Who has dealt with NO FRONT PLATE laws?

Here in Ohio there recently was a good attempt in the state legislature to become a one plate state. The police lobby vigorously fought it and it eventualy died without a vote. Their arguement, apparently aimed at mothers and others who view government as the great protector, was that a front plate is an indispensible part of road safety and criminal apprehension. When, during a news interview, the lobby spokesman (a cop) was asked why other states with only one plate weren't awash with crashes and criminals, he didn't have a good answer.

I think that every state bordering Ohio has only one plate.
Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virgina and Pennsylvania.

Bottom line IMHO, besides the additional revenue, is that law enforcement enjoys being in total control of everyone and they want to keep it that way. Has there ever been a government "official" that gave up power without a fight?

 

I hate to be a snob, but here goes (sliding into my nomex). That is precisely why you don't need a front plate on a Ferrari. If you only got a partial plate on the Toyota, you'd find it easier to spot the red Ferrari with no front plate, than checking every white Toyota you see.

I used to get hassled with lesser cars and no front plate. I don't now. Nonetheless, Here are my excuses:

- Just detailed the car and forgot to put it back.
- Just had this fancy stone guard stuff installed, and the said to let it set for a few days.
- Alternatively, I'm about to have this fancy stone guard stuff installed....
- Just took it out of storage and the plate rips the car cover so I took it off - forgot to put it back.
- I'll trade you a front plate violation for the speeding ticket you are about to give me.
- Bracket on order.
- I'll bet you $20 I'm going to get a front plate violation.

 

Currently there are 38 states that require a front license plate. There is a FEDERAL law that states the distance from ground that the front plate must be. It is up to each individual state as to how they enforce the law. The federal law states a minimum of 12" to ground for the lower edge of the plate. Each mfg. determines how much build tolerance is allowed to still meet the requirement .

 

It is not legal in oregon or Wash to run No front plate. Never have and never will. Also never been pulled over for it. If I do, pay the ticket! Not drilling holes or putting an ugly license plate on my car!

Mike

 

I had a similar problem in Wyoming - Wyoming, Ohio, that is. Given that I live in a small community, and will inevitably be spotted again, I chose to mount a front plate, but in a manner that doesn't require any modification to my 328. One thing I learned was that Ferrari never offered a mounting location for front plates on the 328, and the typical recommendation was to drill holes in the car to do so. I chose to Ty-wrap the plate to the car; it's easily removed and replaced, when desired. The biggest hassle I get now is from my 16-year-old son who doesn't recognize the wisdom of staying on the right side of the local gendarmes. Anyway, here's the link to my story:

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19066&highlight=front+plate

By the way, Mike D, congratulations on having your number of posts now match the model of your car. You may recall that I met you at the recent LaSalle car show, and my son and I talked at length with you about your 308 GT4.

Ken

 

Ive been pulled over twice in Los Angeles for no front plate in the past 10 years.

rather than drilling holes, You can duct tape the plate to the front bumper a few blocks away from the station.

Take 3 strips about 1 foot long and loop each one so the sticky side is out.
press firmly against the bumper, back the car into a spot and they usually walk to the window or to the door to check it out. He was way to busy to mess around with a license plate anyways.

I also screwed a plastic frame around the plate to make it look permanent.

worst they can do is deny the repair.

 

Unlike the 550, the 360 as the slight indentation to place the license plate.

Again, a fabrication of license plate, but some people have gotten it copied and rather than velcro, got it magnetized and simply place it up front. This will prevent the, "I pulled you over for no front place" since it would look natural, however, it won't prevent the detailed inspections.
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Right now, Illinois is working on an exemption that has the nick name "Corvette law." This law is for front plate use (or non-use) on Corvettes, as they have limited space to attach a plate. Other sportcars are joining the list for the exemption.

I am waiting the results. Write your congressman for your State with the same idea.

Other than that, I look at a plate ticket as a "tax." I pay the tax for not having a plate on front - if & when I get a ticket. I have not been pulled over for this yet, but I am sure it will happen sooner or later.

Lastly, I have a pal with an AAR Cuda. He gets pulled over all of the time for no front plate. When he does get pulled over, he walks to the front of the Cuda, reaches under the car, & pulls his HINGE MOUNTED front plate down from its magnetized position under the valance. He tells the officer that he lives with a gravel driveway & that he must have smashed the plate on his way out of that driveway. Most officers let him go. Once underway again, his plate will pivot on the hinge, and the magnet will attach again to the underbelly. No plate once again.

That would be my next trick.

 

I've been driving without a front plate for the past 10 years, never got stopped. I know of a few Ferrari owners, with no plates. Period. No plates. They never put them on, drive safely, and have never been stopped. Some of them have even stopped registering their cars, since they haven't been stopped.

The 360 has a place for a plate, and you can buy a plate holder, but who's going to do that? Not me.

Art

 

Ken, it was nice to meet you and your son at LaSalle. I remember when my son was his age, he wanted to take his driving test in the Ferrari. Just wait till prom time comes. I wasn't so lucky, my dad was the typical conservative Procter & Gamble manager so we always had 4 door, 6 cylinder, not even a radio Studebakers.

Wyoming has always been a pain. Those older bedroom villages get hemmed in by development and the "through" traffic disturbs the tranquility. The citizens use the police to hassel the non-residents so that the won't pass through anymore. Greenhills and Glendale are the same.

When I was in college I worked 3rd shift at a convenience store just inside Woodlawn. Wyoming cops would hang out there often (we had donuts) and they were always bragging about pulling everyone over and making up excuses to do so. It cemented my opinion that all cops are as*&#les. Those small communities always seem to get the new cops just out of the academy.

300+ posts isn't a whole lot for the time that I have been here. I am a gear head so most of my interest is in the technical area.

 

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?p=134904498#post134904498

Judging by the above thread (look at the pictures of the cars), it looks like there is no front plate law in Texas ;-)

 

Me and my big mouth. Today I got a ticket for no front plate! Excuse #2 was not effective.

 

Just got a $25.00 tic for the Boxster this weekend while it was parked at LAX. Almost got one for the 308 when it was parked at a local college. It looks like the meter maids haven't been gettin' any lately so they're looking for plates as well as parking decals.

 

People stop registering their cars? THat is news to me.

 

I am aware of two individuals that keep a phony temporary white paper registration taped in the lower corner of the windshield. This way the law enforcement think it is on a temporary tag and don't bother them for the front missing plate. One of them stopped registering his car 3 years ago and has yet to be stopped or questioned. Are we on to something here?
It does require changing the paper every so often to eliminate the yellowing.

 

An ex-g/f in Orange County did this in her Lexus SC430, but she paid the registration fees and used the actual rear plate. She left the actual new car delivery paper taped inside her windshield on the lower part, passenger side. I don't think she's ever been pulled over. Of course a gold Lexus isn't a red Ferrari.

(I don't know whether having paper taped the glass looks better than having a front plate, but I guess it's not drilling holes in the car...)

Problem is if you're pulled over for anything and haven't paid your fees, the courts aren't going to play nice with you.

J

 

I mis spoke in my earlier response. It is NOT a federal law , but a state law by each state. The 38 states that require a front plate do so by their own choice. The distance to ground is required to be 12" , and there is no requirement that the plate be on the centerline of the vehicle . Hence , some individuals put the plate on one side or another.

 

I take it you can't insure a car that's not even registered for the road. If these people are rich and have an accident, they won't be rich any more.

Ken

 

Does anyone know of a regulation prohibiting a resizing of the front plate? I'm referring to keeping the size of the numbers the same, but removing the excess material below the numbers (or bending it back), giving the plate a smaller footprint.

 

I started this thread last week, after beingn pulled over for no front plate on my 550.
At this time, I have discovered that the car is designed for a Euro plate.
So, I hacksawed the 6" X12" Wyoming plate down to the size that's exposed when an American plate is in a frame (roughly 11 X 4). This is a MUTILATION of the plate and a violation of Wyoming state law (31-4-something).
Furthermore, I'm mounting the plate on the lower lip of the 550, so it's less than 12 inches off the ground (violating 32-2-250).
BUT SO WHAT?
I've spoken with three senior HP administrators and all agree that what matters is the still legible numbers and visible annual renewal sticker. And with the state full of low-riders, the 12 inch rule is absurd.
I'll start another thread to describe my interaction with the police and how this can be applied to all models in all states. Furthermore, I've learned about traffic stops and the games the cops play to establish probable cause and reasonable suspicion to search your car. I'll start this new thread at the weekend, when I've got my car ouot of the body shop with the new plate attached.

 

This evening I decided to take back roads to the airport to pick up my son (so I could speed of course). I was going through a little town, doing the speed limit (you speed between Texas towns, not through them), and the cops I drive by start following me, then hit the lights. I pull over, right in front of a bar. The two cops walk up and one says "nice car, what year is it?" Then the bar crowd starts gathering with "nice car" comments and "pulled over for no front plate on that car is bull ****" smirks. Anyway, got a warning so can't complain too much but learned a lesson. Don't be the first Ferrari to drive through a town unless you have some time to spare for the admiring cops

 

I have had insurance on cars that I had not registered yet. I have never been asked about registration from my Insurance company.