Proposed IL House bill for rear plates only | FerrariChat

Proposed IL House bill for rear plates only

Discussion in 'Chicago' started by normhuff, Feb 18, 2004.

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  1. normhuff

    normhuff Formula Junior

    Dec 14, 2003
    716
    Peoria, IL
    Full Name:
    J. Norman Huff, Esq.
    Happened to come across this recently introduced bill in the Illinois House
    that would allow Corvettes only! to display a special rear plate:

    http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=4345&GAID=3&SessionID=3&LegID=8627

    It has a way to go before becoming law and might not even make it. Would be
    nice though if it was broadened to include ALL vehicles, or at least exotic
    Italian sports cars. That's my 'pinion, so I'm gonna write the legislator stating such...

    Here's the full text of the bill from the link above:
    http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=3&GA=93&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=4345&GAID=3&LegID=8627

    I do own a Corvette also, so I kinda have the bases covered somewhat. Still would like to take that unsightly front plate off the TR though...
     
  2. Bob308GTS

    Bob308GTS Formula 3

    Sep 26, 2001
    1,148
    Aurora,IL
    Full Name:
    Bob Campen
    I do support one plate for all, but I really don't believe they are wasting time and money on a Corvette only plate
     
  3. normhuff

    normhuff Formula Junior

    Dec 14, 2003
    716
    Peoria, IL
    Full Name:
    J. Norman Huff, Esq.
    Here's the link to the local newspaper editorial that got my dander up:

    http://www.pjstar.com/news/editorials/b24qim8knw1.html

    My own perception of the editorial was that it implied Rep. Robert Rita's proposed law allowing Corvettes to only have a rear plate as being trivial. One can drive down the road and see how many custom vanity plates are on cars and motorcycles today. Think of how much additional funds this program has provided for the state over the years. I would gladly shell out extra money for such a privilege. The only problem I have with the proposed law is that it should be an option for everyone, not just a certain group of car owners. The only problem law enforcement would have is one less excuse for pulling over a driver. If you want to seriously prioritize issues awaiting lawmakers, let's start with the programs that don't return money to the government's coffers.

    These are my own thoughts. Of course, all others are welcome. I ran this by a couple non-sports car owning co-workers, and they shot me down on the spot as being part of an elitist clique. Maybe I'm just venting...
     
  4. Bob308GTS

    Bob308GTS Formula 3

    Sep 26, 2001
    1,148
    Aurora,IL
    Full Name:
    Bob Campen
    Nothing against you or any Vette people, but ANY one make plate with or without provisions for one plate is getting way out there. For myself and others, having plates that are not reconizable at a glance as an ILL plate can be a problem for the police.
     
  5. FerrariFrank1

    FerrariFrank1 F1 Rookie

    Aug 15, 2003
    3,887
    Chicago-Phoenix-L.A.
    Full Name:
    Frank
    It's funny. I've owned 7 different Corvettes since 1985,and now,also a 308. And,I never put the front plate on any of them. I did always have it in the car so that I could try to BS that it fell off from the low pointy front end hitting a parking curb. But,not once in 19 years have I ever even been pulled over because of it,nor asked about it from any Police Officer. I guess that they figure if you are driving a Not too common,Rare,Expensive,or High Profile car,that you aren't a dangerous criminal.
     
  6. RocketBoy

    RocketBoy Formula 3

    Feb 13, 2004
    1,082
    Wisconsin
    Full Name:
    Professor Hajji
    On my daily driver SUV, I lost the front plate on a business trip nearly two years ago. To this day I have never been pulled over or asked about it, ( thank God. ) Despite the fact that it is a typical car, I don’t think Police really care unless its trying to make end of the month quotas. As for exotics, on my 575 and Merc SL55 even the dealer admits there is no sufficient amount of width in the front to mount a proper bracket. On the 575 in particular, it looks like it would be swallowed in the front or would have to be placed on the hood somehow. MotorWerks ( who always are extremely friendly and helpful people ) suggest that if the odd event of a pull over would occur, MotorWerks would try to handle the situation and combat with some technical mumbo jumbo and how they were never informed about this on certain, high priced vehicles. I never heard of anyone being pulled over for this unless they were in some sort of jalopy beater-mo-bile at 3 am and the cop was in an end of the month quota mood.

    On a rather safe than sorry mood, I had the dealer bolt on a bracket to the former Maser Spyder I had. It was a complete eye sore and looked like the first speed bump and low decline would knock it off. It lasted fine however, never even a scratch. If the situation would occur to choose again I wouldn’t do it.

    Speaking of Vettes, Police and plates, I heard the C5 Vette is the most laser elusive car out there. Cops use their lasers and aim for front grills, headlights, windshields, or the front license plate. They can not get a proper reading if they aim at the body and side of the car as it whizzes by. Since the Vetter has pop up lights, unusual angled hood and windshield, no front plate, and has a decent built in jammer like the M40, it is a stealth car. Rumors of requesting to see the detector are true. Not to sound like a speed punk by I have been tailed and pulled over late at nights due to the car I was in. I don’t blame his suspicion and after seeing my share of drunk drivers pulled over ( most recently a guy who wrapped his Boxster around a light pole in Schaumburg ) I can understand he and they are just being a warning presence. But on the nights I am behaving and this happens, I always ask to see the gun and state that I am familiar with the area when they claim I was just about 10 over. They simply give me back the license and tell me to be careful. Its funny, I think the Police stopped appreciating cars after all the action they have to deal with. The great car buffs like all these guys with their 308’s have huge targets over their heads once the sun goes down even if they are on a simple sunset drive.

    RocketBoy
     
  7. bill365

    bill365 F1 Rookie

    Nov 3, 2003
    3,319
    Chicago area
    Full Name:
    Bill
    Why doesn't eveyone that is interested in Mr. Rita changing his amenment to include all antique and collector cars call or write to him and encourage this change. This may make his proposal a bit more palletable to the other lawmakers. BTW, I did just leave a phone message expressing this at his Crestwood office.

    Springfield Office:
    247-E Stratton Office Building
    Springfield, IL 62706
    (217) 558-1000
    (217) 558-1091 FAX

    District Office:
    13543 Cicero Avenue
    Crestwood, IL 60445
    (708) 396-2822
    (708) 396-2898 FAX
    Cook County
     
  8. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Oct 3, 2002
    48,581
    @ the wheel
    Full Name:
    Andreas
    Just for the record: We should all be thankful for living in such a free society where the cops don't feel to behave like Nazis and look the other way when you have only one license plate. Europe is very different, let me tell you that. And the 'excuse' that your Ferrari has no room for front plate simply doesn't count. Ever seen those German F40s with a sticker as a license plate on the front wing? Yup, ugly as hell, but no way around it.

    I love this country!
     
  9. RocketBoy

    RocketBoy Formula 3

    Feb 13, 2004
    1,082
    Wisconsin
    Full Name:
    Professor Hajji
    Police in Europe? You mean the type that take your picture when you go past a camera speed trap or who send one police car for every 20 news vans during a robbery or hostage crisis?

    Mexico seems like the place to be. How many 456's do they have armored like tanks? And if the police are around a Ferrari guy, chances are they are already on his payroll and asking which soccer game is he getting an escort to today.

    Doubtful that the stickers will be in the states anytime soon. So the excuse to say it doesn't match or fit still works. I can recall some Italian Ferrari guys having to bolt their plates on the hood off to the side, in particular the F40 ( from the book DreamRides and pics of one of the first off the line.) Now that is an eye sore. Besides, the 308 guys in Chi-town seem to appriciate cars and heritage than they do fighting with some teen thug in a NOS loaded Civic so police grabbing attention should be slim. Im going to take a wild guess and say if Tifosi, Red or Bob got pulled over it would be to hear an officer say how much he liked Magnum PI or drooled over Beverly Hills Cop's Ferrari. If talk about front plates arose in this confrontation, Im sure even the cop would question bolting some little rectangle on the front of a classic red lady.

    Allan Lambo would say that cops wouldnt pull him over because they are too busy catching slower Ferrari's. He would then proceed to talk about how he runs the universe and would like to write some more thoughts but has to go punch in at school because the janitors must be in at 5am.

    RocketBoy

    PS: While bringing in the H2 for an oil change, I asked the service tech if he had any funny stories about strange repairs to these tank going rides. He told me one Michigan owner had to have an complete engine rebuild and interior rework because the owner thought that the car was amphibious.
     
  10. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Oct 3, 2002
    48,581
    @ the wheel
    Full Name:
    Andreas
    Ever driven an APC? They're fun!

    Swiss police would build camouflaged speed traps using Army materials (no joke) to setup fake bushes to hide in. German police uses civil BMW with speed traps built into the light bulbs parked on the side of a street. ANY alterations to vehicles would be verboten. Forget a rear wing and heaven forbid a missing frontplate. Heck even additional brake lights (as they are the law in the US) are outlawed.

    Compare that to the friendly trooper who pulled me over in my 308 at the USGP: "Sorry Sir, I have to confiscate this vehicle. Hand me the keys please." As I was dumbfounded, he started to laugh and talk about the Ferrari.

    Did I mention, that I love this country?
     
  11. Tod328gts

    Tod328gts Formula Junior

    Jul 23, 2003
    626
    River Forest, IL
    Full Name:
    Tod Whitmore
    Shouldn't cops across the world be more concerned with looking for Terrorist than trying to catch people speeding??? What a friken JOKE!

    Sometime you wonder how our society got this far in life and if all these stupid people, stupid laws, and stupid burocrats weren't here, how much more advanced we all would be???

    There's my 2 cents, had to get that off my chest, not that it's going to matter except to raise my blood pressure... HAH!
     
  12. FerrariFrank1

    FerrariFrank1 F1 Rookie

    Aug 15, 2003
    3,887
    Chicago-Phoenix-L.A.
    Full Name:
    Frank

    And,I forgot to mention. That for most of those 19 years,I had hair down to about halfway down my back. But,Longhaired Hippie Boy in the Corvette with no front plate never got stopped.:)
     
  13. normhuff

    normhuff Formula Junior

    Dec 14, 2003
    716
    Peoria, IL
    Full Name:
    J. Norman Huff, Esq.
    The cops here in central Illinois are always bored and will look for any excuse to pull you over. The worst ticket was doing 67 in a 65 (2 MPH over). The cop saw the skis on top of the car when coming back from a ski trip in Galena and wanted to talk about skiing for a half hour. Let us go with a warning...

    I have a Vette owner co-worker that drives to work every day without a front plate. Another co-worker paid a fine for not having one, so he put it on. I always like to drive by a cop without breaking into a sweat or checking my mirror to see if he/she's gonna turn around and follow you. Plus it's annoying when they get up right up on your rear bumper. So I do have both plates on all my cars, even though it detracts from the appearance. When I bought the car from Fox Valley, the salesman thought I was a little off my rocker for requesting a front plate bracket. We finally located one from the dealer in Lake Forest, and it fit perfectly.

    Net surfing info on displaying license plates: http://home.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto_law/misclaw.html
     
  14. spike308

    spike308 F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 8, 2003
    4,462
    Austin TX!
    Full Name:
    Mike Z
    Me.... no front plate... no plans to, either.

    I just find it hard to believe that the nimrods in Springfield (and Chicago) actually waste their time with this stuff. I mean... come on! a bill just for Corvettes???

    They are being paid by US... how about making the state a better place to live and work????

    Quit wasting our money! Quit chasing businesses out of the state! Where are their priorities???
     
  15. spike308

    spike308 F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 8, 2003
    4,462
    Austin TX!
    Full Name:
    Mike Z
    Why so angry???
    just paid my taxes....
    AND... get this for all of us suckers that live in Cook County.
    I bought my 308 in Colorado, shipped it here. So I have to pay sales tax....
    I go to a DMV in the city, take my punch in the nose, and walk out with generic plates.
    2 months later, I get a letter from the county... "hey... you owe us 0.75% of the purchase price for the privledge of having it here in Cook County".
    I call them, say, "hey, I forked out a lot of money already, why more?"

    "Because THEY (state) collect THEIR money, WE (Crook County) collect OUR money."

    so, yes, suckers of Crook county, we pay the salaries of BOTH state and county tax collectors. They would appear to do EXACTLY the same job (take your money), but we need more people on the dole, collecting salaries, pension, etc. for redundant services.
     
  16. FerrariFrank1

    FerrariFrank1 F1 Rookie

    Aug 15, 2003
    3,887
    Chicago-Phoenix-L.A.
    Full Name:
    Frank
    I totally agree. In My Opinion. ALL Politicians should make whatever the "median income" is for the Area that they,'uh Humm', "Represent". Take the Money and the "Power" out of Politics,then,only True "Public Servant" types would apply for the Job.

    Thinking about it... So called,"Representatives" really are getting to be "Obsolete" in this Day and Age. They were only neccesary back in the early days when there was no Communication. So,they would have to travel to Springfield,or Washington,to "Represent" the people of their area. But,now,with Computers,T.V.'s,Phones,etc...We really don't NEED those people to "Represent" us anymore. We could just Vote on anything ourselves.

    But,if we DO have to have them...As far as Pay goes. For instance,if the Median Income for the State of Illinois is $43,000.00. Then,all Representatives,Senators,The Governor,etc... Make that. No Limo's. No Planes. No House.(But their own) No Expense Account. No Free Lunch. (We don't get one) Then,we'll see how much waste and "Pork" goes on. No more "Special Interest" groups. And,as far as anything else goes. The simple,Democratic,(not the Party,the Concept) Rules of "Majority Rules" would apply. If 51% or more want something,(or don't want something) Then,so be it.

    Same for Local City and County Governments. Why not. You live in,and Represent Cook County,for example. Then,You get paid the same as whatever the Median Income for all Cook County residents is. "Incentive" to make "Their People" more successful,and better off,so that They would then make more. Now,they just don't care. they get paid alot no matter what they do.(Or don't do...)

    Also,I would like to see every Taxpaying Worker be allowed to take One Week Paycheck,with ZERO deductions. Just One Check a year.( Actually,more would be Nice. But,gotta be Realistic) No deductions at all. Just as a sort of "Sign of Appreciation" for the Taxpayer. (Most would probably opt to take that Tax Free check around Christmas Time)

    Maybe Pensions for the Public Sector should be like Pensions in the Private sector...You are on your own,Pal!

    As you can see. Politics are a sore subject as far as I'm concerned. :(
     

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