Cops, Tickets and Lisence Plates?

[Bavarian Racer]

ok i know in many states EXCEPT Pennsylvania(cause its the only state i know so far) it is illegal to have no front lisence plate. although very stylish and sexy, a front lisence plate does serve some purpose. i asked a local cop why authorities are so anal about it and he responded "well matt, lets say you report your bmw stolen and im sitting at a red light across from your bmw but theres no front lisence plate so i can't identify it until it has passed and there goes a really good chance to stop him." ok fair enough i SUPPOSE, but now cops are going after lisence plate frames. I'm from Jersey and don't know how other states authorities handle this but about 4 of my friends got pulled over for speeding or whatever they were doing wrong and got an additional ticket for the lisence plate frame obstructing the plate itself. but its not covering the letters or numbers? no its not....for those of you who haven't seen a NJ plate, it says "Garden State" on the bottom, and yes you guessed it, the lisence plate frame covered it and they got additional money charged on the ticket. i too have a problem like that with the ever popular frame that says BMW on the bottom which covers "Garden State"...oh well let's see how it goes

hit this post up and let me know if other states have this and/or how you feel about this.

Pictures of my 325i
http://www.cardomain.com/id/3b2m5w
peace - matt

[mkt]

I'm trying to think what are the other states with no front plate... Florida, Michigan... can't think of the rest. I know there's more.. my neighbors are from Alberta and have no front plate, but that's Canada....

[Evil 330ci]

Wow, the same thing happened to me!!!! I used windshield washer fluid to clean my windshield, and a cop pulled me over. He said "Wipers on lights on" even though it was nice a sunny out. He also gave me a ticket for a europlate on the front bumper, and my BMW liscence plate frame covered up the Garden State part of it, and charged me with that. I paid it, but when i was talking to older cops, who have been on the force for 20, 30 years, they said that its legal to have a europlate aslong as the real plate is in the windshield.

[greateratlanta]

We don't have front plates in Georgia

[LordGop]

My front bummer is drilled and I have no plate there here in California....I know it is illegal so I am going to the dealer ship to get the part to replace where the drilling is so it just looks like there is no place to mount the plate. I was taking to the BMW parts guy and he was like yea if you are doing 110 in your M3 and get pulled over they'll get you for no front plate too but they usually never will jsut pull you over for that.

He also said the new corvette (sp?) was being produced with no place to mount a front plate, that true is so wtf hehe?

Also haven't see a 350z with a front plate or just never noticed it.

[hightcn]

AL doesnt call for front liscence plates. neither does georgia tennessee kentucky indianna....i know theres more but thats all i can think of off the top of my head from my last trip up

[robfrmny21]

the law states they must be nothing cover the plate at all. and believe it or not the frames that dealers put on the car saying were you got yoru car from are not legal and you can be ticketed for it. oh yeah and you say oh i will tell the judge about the dealer thing and you had no clue one case the judge said then go ask the dealer to pay for it your guilty

[LitttleBlueBMW]

C5 Vettes have to be modified to fit a front plate. There are a few idiot owners that have and it makes the car look really stupid.

[Scorp965]

no front plate on any of my BMW's in CA over the last 3-4 years, although I have one ticket I have never had any front-plate trouble...

[HyperBaja]

Another reason it is illegal-

When a cop uses laser on you from in front of your car he HAS to lock onto your license plate. I know a few people who got off of speeding tickets for not having a front plate. And no, they didnt get a front plate ticket either.

[LordGop]

Originally posted by HyperBaja
Another reason it is illegal-

When a cop uses laser on you from in front of your car he HAS to lock onto your license plate. I know a few people who got off of speeding tickets for not having a front plate. And no, they didnt get a front plate ticket either.

don't remember about "locking on" but I heard that is the most common thing the lazer is aimed at (the plate that is)

[HyperBaja]

In Ohio, I know for a fact it must be shot off your plate.

[1SlowBimmer]

you need one here too (damnit.....)

[MPD47]

You need one in NY. But it's in my glovebox, not on my car.

[BAC5.3]

Required in MD too.

Not in WVA or North Carolina or South Carolina (as far as I know. I saw to many cars with no front plate for it to be "coincidence")