Cop problems with no front license plate?

I've been thinking about taking off the front license plate and putting in bumper plugs. Checked with DMV and in Oregon front plates are required. Has anyone had any problems getting pulled over for not having front plates?

When I lived in New York I took off my front license plate but put it back on after a week or so. The police didn't like it too much. Don't know about Oregon.

i was recently pulled over and ticketed for not having a front license plate in west l.a. by the lapd.

Here in TO it's hit or miss...sometimes they'll pull you over to be a PITA. Wasn't worth it, so I pull out the bumper plugs and mounted it the plate. These cars attract enough attention as it is from the local cops.

"KNOCK ON WOOD" ....have been driving around and see other cars drive around without front license plates....I have heard that they give you a ticket and make you come to the Police station, show that you put it on....go home...take it off..... The P doesn't look good with front license plate....so I am going to be an outlaw.

I agree with Nicholaas, it looks alot better without so I would go outlaw regardless. But here in CT both are mandatory, however, I have NEVER used a front license plate on any of my cars and have NEVER had a problem.

No front license plate on my Porsche, Vette, or MGB, and never had a problem yet. However, here in California, it is mandatory to have both plates. It just depends on if the officer has nothing better to do with himself. Tom L 2002 C2

Used to drive my Viper w/o front plate in Oregon. Never had any problems... But then a Viper is more of an exotic than a Porsche. Tell them it's been stolen if they pull you over.

Have mine between the passenger seat and the center console. If I get pulled over I'll throw it in the window and make like he must have missed it. Haven't been pulled over yet, I'll let you know if it works when I do.

I'm just wondering if I'm giving a cop an excuse to pull me over. Sounds pretty hit and miss. I've got some cops around where I work that are real ******, and it would probably make their day to pull me over.

Pulled over by CHP 3 times. First 2 times explained that there was no bracket Last time was given a ticket. I put the plate back on. Bruce

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Even if it had been in your windsheild that's the same offense (and in some states more of an offense) as not having it at all.

I keep mine in the trunk. Was pulled over once and told the cop it fell off and that I would put it back on as soon as I got home. It worked. carreraboy ============== '06 997 C4

Huh??

wouldn't they want to know why you didn't report it? Then wouldn't you have to have your present tags cancelled and new ones issued?

8 years in Virginia w/o a front tag. Been stopped and had the cop walk around the car, but nothing was said. (well, about the plate, anyhow!) =Carlos=

I have both plates mounted on my car, both on the back, one on top of the other. My neighbor is a state trooper, and says he would only use that reason to pull somebody over if he was looking for a reason to stop someone who was questionable. Probably someone not driving one of these cars.

Huh???

So i don't lose it...in case i need to find it someday and put it back on.

I only have the back plates on both cars for years, cops have left me alone!!! Prolly cause I have a middle aged jaded look on my face Even chatted with one at a Starbucks and showed him the car and he even made a comment on the front plate????

Mines going in the trunk tomorrow.

I left mine off when I put the TechArt bumper on...just couldn't put a friggin' plate on there. I have been by many Police officers and have not had a problem. My story will be...I ordered a custom bracket from Germany...takes 6 months (I have a receipt in the car). I have the plate in my trunk. I'll pay the fine also. Front plate is just sacrilegious.

We're the only province in the entire country where we only have one plate....... Already too expensive for only one!!

I took the front plate off 2 years ago when I got the RUF RGT front bumper -- they just didn't look right especially with the OEM Porsche mounting bracket. I got bumper plugs from Eric the Plug Guy. My luck finally ran out and I was pulled over 2 months ago. It was a weekend and traffic was very light so I guess the officer got bored waiting for speeders. Anyway, I tried the "it fell off when I took it to the carwash" excuse but he didn't buy it specially when he saw the bumper plugs. He was cool though. He told me that he totally understands that the front plate ruins the lines. He told me I could put it on and drive up to the police station and he will ammend the ticket. I was too lazy to do that so I just paid the $85 fine (ouch!) If I get pulled over again I may just put the plates back on.

It's a good excuse to get pulled over esp for sobriety tests during the holidays. Can the red light camera ticket you if no front plate?

Gee, officer, I have these unique personal plates and I lost the front one but here's the documents indicating I've ordered a replacement. Guess it takes awhile to make new personal plates for some reason since it's been months now and no new plates have arrived....

In Texas we are required to have a front plate, and I have one on my 911. However, my 5 series and 3 series are both sans front plate, and I have never had a problem with cops. If they are looking to be a jackass then one might pull you over for it, but for the most part I would hope they have better things to do with their time than jack with people over a front plate.

I keep my front plate in the front trunk and my excuse is that I just had the clear bra installed and it has to "set" before the plate holes can be punched out for the plate bracket. It's not as clean up front without bumper plugs in those holes as opposed to the clear bra film over them but hey, whatever works!

185$ ticket in NY, mine actually did fall off once, while waiting the week for new ones, pulled over twice, not worth the hassle.

mmm, by that you mean more of a redneck?

I've owned several sports cars and am not really tied to any brand. Every one has its pros and its cons. When I worked for Nike and lived in PDX I used to own a Viper. That's why I reacted to the 'license plate in OR post'. Regarding my comment about the Viper : a car of which maximum 4000 units are (hand) made a year is by definition way more exotic than a car of which 80,000 units are produced. I really love my Porsche. It's the only true sportscar that qualifies as a daily driver, and that's what I use it for. Having said that, if I want to have some great thrills on a weekend cruise, I'd take the Viper. There is no replacement for displacement. The torque on these cars is simply amazing. One needs to have owned and driven both cars in order to make a decent comparison. Hey JTSPO - please share with the rest of us which cars you own !

I've been stopped twice for speeding. Given a warning both times. Each time, the cop took a look around the car. Each time no front license plate. No mention of the missing plate in both instances. That could easily have been a $100.00 fine per incident, for a atotal of $200.00 towards the cop kitty jar. I guess most cops don't realize it's against the law? Or maybe just being nice?

You know what guys? I've got a hard time trying to figure out what all these post are about not having plates on a car or getting a ticket in Texas or California or wherever and asking how to get out of it. Why is so much time being devoted to trying to figure a way out of an illegal act or failure to act. It seems to me that if the law says one thing and you push the envelope...you should just acknowledge the fact that (in some extreme cases) this is the second, third or fourth time you got stopped for the same thing and you finally got busted. You knew the rules when you did what you did, and you got caught...so quit whining or looking for excuses and own up to the offense. We all know that if we play...eventually we pay. Some of you are ahead on the percentages...be thankful and leave it at that. Chuck

Yikes!!!! I didn't know this. I drove my Prowler for 6 years without plates as I didn't want to drill the bumper or pay the $650+ for a custom plate holder (price when the car first came out in '99). I know it was only for 4,000 miles on Saturday nights but I now feel very lucky I didn't get snagged. I hate giving cash away. Jeff

I got a ticket in Dayton, OH in 85 for no front plate. It cost me $85. If the fine is tied to oil I'd hate to get one now

Had mine registered in AR (no front plate required) for awhile under a legal corporate name/address.

Never had a front license plate on ANY vehicle, better yet my P-Car. Don't plan on putting one on either. Got a ticket for it +10 years ago, but none since...also have had my fair share of pull-overs and never a comment on the lack of a front license plate. Of course, as luck has its, I am probably going to get pulled over and get a ticket for no front license plate now...

Mine's always off, but have to put it on once a year for the emissions, etc. inspection. Have not been stopped, but keep it mounted on the bracket in the trunk. Just as an aside, the first time I took the plugs off by wedging them with a stiff piece of plastic I scratched some of the paint off the plug (silver). Eric told me the way to remove them safely is by wrapping dental floss around and behind the plug and pull quickly. Probably everyone in the world knew that but me...anyway it works perfectly.

I know we all fanatically love our p-cars (perhaps you more than most lvdell heh) but is it really so unbelievable to think about another car being more exotic than our 911s? Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Viper is faster, more ridiculously impractical, and most importantly, less common - doesn't that qualify as being more exotic? I'm not suggesting that we all trade in on Vipers but regardless, it's alright to appreciate other cars - I dont think it detracts from the accomplishments of our own cars.

Ohio has the most active traffic enforcement of any state. Something I've observered on the net and verified with long haul truckers and charter bus operators.

One of the first things I did when I got my 996 was take off the front plate. I only got a ticket for it once in the dozen or so times I got pulled over, and that was when I got nabbed coming off an exit ramp at 100 mph at 4 am one day with a state trooper right there. I plead not guilty to the ticket and when I went in front of the magistrate I just explained that they're attached with flimsy plastic clips that kept on breaking. Uh yeah, that's why it wasn't on! She immediately took it off the ticket. She wasn't so kind with the 35 MPH over the limit...

Well I had my front plate issue solved over the weekend. Was driving at the Oregon coast and came around a corner faster than a flying bird. Nailed the bird (medium sized) directly in the front license plate and it sheared it off, the plate, bracket, mounting screws, everything. Did no damage to the bumper. Had to turn around to get the plate and put it in the trunk, complete with bird guts on it and feathers wedged between the plate and frame! So for the moment I legitatemly have no plate and if I get pulled over, I've got some very good (and pretty disgusting) proof why. How's that for timing?

Keep all the evidence....including the bird. You'll never get another ticket! PS: Glad your car wasn't damaged!

There's no traffic court judge in the world who would look at the front plate splattered with bird blood and imbedded feathers who would doubt your story for one minute. I can imagine that most traffic court judges have heard just about ever B.S. (and many true) stories, excuses, anecdotal tales etc...but few are presented with "evidence" similar to what you have. Yes, I'd tend to have to agree with Don W. that you should "keep the evidence". It should suffice until a few years pass and the blood and feathers dries and falls off!... I wonder how many guys are going to go out and find road kill pheasants, chickens, or other fowl and beat up their front plates with them. Chuck

Nicolaas: I'm with you... And the best advice I can give you, so you can keep your "outlaw" status, is not to get near the LAX airport without your front license plate. The LAX airport police love ticketing vehicles without front license plates. Best!

I was stopped once on the sole basis of not having a front plate. He was fishin. He let me go with a warning. Another time I was stopped for speeding and he gave me a another ticket for not having a plate. I beat the speeding ticket but had to pay the plate ticket. I don't care. I won't drive with a plate on the front, it's just to fugly.

I (a white male) have driven my coupe for months now with no front lic. and never have been pulled over. My body shop guy (a black male) was driving the car 2 miles to his shop and was pulled over and cited for no front plate. Go figure

LAX users beware ... was given a ticket in the long term parking lot!! The ridiculous thing was that the car ( a BMW ) was parked and protected under a car cover.... also in LA /Santa Monica beware of the meter maids as they will drive by and ticket parked vehicles. I guess the city has to pay its bills somehow

Ther will ticket for that at Angel Stadium as well. It's an easy revenue source for the agencies.

I used to get those tickets all the time in Santa Monica, until I wised up and used this: http://www.gppinc.com/products/produ...0&categoryId=5 I just put it in place when I park the car in West Hollywood or Santa Monica and have never received a ticket while parked since. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I received two tickets last year for our Lexus and Mini Cooper S for not having a front license plate. The first one happened on Northbound 101 near Marin City in the Lexus and was written up by the CHP. The second one happened a Bayshore in SF by a SFPD motorcycle cop. Easy to fix and cheap to pay but still a nuisance. On 10th street between Mission and Howard streets SFPD had two motorcycle cops waving people driving cars without front license plates to two other SFPD motorcycle cops who wrote the tickets. This was last year as well.

I will put on a front plate as soon as someone makes a bracket that works well, looks half decent and won't fall off.

It just gives the cops a reason to stop you, not worth the trouble IMO.

I don't run with mine on. I've been pulled over a few times for speeding and the cops never said anything about it. I keep it under the front passenger seat and put it in the window when I cross the border/park, etc. My line if the police mention it is, "It's right here officer, it fell off. The mounting bracket is on back order, but I'll get in on as soon as it comes in."

What about buying designer plates to make them more appealing. What is allowed? Can you stick any colour on there? http://www.createmyplates.com/showpl...mberplate.html

Plates issued by the DMV...that is what is allowed. It's not so much the plate that I object to, it's really more to do with how they attach to the bumper cover with those silly expansion screws. Ultra-flimsy.

Most states require the mounting of front license plates. Local pd's generally will not pull you over for it, but will write it up in addition to another offense if your a rude dude. Also, state police or DPS will pull you over for it and it alone. The choice is yours. I don't mount one.

Most states require the mounting of front license plates. Local pd's generally will not pull you over for it, but will write it up in addition to another offense if your a rude dude. Also, state police or DPS will pull you over for it and it alone. The choice is yours. I don't mount one.

Most states require the mounting of front license plates. Local pd's generally will not pull you over for it, but will write it up in addition to another offense if your a rude dude. Also, state police or DPS will pull you over for it and it alone. The choice is yours. I don't mount one.

I live in Minnesota. It is illegal to have no front plate. I too run w.o. one. My brothr is Dep. Sherr. He informed me to keep the front plate with bracket in back seat. If I get the pull over than explain how the braket broke off and lost the screws. May or may not work. "It easier to ask for forgiveness than permission"

I went through a checkpoint today without a front plate. I was ready to send in the ticket when the cop waved me through.

I don't know if that infraction is one that is foremost on the minds of the police/troopers. I know that local police (at least where we are) give a damn.

I've never been hassled for no plate here.... I think the cops in manhattan have bigger fish to fry than people joyriding with no front