No Front Plate (Red)-Surchargeable Offense (insurance, inspection, cost)

[GMarcan920]

Just received a call from one of our insureds:

He was stopped because he did not have a red front license plate; he received a $40 ticket.

Is this a moving offense that is surchargeable on his insurance. I cannot find a definitive answer online.
If it's surchargeable, would it be 2 points?

Thanks

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by GMarcan920

Just received a call from one of our insureds:

He was stopped because he did not have a red front license plate; he received a $40 ticket.

Is this a moving offense that is surchargeable on his insurance. I cannot find a definitive answer online.
If it's surchargeable, would it be 2 points?

Thanks

Probably falls under "minor traffic violations" like no inspection sticker. There are lots of those. 2 points.

"Minor traffic violations while considered “minor” and incurring 2 SDIP points, are ticketable offences and can include: speeding, following too closely, failure to use child restraint system, improper passing, failure to display current inspection sticker, failure to stop, operating a vehicle that is not properly registered, and many, many more."

[GMarcan920]

Thank you CaseyB


I spoke with the MA Merit Rating Bd; it depends on the Chapter and Section that is written on the ticket if it is surchargeable, so I had my insured call them directly with that information.

Bottom Line: it appears to be a crap shoot as to whether or not it's surchargeable.

[gf2020]

I hope you told him to put the license plate back on the front of the car!

[MikePRU]

Aesthetically speaking, I've always thought a front plate looks horrible. I think it would be pretty cool to have one of these:

https://youtu.be/nv32Z8lg4F4

[tysmith95]

I drove around without a front licence plate for 4 years. Never got a ticket, even got pulled over twice for other reasons in that period.

Dumb law IMHO.

[Cape Cod Todd]

I'm lucky in that I still have a green plate that was only issued as a single back in the day and I plan on keeping it as long as I can because there is literally no place for a front plate on my 1965 cobra replica.

The surcharges are the killers that linger for years and make your insurance cost more.

I can see getting a surcharge for speeding or some other practice that puts the car, passengers and others at risk but not having a front plate? The cop took more risk in pulling the guy over to give him a ticket. It must have been a slow day for writing tickets.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by Cape Cod Todd

I'm lucky in that I still have a green plate that was only issued as a single back in the day and I plan on keeping it as long as I can because there is literally no place for a front plate on my 1965 cobra replica.

The surcharges are the killers that linger for years and make your insurance cost more.

I can see getting a surcharge for speeding or some other practice that puts the car, passengers and others at risk but not having a front plate? The cop took more risk in pulling the guy over to give him a ticket. It must have been a slow day for writing tickets.

I'm surprised you still have a green plate. If it has lost it's reflective coating, the inspection station is supposed to fail it. I was failed for it after my green plate was in service about 15 years.

Most police officers aren't going to stop a car simply for not having a front plate. Something else might pique their interest and use that as a reason for stopping that particular car.

[Cape Cod Todd]

Originally Posted by robr2

I'm surprised you still have a green plate. If it has lost it's reflective coating, the inspection station is supposed to fail it. I was failed for it after my green plate was in service about 15 years.

Most police officers aren't going to stop a car simply for not having a front plate. Something else might pique their interest and use that as a reason for stopping that particular car.

It still looks decent after 32 years but it has always been kept in a garage.
The inspection station had me replace my truck plate due to it being faded last year. That was 2 red plates that I had for many years. It didn't cost anything but time to go to the RMV.


I agree that most cops won't stop you for one thing like a missing plate unless they are bored that day but they can often find other reasons to pull you over, like not using a blinker. A trooper once pulled over a fellow truck driver on the highway because his tires were riding on the white line for too many miles.
My guy was just putting along but the trooper saw it as a lane violation. I think he received a warning.


As for the OP's question, I had a look around the internet and it is confusing but I don't think there is surcharge just the $35 fine which goes up for each repeated incident.

I'd suggest having a look at the site Mass.gov for the answer.

[wror]

These Mass Plates, White with Green Lettering, were suppose to all be turned in about 1988. Although they can still be seen from time to time on vehicles on the road with current,legal tags.
//www.city-data.com/forum/attac...1&d=1497733951

Somewhere along the line the Commonwealth has forgotten.

Photo is from a Google Image search.