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Unread 09-14-2009, 08:24 AM
 
Location: Alaska & Florida
1,630 posts, read 2,787,419 times
Reputation: 739
You're out of luck...

I got out of it because I still had a FL plate and a valid address in Florida, so I said I am just visiting.
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Unread 09-14-2009, 10:34 AM
 
Location: Oakland, CA
1,554 posts, read 2,950,526 times
Reputation: 615
I made a thread about this dumb law in the California forum.
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Unread 09-15-2009, 09:51 AM
 
2 posts, read 5,597 times
Reputation: 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by clongirl View Post
I got a ticket for that too many moons ago.

I was baffled since the dealer never said anything, wasn't on any California driver's test..never mentioned anywhere by anyone at any time, wasn't even an obvious place in the front of my car where it was supposed to be screwed in (Toyota Tercel).
that's exactly where i am right now!! i'm not trying to deny it's a law. and i'm not complaining about having to get the front plate and drill the holes. whatever.

but, when i bought the car, why didn't the dealership say "hey...you don't have a front plate. you need to get one." or something of the sort? the states i've lived in before didn't have transferrable plate rules. when you buy a car (new or used), you have to go to the DMV (or RMV) to get a plate. you don't get them already attached to the car. so, i just never questioned it.
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Unread 09-15-2009, 03:56 PM
 
10,734 posts, read 17,059,481 times
Reputation: 5152
Probably because there is no requirement that a car have plates when you buy or sell it...

I've bought a number of cars without plates, mostly from out of state and one had personalized plates the owner kept...

I definitely see you side and sometimes it's all too easy to break the law and not even know you are...

If you feel really strongly about it and look at it as civics in action... you should request a hearing... stranger things have happened...

I have a friend that is now retired as Traffic Court Judge... he sometimes granted concessions because of an honest mistake...
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Unread 09-16-2009, 12:29 AM
 
Location: Northern CA Mtns.
9,930 posts, read 3,583,448 times
Reputation: 7335
Quote:
Originally Posted by ahutchins27 View Post
I moved to California 4 years ago. . . . But, I'm really not happy about paying a $100 fine for a law I didn't even realize I was breaking!!

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
The CA licensing manual clearly outlines the law...I think on this one you'd be well advised to just pay the fine and fix the problem.
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Unread 09-16-2009, 07:54 AM
 
Location: Bella Vista, Ark
40,577 posts, read 27,126,974 times
Reputation: 15151
Quote:
Originally Posted by ahutchins27 View Post
I moved to California 4 years ago. About 2 1/2 years ago, I totaled my car and bought a one year-old Lexus SUV from a dealership. The car came with only a back plate. I didn't think anything about it since I've always lived in states that only require a rear plate. Not only was there no front plate, there aren't even holes drilled or a recessed place to put the front plate.

Since I bought the car, I've been pulled over and cited for running a red light...but no mention was made of the fact that I didn't have a front plate. Last week, I was parked in the Haight and I got back to my car with a $103 ticket for not having a front plate!!

I'm totally confused by this!! If not having a front plate is illegal, then how could the dealership give me the car without a front plate? And obviously, the guy who owned the car before me didn't have one either, because there aren't even holes for one.

Anyone have any suggestions of how I can get out of this citation? Do I call the DMV? Visit them? I have no problem with putting a front plate on the car and I'm assuming I just go to the DMV to get a replacement. But, I'm really not happy about paying a $100 fine for a law I didn't even realize I was breaking!!

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
too late to wonder why the dealership sold you a car without a front plate, makes no difference. I am sure you know the law and now you got caught fighting it. On what grounds would you try to win the case? Pay the fine and get a new plate, simple as that.

Nita
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Unread 09-16-2009, 07:57 AM
 
Location: Bella Vista, Ark
40,577 posts, read 27,126,974 times
Reputation: 15151
Quote:
Originally Posted by ahutchins27 View Post
that's exactly where i am right now!! i'm not trying to deny it's a law. and i'm not complaining about having to get the front plate and drill the holes. whatever.

but, when i bought the car, why didn't the dealership say "hey...you don't have a front plate. you need to get one." or something of the sort? the states i've lived in before didn't have transferrable plate rules. when you buy a car (new or used), you have to go to the DMV (or RMV) to get a plate. you don't get them already attached to the car. so, i just never questioned it.
no you are trying to get out of paying the fine. Read your first post!!!

Nita
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Unread 09-16-2009, 08:05 AM
 
Location: Mesa, Az
21,157 posts, read 22,015,895 times
Reputation: 3565
Different laws for different states...............here in Arizona I believe a front license plate is optional and has to be requested--------otherwise, our MVD only issues rear ones.

Although; historic plates come in sets of two.............go figure.
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Unread 09-16-2009, 08:07 AM
Status: "Credo Quia Absurdum" (set 1 day ago)
 
Location: Mountain Ranch, CA The heart of Calaveras County
5,144 posts, read 7,951,586 times
Reputation: 3529
We used to have a resident CHP officer who would cruise the ski area parking lot and write tickets for no front plate. Needless to say he wasn't a member of the local chamber of commerce. People would say "I'm never coming back here again".
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Unread 09-16-2009, 09:54 PM
 
21 posts, read 17,948 times
Reputation: 13
Sorry to hear that. Laws are stupid. Technically, you aren't supposed to have anything covering your taillights. Mine have been blacked out for 5 years and I've never been pulled over, knock on wood...

If you read the handbook and the california driving laws, it states you need one in the front, I've just known that since I've grown up in Cali. Must be confusing for someone who just moved and was never really told that. No offense, but didn't you notice like 90% of the cars in California have it in the front and rear? haha

I'm sad to say that I highly doubt you'd be able to get out of something like this.
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