if its like helmet laws?

[Bugman Jeff]

My understanding is that if it's registered in a non-plate state, you do not need a front plate to pass through a plate state.

[Glen97]

I use the Jon B. bracket. Put it on drive around and get some bugs on it. Take it off and use as needed. I don't care for the look of the plate on the dash.
Glen

[MtnBiker]

I use the JonB bracket too. Plate on dash is a recipe for decapitation.

[Torquemonster06]

John B. here also. I just keep it in the trunk.

[VoodooRob]

Plate on dash looks a lot worse than buying a Jon B bracket. If your in a state that requires a front plate its no big deal to have a front plate, everyone else has to do it. Bugman your doing a good job with your car on a budget, the plate on the dash doesn't look good at all.

[thetalonguy]

I just got pulled over a half hour ago in Long Island, NY. My third day with the car.

Cop pulls me over and asks me if I knew why. I pulled the front plate from the passenger floor and said this?

Asks for license/registration and I give him my license and point to the window to show him the temp registration. Then I tell him that I picked it up a couple days ago and there was no bracket. I told him to take a look himself. Walks back, checks my license and let's me off with a warning.

Then I remembered reading this thread and asked him his opinion on putting it in the windshield. He said that he didn't like that because he normally can't see them that way. But if he pulled me over, and it was in the windshield, he'd give me the benefit of the doubt.

I drove around for years in my Talon with the front plate in the windshield and never got pulled over for it.

Now to decide what to do. I think the plate on the front really breaks up the lines. However this is certainly a car in which I don't need give LEOs the opportunity/reason.

[Vprbite]

As a resident of Arizona since I was about 10 months old (old school Arizona, when every biker had a .357 or .44 mag on his hip instead of a Galaxy S5) I have never had a front plate. Can someone please tell me the GD reason? Cops pull you over and run your plate from behind, for tactical reasons as much as anything. Photo tickets take the front photo to prove who is driving. If the cops call in a "keep your eyes peeled" it's on a make and a model, cops can't read a plate in traffic driving the opposite direction.

Anyone know why? Any LEO want to chime in? Is it just a money thing? Charge you for 2 plates is easier to pull over on people than just raising the price? Here in Arizona our registration is based on value of the car. (Side bar...if the value of your car is over a certain amount you should be able to drive in the carpool lane as you are paying more for maintaining the roads than most people and way more than electric cars which don't even pay gas tax and get to use the carpool lane).

And if it were so important to a state that you have a front plate, they would require it for all cars. Like seatbelt or helmet/car seat laws appeal to everyone. So what is the reason? I am all ears. And some other appendages.

[VoodooRob]

In Ohio it seems every few years a group assembles to try and get the 2 plates down to 1 and it fails every time. Here is a recent article:
http://www.wlwt.com/news/local-news/ohio-bill-would-require-1-license-plate-not-2/24619694#!24EqZ

[ACRucrazy]

Great tip and a cheap solution Bugman. Options are always nice.

[Black Pearl]

I have been pulled over also for No Front Plate. Told the LEO I never got a front plate with my car. He walked around the car no ticket or warning just told me to drive carefully. I think he just wanted to check out the car closer.

[arizonajack]

Anyone know why? Any LEO want to chime in? Is it just a money thing? Charge you for 2 plates is easier to pull over on people than just raising the price? Here in Arizona our registration is based on value of the car. (Side bar...if the value of your car is over a certain amount you should be able to drive in the carpool lane as you are paying more for maintaining the roads than most people and way more than electric cars which don't even pay gas tax and get to use the carpool lane).

And if it were so important to a state that you have a front plate, they would require it for all cars. Like seatbelt or helmet/car seat laws appeal to everyone. So what is the reason? I am all ears. And some other appendages.

Here's a comprehensive study of the Comparison of Single Versus Dual License Plates. It's long, but some of the interesting conclusions are summarized in the first couple of pages:

http://frontplate.org/blog/wp-content/themes/FRNTPL8/inc/FrontLicensePlateMarketResearch-Comparison_of_FrontVersusDualLicensePlates.pdf

The study attempts to answer the "why" question from both sides.

States that require two plates outnumber states that require only one.

Ironically enough, there are those even in Arizona who are proponents of front and rear plates