Maryland Front Plate Law clarification (purchase, car, registered)

[armory]

The stae of MD charges me roughly $160 every two years to renew my truck title. I guess I have to wear their plates to show off the money I spend. The only reason I can assume they require both tags is for speed cameras - the innocuous models that look like a neighborhood mailbox is the camera to look for as they catch your front tag. The trailer with a tower models catch your rear tag.
It is a wonder prostitution isn't legal in MD so the state could put a tax on it.

[North Beach Person]

I've never gotten ticket showing the front plate, only the rear.

MSP are the ones who want the front tags, they can get the number coming and going. Gov. Shaffer wanted to get rid of them but got tremendous pushback from the State Police.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by armory

The stae of MD charges me roughly $160 every two years to renew my truck title. I guess I have to wear their plates to show off the money I spend. The only reason I can assume they require both tags is for speed cameras - the innocuous models that look like a neighborhood mailbox is the camera to look for as they catch your front tag. The trailer with a tower models catch your rear tag.
It is a wonder prostitution isn't legal in MD so the state could put a tax on it.

Two plates were required long before speed cameras were invented.

[rdflk]

Maybe they do -- but I didn't think any speed cams catch front tags.

The way the cams are set up. you're clocked as you go through the speed zone.
(With the front tag you won't have gone through the zone yet.)

[CommonsenseDMV]

The way I have heard it. You are required to put a front plate on your vehicle, if your state issues 2 license plates with the registration card to you when you register your vehicle. Just because your driving around in another state doesn't mean that you can ignore the laws of your home state that your vehicle is registered in. The police told me that they can write tickets for not having a front license plate if say the vehicle was registered through california.

When I asked a trooper about tint at the MVA, he informed me "anytime a vehicle is modified from the original condition of the manufacturer, you can almost guarantee if your stopped for a violation that something may get issued to you, either a repair order or citation, or both." He said an example might be those headlights that appear "blue" or have a bluish tint to them. Window tint on the windows. Customizing a motorcycle and raising the handlebars to make them "apehangers."

Now wouldn't adding a front license plate bracket to your vehicle be modifying it from the original condition? But the law also states that you must have 2 license plates attached to the front and rear of the vehicle, visible 50' from the plate, uncovered. So I would think that hiding a front plate in a windshield is tacky and illegal. Doesn't leave someone with many options.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by CommonsenseDMV

Now wouldn't adding a front license plate bracket to your vehicle be modifying it from the original condition?

Nope. That's not a modification. Even if it was, the cop isn't going to cite you for that modification". However, it is not a modification if the manufacturer designed the car for two plates and provides a bracket you can get at a dealer.

[P47P47]

Originally Posted by Benbo123

Do I need to put a license plate on my out of state vehicle in light of the Maryland law that states a front plate is not necessary to attach if the car was manufactured without the means to display one? The car does not come with a bracket or mounts for a front plate.

Originally Posted by CommonsenseDMV

The way I have heard it. You are required to put a front plate on your vehicle, if your state issues 2 license plates with the registration card to you when you register your vehicle. Just because your driving around in another state doesn't mean that you can ignore the laws of your home state that your vehicle is registered in. The police told me that they can write tickets for not having a front license plate if say the vehicle was registered through California.

OP - Is your car registered in Maryland or in another state?

OK, for a vehicle registered in Maryland, you need a front plate. But I thought that if a vehicle was registered in a state that does not require a front plate, and doesn't issue two plates, that one is not required to come up with a second plate and attach it to the front of the vehicle for driving within Maryland.

[tgs_bg]

Originally Posted by P47P47

OP - Is your car registered in Maryland or in another state?

OK, for a vehicle registered in Maryland, you need a front plate. But I thought that if a vehicle was registered in a state that does not require a front plate, and doesn't issue two plates, that one is not required to come up with a second plate and attach it to the front of the vehicle for driving within Maryland.

If two plates are required (no matter what state), then they are to be affixed to the front and rear. If a state is a "one plate state" and doesn't require a front plate, then obviously that is not enforceable in Maryland.

Besides tint percentage and other specific equipment violations--which are unique state-by-state, Maryland's traffic laws are pretty much synonymous with other state's traffic laws.

[Cruzincat]

I believe the reason for the MSP want the front plate is so they have a good aiming point for their laser speed guns. The reflective nature of the paint gives them the best readings.

[Benbo123]

Originally Posted by P47P47

OP - Is your car registered in Maryland or in another state?

OK, for a vehicle registered in Maryland, you need a front plate. But I thought that if a vehicle was registered in a state that does not require a front plate, and doesn't issue two plates, that one is not required to come up with a second plate and attach it to the front of the vehicle for driving within Maryland.

I bought the car in PA, but it's registered in MD.