Why do we need a Front License plate in California but not other states? (buy, live)

[City Boy]

Originally Posted by bhcompy

Throw the plate in your front window. Technically, I believe it's legal to do that, I know plenty of friends get away with it in the back window

Can't do that here in the front. It's considered a danger. You'll get pulled over for that.

[Mollym313]

Originally Posted by City Boy

Many states don't require this, but here it's mandatory. Why? I got a ticket the other day for not having a front plate, I don't have a front plate because I don't have holes drilled in my front bumper for one. What is the purpose? It's ugly too.

I live in Missouri and it is the law here too.

[esmith143]

I've been driving without the front license plate for close to 3 years now, I'm NEVER harassed about that. I guess it depends on where you live. San Diego cops tend to ignore this "violation". Also depends on the amount of time you spend parked in the street or in public parking lots.

[iTsLiKeAnEgG]

Originally Posted by esmith143

I've been driving without the front license plate for close to 3 years now, I'm NEVER harassed about that. I guess it depends on where you live. San Diego cops tend to ignore this "violation". Also depends on the amount of time you spend parked in the street or in public parking lots.

In the Bay Area our cops are Nazi's. I've had an SFPD officer pull a u-turn on a crowded street to give me a ticket for the front plate on my Z (I was headed in the opposite direction). I've also had the same ticket given by the meter maids while I was street parked. I can't complain since it is the law but they really go out of their way to get you for it.

[Ponderosa]

California is a wealthy state that can still afford to issue two plates per vehicle.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by jc76

That's why my friends in Chicago use THIS Block Your License Plates From Traffic Cameras

Myth: BUSTED!

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by bhcompy

Throw the plate in your front window. Technically, I believe it's legal to do that, I know plenty of friends get away with it in the back window

Plates in CA cannot be covered by aftermarket items... the last car to have a factory clear cover on the rear is the 53/54 Corvette.

It's in the vehicle code and people get stopped all the time for this... sometimes you will get a warning like my poor friend. His plate has been stolen several times and he has the police reports with him to prove it.

He now keeps the plate in the back window of his pick-up truck... can't blame him.

As registrations become more costly... I expect a rise in plate/tab thefts.

[mgt04]

Actually 31 states require 2 license plates while 19 require 1....so don't think CA is in the minority. These are the states that require only one: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia.

[ferretkona]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

California is a wealthy state that can still afford to issue two plates per vehicle.

As the cars owner we have to pay for them so it's not the state who's wealthy.
Some states actually issue a new plate each year. I know Oklahoma does/used to.

I think the biggest reason the front plate is required is for the laser speed detectors that cops use. That shiny plate is the most reflective object on your car.
Take a cheap pocket laser and shine it around at night, you can see a plate is nearly blinding when shone at.

[johnsonkk]

Originally Posted by iTsLiKeAnEgG

After I got sick of getting front plate tickets on my 300ZX I got some L brackets to mount a plate without drilling holes into the front of my bumpers. I agree that it's ugly but at least my G35 has a recessed area in the bumper so the plate doesn't stick out.

You could just glue it to your bumper vs. using the brackets.