I Got Caught Without a License Plate (56k Beware)

[Keef]

In Ohio you have to display a front license plate. I got caught without one...

Conversely, all these people do have front plates. That's obvious because they surely haven't been fined for not having one...

This truck is driven every day and parks on the street on which I was caught. Right in front of the police officer, too, as I got caught.

Those were both at the same intersection.

Though it has no front bumper, a plate must be displayed. We saw three other cars without bumpers who did have plates.

My cousin got his charge dropped immediately by simply stating there were four cars in the Court's parking lot without plates on the front, which he checked. No pictures, no nothing, except his own copy of the law.

So, the lesson children, is to not have a front license plate on your $30,000+ car. The more taxes you pay, the less likely you are to get in trouble for anything. And that's no bullcrap. More pictures to come, btw, including an Elise equipped with a radar detector and an owner who doesn't realize the Elise has a specific mounting location for a plate.

 

[Joey D]

It's Ohio, I'm surprised they don't give you tickets for owning a red car. I try to avoid the state like the plague just based on their cops and the reputation they have with Michigan drivers. It tends to create issues though since really the only way out of Michigan from where I live is Ohio or Canada.

 

[Tornado]

Get's a free pass.

 

[exigeracer]

More pictures to come, btw, including an Elise equipped with a radar detector and an owner who doesn't realize the Elise has a specific mounting location for a plate.

So does your Civic.

How do you know none of the driver's you photographed have been ticketed?

 

[breakpoint]

It sucks and all but the law is the law. Just because they don't have it doesn't mean that since they don't you shouldn't have to either. Let them get the tickets and you avoid it by putting a plate up front, not to hard to do. Im lucky to live in Alabama, we don't have laws that are that annoying, just a bunch of crooked cops.

 

[1X83Z]

Get's a free pass.

Eh... it's just a hardtop

Ferrari owners complain constantly about this, so this guy went and solved the problem himself:

Each screw hole was about $7,500 in damage since the bumper is ~$15k.

What annoys me Keef is that

a) I have TOLD YOU ABOUT THIS BEFORE.
b) you HAVE HOLES IN YOUR BUMPER FOR THE LICENSE PLATE.

Put the thing on and quit yer bitchin

BTW it is more than possible that some or all of those cars you photographed are from neighboring Michigan, Indiana, or Pennsylvania, NONE OF WHICH require front license plates. Dumbass.

Love you!

 

[wrcsti]

Easy there, we don't want this to be an all out nucular name calling war.

 

[Brett]

I never have really understood the front license plate laws. Maybe that is because I am from Oklahoma, thankfully, a state in which they are not required.

Front license plates look odd to me and that probably has more to do with not seeing them on a regular basis; though, if a manufacturer designs the front end of their cars for them (i.e. Audi in Europe), then they do not look as out of place.

Thinking about this topic a bit more, front license plates seem more like a way for a state to make a little extra money from their citizens. One, by making them buy an extra plate--the cost on an individual basis is probably not that much, but when you add in the number of people who have to get them and it quickly adds up--and two, by indirectly taxing, through fines, those who refuse to put them onto their vehicle.

I am also sure their are some safety reasons for having a license plate on the front bumper, but nothing in specific comes to mind at the moment.

 

[///M-Spec]

Keef... don't you know in most states, just driving a Civic alone means 'probable cause'?


M

 

[McLaren]

That sucks mate. We have that law here in Texas, but it's not really enforced.

I've been driving without front plates for years, and I've never received a ticket for it. I usually just keep the front plate in the trunk, though.

 

[1X83Z]

Easy there, we don't want this to be an all out nucular name calling war.

Keef is a poo-face.

 

[neanderthal]

"But every one else was speeding too Officer"

"True, but you're the one who got caught."

 

[Perfect Balance]

We are required to have front license plates and it's very enforced, at least around here. A car without a front plate actually stands out to me and I always become curious as to what state it's from.

 

[Keef]

So does your Civic.

I have a plate displayed unobstructed on the front of my car. The Elise did not. And probably won't. I don't think police agencies realize how much money they would bank if I was a traffic cop, even untrained.

BTW it is more than possible that some or all of those cars you photographed are from neighboring Michigan, Indiana, or Pennsylvania, NONE OF WHICH require front license plates. Dumbass.

Love you!

I took a picture of this one car, but as we passed we found it was from Florida. We deleted it. We could easily check all the parked cars. Most of the cars we shot driving were going the other way, which means we could see the rear plate after they passed. We had to exclude temporary plates, and for good measure we excluded Historical, Truck, and Dealer plates, all of which we saw. Only cars with normal plates made it on the list.

 

[Tornado]

Eh... it's just a hardtop

Compared to such masterpieces as crappy V6 Camaros and land yacht Oldsmobiles (not to mention *gasp* Mercury Cougars), I don't see how an officer could write that car a ticket. Maybe because the owner is a loser who didn't take care of his flip-ups, but otherwise Ohio's ticket quota would be filled with crappy late models cars long before getting to bitchin' Buicks.

 

[1X83Z]

I took a picture of this one car, but as we passed we found it was from Florida. We deleted it. We could easily check all the parked cars. Most of the cars we shot driving were going the other way, which means we could see the rear plate after they passed. We had to exclude temporary plates, and for good measure we excluded Historical, Truck, and Dealer plates, all of which we saw. Only cars with normal plates made it on the list.

Urgh I hate you, you mastermind of illegality.

Compared to such masterpieces as crappy V6 Camaros and land yacht Oldsmobiles (not to mention *gasp* Mercury Cougars), I don't see how an officer could write that car a ticket. Maybe because the owner is a loser who didn't take care of his flip-ups, but otherwise Ohio's ticket quota would be filled with crappy late models cars long before getting to bitchin' Buicks.

What do Reatta coupes go for? $4k? I'd write that up if I were a cop.

 

[Keef]

"But every one else was speeding too Officer"

"True, but you're the one who got caught."

"Don't eat that Elmer; that's horse ****."

I'll let the judge decide. And I'll let him know how many cars are lacking a plate in his parking lot. There's no device necessary and no question about it; a car either has one or not. There's no percentage of error. There's no potential danger--and it's not a moving violation. It's more like a parking ticket. You're one of many who has been chosen by an officer. When he lets three others go past without plates and then proceeds to pull out the second you pass and get you there's something going on. Apparently the judge in Kettering knows that, and threw the case out. Hopefully WC's judge realizes the cops have better things to do then pestering me a quarter mile away from home and work. Like plane crashes. We have those. But, oh, the license plates.

 

[V1P3R]

Ya know... It's a stupid law, here it's a reason for a tOOl of a cop to give some kind of ticket or for filling a quota.

For all the times I've been stopped (which isn't a lot) I've never been cited. I dunno why.

One time I had a tire blow out and a cop came by to see what was going on. He was more concerned about the fact he couldn't see my front blinkers (since I modded them) then that I didn't have a front license plate. I guess I'm lucky because at this point I don't even know where my front license plate is.

Anyway, that sucks dOOd.

If it makes you feel any better, my dad has gotten two tickets for not wearing a seatbelt even though he was. He uses a clothes pin to keep the belt from retracting.

 

[Tornado]

What do Reatta coupes go for? $4k? I'd write that up if I were a cop.

That's all!?...I mean, uh, who cares? DeLoreans are only like $20,000 for a decent one, and no self respecting cop would write a ticket for one of them (and certainly not a speeding ticket).

Besides, where do you mount a plate on a Reatta? Exactly. Its impossible to do so.

 

[slidesquad#1]

Do you actually have to pay for the individula plates? Over here in NZ at least, you have to have front plates, so you get two when you register your car, whether you like it or not.

Seconding the put the front plate on if the law states you need it on. Just because other people are also in the wrong doesn't make you less so. Also, with the exception of maybe 2 SUV/trucks, where did the $30,000 thing come from? If anything, your car looks more expensive/better kept than the vast majority of the cars you posted. Or did I fully misinterpret your argument?

 

[1X83Z]

Ya know... It's a stupid law,

You wouldn't be saying that if you were being chased or followed by someone without a front plate. Unpopular viewpoint on car forums, but I think the front plate law is really, really good and I wish more states would do it. I happily display mine and until I begin buying exotic cars I will continue to do so!

Besides, where do you mount a plate on a Reatta? Exactly. Its impossible to do so.

Duct tape it on. Remember, it's only worth $4k.

 

[Tornado]

and until I begin buying exotic cars I will continue to do so!

After which I'm sure you will adopt a similar philosophy to the one you have for parking violations, yes?

Duct tape it on. Remember, it's only worth $4k.

I wasn't talking about lack of mounting holes, silly. If some crazy person is willing to lower the resale of his Ferrari by $15k instead of swearing under his breath with a smirk on his face while a cop writes him a ticket, I can drill two holes in the front of a Buick.

 

[1X83Z]

After which I'm sure you will adopt a similar philosophy to the one you have for parking violations, yes?

Which is what? I've never received a parking violation.

I wasn't talking about lack of mounting holes, silly.

The Reatta in that photo looks like an unhappy cartoon.

 

[V1P3R]

There we go.. xD

You wouldn't be saying that if you were being chased or followed by someone without a front plate. Unpopular viewpoint on car forums, but I think the front plate law is really, really good and I wish more states would do it. I happily display mine and until I begin buying exotic cars I will continue to do so!

: shrugs: I actually was once going home. having lightly tinted windows at night makes it impossible to see behind you...

 

[Tornado]

Which is what? I've never received a parking violation.

Linky.

The Reatta in that photo looks like an unhappy cartoon.

Because the owner is a tool.

 

[1X83Z]

Linky.

And believe me, I WOULD buy that cop's wife.

Because the owner is a tool.

Or perhaps because it IS an unhappy cartoon.

 

[Tornado]

Or perhaps because it IS an unhappy cartoon.

If I had a car with flip ups (especially a Reatta, but a C4 Vette fits just as well), I would use them once in a while to elicit "oohs" and "aahs," then spend the rest of the time driving with the fog lights. Or I would get a night vision system in the car. And paint it black.

 

[V1P3R]

Flip-ups are cool, unique, different...

You can't drive without them, it's illegal to do the ways you mentioned. I would've done the same...

 

[1X83Z]

it's illegal to do the ways you mentioned. I would've done the same...

I see people in pickups driving with just their fog lights constantly. Annoying as hell but I'd be surprised if it's illegal - they're pretty bright.

 

[Tornado]

You can't drive without them, it's illegal to do the ways you mentioned.

I'm aware of that and don't care either way. "They may take our things-but they'll never take our FREEEEEEDOM!" and etc. Hell, I would mount lights on the roof so I wouldn't have use the flip ups on my car, which both completely misses the point and would look really bad on a Corvette (though maybe alright on a Reatta).