Front License Plates

Hi all, I want to ditch the front license plate on my '99 996. The local law states, "Nevada requires two license plates on motorized vehicles except for motorcycles, unless the vehicle is not designed for a front plate and no front plate is available from the manufacturer." Can I get around this by modifying the front bumper or replacing the front bumper with an aftermarket alternative? Any advice is appreciated. Dave

I have not had a plate on the front of my ML430 (there was no place for it) and I have no plate on the front of my 996CAB. Never had a problem with the police. But maybe b/c there is a huge shortage of cops here in Vegas. BTW, where is Incline Village?

I've been going plateless on the front of Corvettes for years, and intend to do the same here (still have a temp). I think its easy to get away with it when you have a rounded bumper like this.

I have two plates on my car. Both of them are on the rear, one on top of the other. I have a neighbor who is a state trooper and says they will use the front plate absence only to pull you over if they really need a reason to stop you. IE, you look real guilty of something.

I would recommend you taking your bumper down to a good body shop and have them close the holes and make it look right..... Most cops don't know enough about the P-car to make the call..... All you have to say when quesioned is this was an original Euro model. I'm sure you get an "Oh O.K." -Eli

I moved to California at the beginning of the year from Arizona where you do not need front plates. After spending 8 years without front plates I could not bring myself to putting one on. In the nine months since I have been here I only have had one ticket for no front plate and that was when my meeter was expired and I was in a suburb. Other then that no problems and I don't intend to put one on now.

I have received about 6 citations for not having a front plate, and I still don't use one. I would rather pay the fine.

Paul - where are you getting all those citations? Anyplace in particular? I've been thinking about removing my front plate. At the end of April rennlist run, out of 30+ cars at our morning gathering, I think I was the only one that had a front plate on. I would, however, put it in a banged up plate frame behind my seat, so I could try the "it just fell off" story.

Does anyone know what the law is for VA? I did a quick search on the VA DMV site but didn't get a single relevant hit. I would love to plateless on the front bumper. JM

Go get a set of personal plates, lose the front one as soon as it arrives and immediately order a replacement and keep the replacement order documents in the car. "Gee, officer, see, I ordered a replacement right away but it never came..." (they will replace standard plates, both, from the stack.)

Get your butt here --> www.BumperPlugs.com And email me: I have a few tips for you on your 'story' if you get pulled. JM....email me. [email removed] VA is a front-plate state, but we sell a boatload of plugs in VA.

West Hollywood enforces it a lot due to the red-light camera scam. I have also received citations at LAX and also in Westwood. As for the 'it just fell off' line, they won't care. It's a fix it ticket, so you just need to go to the station to show them that it's on. Problem is, they STILL charge you $15 to look at it, and another $10 to process the ticket. Add the time you need to deal with this crap, and it drives you NUTS!!!!

Dude, that is GENIUS!!! I just may try this.

That is a great idea. I'm about to put Techart GTS II front on and I'd love to leave the "required" plates off. I am going to try this.

worrying about front plates? what plates? :> i've never had front or "rear plates" on any of my cars in years.. i just have a bunch of the dealer paper plates on the rear of my cars.. never, ever, once been pulled over for not having my rear plates.. don't even have to register my cars of course this works best when having a convertible, as m ost cops simply assume anyone with such a nice car wouldn't intend to break the law, and probably just bought it, and has the temporary on the back window (which is down 99% of the time for me on my convertibles.. and when it's raining and the top needs to be up, most all cops won't deal with getting wet over a little plate issue.. plates, registration, blah, waste of time .. also, forget worry about parking tickets and red light cameras as well (bonus)

[QUOTE=bobporsche996]worrying about front plates? what plates? :> i've never had front or "rear plates" on any of my cars in years.. i just have a bunch of the dealer paper plates on the rear of my cars.. never, ever, once been pulled over for not having my rear plates.. don't even have to register my cars of course this works best when having a convertible, as m ost cops simply assume anyone with such a nice car wouldn't intend to break the law, and probably just bought it, and has the temporary on the back window (which is down 99% of the time for me on my convertibles.. and when it's raining and the top needs to be up, most all cops won't deal with getting wet over a little plate issue.. plates, registration, blah, waste of time .. also, forget worry about parking tickets and red light cameras as well (bonus)

Florida has no front plate requirement unless you order vanity plates, then you must have 2. In MA they require 2, but I believe the law reads that allows for it to be placed in the front window if necessary. Personally, I carry the front plate all mounted in the trunk so I can pop the plugs and stick the whole assembly in when getting my annual inspection.

Man you US guys are pretty lucky, our law requires a plate, and they really really inforce this law, why wouldnt they at $115.00 a ticket.

155$ and fix it ticket in NY. When mine fell off shortly after getting the car I was pulled over twice, one free pass, one ticket. They will ticket you in NYC.

I don't have a front plate and a cop friend of mine to me that the one thing cops really hate is B.S. He told me that if I get pulled over just admitt that the car look so much better without it and offer an appology. If the cops likes Porsche he'll tell you to put it backon when you have a chance...if he hates nice cars he'll give you a small tickets....we worth the cost. Front license plate a HUGLY.

kilrgt, how many citation have you had ? I never had one in the last tvelve month...darn I shouldn't have written this...kiss of death, I just jinks myself....I'm bound to get one next week.

My thoughts on the front plate is that they are great for those camera lights. I figure if you get 5 tickets in a three year period you'll have spent $150 max on all the correction inspections and administration fees. But on the other hand if you get one camera light ticket that's $300+ in addition to a point on your record. I haven't had a plate on the M3, 996, or Jaguar during the past two years. Jag sold a year ago.... Yes I've go a couple of fix it tickets but they have only cost me less than $60.00 in total.... small price to pay. -Eli

I have never had a front plate on any car - and in the past 10 years - only one ticket for it (it was the wife in her bmw) - in so cal the cops are pretty lax on it - unless they really need a reason to pull you over. the only place i have heard of people getting tickets for this is at public parking lots/areas where there are meters - they love to ticket everything they can find - as those are not real cops - but revenue generators for the city/town. i have to admin that bobporsche996 has got me thinking - heck remove all of the plates - and just run paper ones... but what are you going to say when the cop asks for registration? kirk

I got one recently in the Burbank area. Even though I had the plate and bracket in the trunk and offered to install it right on the spot, he cited me anyway. The cost was minimal (about $30) but a huge hassle. I'm leaving the plate on from now on.

Because my car is in pretty nice shape and always clean 98% of the time. It's really easy to say I just got it back from the dealer and they lost the plates. This has worked pretty well for me. -Eli

bob, sorry for hajcking the thread. can you share some info about getting extented warranty? PM me if you like [QUOTE=bobporsche996]

You need front tags in MD, DC and VA.

Thanks for the responses reagrding VA (and MD/DC) tags! JM

Yeah, Colorado is a front plate state. And it's kinda hard to offer up an excuse when the bumber holes have plugs in them! In the last year I've been given a $15 citation while parked on the street in Boulder, and been stopped twice by the state patrol, most recently a couple weeks ago by an officer who saw me pull up behind him in the adjacent lane. He slowed, let me pass, then immediately got behind me and flashed the lights. He was in no mood for excuses and didn't even give me a chance to "explain". Best be on your best behavior and never do anything that will give them further excuse to pull you over. Often, as you know, they use the lack of a plate to see if anything else is going on (i.e., drinking and driving).

Yeah, NY State kinda sucks that way. I have to have a front plate.. but you know what? I'm used to it.

You could also license the car in AR.

I live in New York but have registered CT plates... I never drive with my plate on the front eventhough it is the law for front plates in CT (I don't even have holes for it) and have never gotten any hassle. I think NY cops don't want to go through the hassle once they see I have an out-of-state plate... its great

What??? I'm originally from Toronto, and I recall getting a ticket for no front plate on my Miata back in '99 and it was only around $20 or something. Have they increased the fine through the roof?

Wife got pulled over and ticketed for no front plate on our Mercedes SLK last year. Female Illinois state trooper so they probably clashed with each other. Told her, if it had been me, I could have talked my way out of the ticket. lol