Artistic Preservation - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

z12358 · 11-28-2006, 04:17 PM

Always wondered. Are there states in which front plates are not required by law?

TriGem2k · 11-28-2006, 04:34 PM

I've been pulled over for it on two separate occasions, once in the Boxster and the other in our 2006 S500. The Boxster actually was ticked while parked; I was walking up to my car after a long hard day at...the beach... and asked the parking officer (if they really are officers) what was going on. This FAT parking lady said "sir you have no front license plate so I am ticketing it for you, next time you should think about that". The Mercedes incident pissed me off a little bit more because the car came FROM THE FACTORY with no pre-drilled holes for a plate in the front. There is NO WAY to put it on unless u zip tie it to the grills or put it in the window. The officer cited me anyway go figure. With that one he said "next time you buy a car you should check to make sure it has holes for license plates". I’m sitting there thinking yes next time I go and buy a 100k car ill ask the sales person "so does this car have those cool license plate holes, or is that a separate package". So stupid.

I've even been pulled over in the Boxster so the officer can check and make sure my car was legally off the ground. Apparently my headlights need to be 36" off the ground or something like that and yeah it was actually “above the legal limit”.

As much as I respect those who serve the community and put their lives at risk for us, some of the stuff they do is just plain stupid.

Sorry for the rant….

James

11-28-2006, 04:50 PM

I accually took mine off 2 weeks ago, tons better. I live in missouri and its neccesarry for front license plate, but you dont need it in kansas, I work in kansas and live in kansas city so I figure half the cops who see me from the front will just accept it because half of all the cars dont have front license plates. I was driving a couple days ago above the speed limit and I see a car flying past people behind me (it was night), so from past experience, I slowed down to 65 (was going 80), and let the cop follow me for 5 miles before finaly turning around. I guess someone had called the police on me, but being paranoid as heck and playing it safe saved me a ticket, no tickets so far. Knock on wood.

RandallNeighbour · 11-28-2006, 04:59 PM

I've been pulled over twice now in 2.5 years of Porsche ownership. That's two times more than ever before in any other sports car. It's obviously something cops like to do to Porsche owners, and they probably do it to Ferrari and Lamborghini owners too. I actually budget one $75 ticket per year for violating Texas' "front license plate requirement so we can shoot laser and radar at your car with ease and oh yeah, nail you with photo radar or intersection cameras"

Let them ticket me as often as they like. I've talked my way out of the two times I've been pulled over, but my luck is bound to run out sooner or later. Both cops, one a Texas Dept. of Public Safety and the other Houston Police Dept. both told me they know it's required for making it easier to catch speeders with radar or laser.

MNBoxster · 11-28-2006, 05:03 PM

Hi,

The only states which do not require a Front Plate are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

You're really tickling the Dragon's Tail not to have one if your state requires it. It gives the Cops Probable Cause for a stop and then you're possibly in for a whole lot more such as Sobriety testing, Equip. Tests, etc. Luck will have it that you just left a Party and maybe had one too many for the Breathalizer and then you're gonna be screwed.

IMHO, it's not worth it. Many Municipalities are cracking down like never before on this because they need the revenue to shore-up State and Federal shortfalls. And, you are, afterall, breaking the Law.

If you don't like it, start a referendum to alter the Law, but until then, obey it like any other traffic law. IMHO, it's really arrogant to see people with these cars and not have a required plate, as if they're something special just because they can afford a nicer car, that the Law somehow doesn't apply to them...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

RandallNeighbour · 11-28-2006, 05:09 PM

Jim, here in Houston there are thousands of cars and pickup trucks who don't have a front license plate on, and the cops single out the Pcars it seems. None of my buddies have their front plate on their car and they never get stopped.

And just for the record, if I am driving nary a drop of liquor touches my lips. Ever. That's the best weapon against getting stopped and nearly failing (or nearly passing) a breathalizer test.

MNBoxster · 11-28-2006, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

Jim, here in Houston there are thousands of cars and pickup trucks who don't have a front license plate on, and the cops single out the Pcars it seems. None of my buddies have their front plate on their car and they never get stopped.

And just for the record, if I am driving nary a drop of liquor touches my lips. Ever. That's the best weapon against getting stopped and nearly failing (or nearly passing) a breathalizer test.

Randall,

Just because thousands of others ignore the Law doesn't make it Legal for you to do so. Sounds as if a Referendum to do away with it would have a chance in your state - write your State Senator to start one.

Agree about the drinking. I don't drink and drive, nor should anyone else.

All I'm saying is that it's the Law and should be followed. Also, why make a cop's job tougher by making them make these nuisance stops? Better they go after more serious crime...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

11-28-2006, 05:23 PM

I took mine off due to looks and aerodynamics. How much are tickets?

MNBoxster · 11-28-2006, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boggtown

I took mine off due to looks and aerodynamics. How much are tickets?

Hi,

Here in MN, it's $50, but I've seen other states charge as much as $125.

Ironically, I was once out of town when a Snow Emergency was declared requiring all vehicles be off the streets for the Snow Plows. My Passport was on the street and was towed to an impound lot. When I picked it up, the Tow Co. had ripped the license plate holder off lifting the car. Honda didn't have one in stock, so I ordered it, paid a deposit and placed the plate on the dash, totally visible. I got a ticket while parked. Next day, while parked, another ticket. I called the City, explained what happened and why the plate wasn't properly mounted. They agreed to rip up only one of the two tickets. So, I sucessfully fought the other one in court on the premise that I had an order for the part, but through no fault of mine, hadn't received it so could not comply with the statute.

Also, check your state statutes. Here in MN, you don't need a Front Plate if you have Collector plates (25+ Yr. old car), Street Rod plates, etc. so I don't have a front one on my '71 240Z. 5 more years, and I can remove the one on my Esprit, 17 yrs. for the Boxster though...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

RandallNeighbour · 11-28-2006, 05:41 PM

I'm not putting mine back on, Jim... and you can't make me!!!! But you do provide good sound reasoning for having one on when it's required by law. I'm just gonna ignore it.

KevinH1990 · 11-28-2006, 05:41 PM

I drove my Miata for three years here in Virginia without a front plate.

For some reason I feel like there is a big target painted on my Boxster so I haven't pressed my luck.

z12358 · 11-28-2006, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

Hi,

The only states which do not require a Front Plate are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

You're really tickling the Dragon's Tail not to have one if your state requires it. It gives the Cops Probable Cause for a stop and then you're possibly in for a whole lot more such as Sobriety testing, Equip. Tests, etc. Luck will have it that you just left a Party and maybe had one too many for the Breathalizer and then you're gonna be screwed.

IMHO, it's not worth it. Many Municipalities are cracking down like never before on this because they need the revenue to shore-up State and Federal shortfalls. And, you are, afterall, breaking the Law.

If you don't like it, start a referendum to alter the Law, but until then, obey it like any other traffic law. IMHO, it's really arrogant to see people with these cars and not have a required plate, as if they're something special just because they can afford a nicer car, that the Law somehow doesn't apply to them...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

I knew it! Whenever I saw a car without a front plate it was from PA.
I'm with Jim on this one. The spoiled aesthetics is small price to pay for avoiding probable cause.

Randall, it seems that cops are more lenient about this in a state that borders states where front plates are not required. Texas is practically surrounded by them, so cops are used to seeing a lot of cars without front plates. This leniency then encourages TX drivers (such as yourself) to also drop their front plates which produces even more cars like that.

Z.

jtucker · 11-29-2006, 01:05 PM

3 times in the last year for no front plate, once in the Boxster and twice in the BMW. I got by the first two times. The third time in the BMW, I got a ticket. This really torqued me off as my 318ti did not come from the dealer (pre-owned) with front plate. I had to pay $ to get new plates, then find out that my car has a euro bumper with the M package. Not only is there no place to put a front license, there is no way to add it without replaceing the entire bumper. The BMW front license mounts only fit the US bumpers!!! I whined at the traffic DA and she knocked the fine in half at least. I ended up "modding" the bumper so I could put on the plate on and avoid the hassle. Put it on the Box as well using the factory mount. BTW in Texas it is also illegal to use those license plate frames as well if they obscure any of the lettering on the plate (and almost all will with the standard Texas plates)!! They are always trying to make it tough on law abiding citizens.

J. Tucker
'99 Arctic Silver
'98 318ti

djomlas · 11-29-2006, 02:58 PM

i used that same excuse that my car has no holes and wheni bought it it didnt come with the holes and i was not about to put holes in a bumper for that reason. this is what the cops(yes cops, all of them said the same thing): "take it back to the dealer and have them install it for you"
i never did.
and then 2 days later i get pulled over for the same thing, and i told them that it got stolen, wrote a report and everything actually. then i got pulled over couse my rear licence plate had a clear cover over it, they said that wasnt legal eiher b/c it does not reflect as good, and then they ran the plates and said that my vehicle was reported stolen...idiots, i reported the plate not thec ar stolen, took even longet to sort that out with those slow imbiciles over the phone while they were eating their supersize burgers....
anyways, point of the story, i just put it back on

JackG · 11-28-2006, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by z12358

Always wondered. Are there states in which front plates are not required by law?

South Carolina doesn't require one.

jeffsquire · 11-29-2006, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackG

South Carolina doesn't require one.

___________________________________
Michigan is one. We don't require it. Not even necessary IMO.

djomlas · 11-29-2006, 11:20 AM

thats what bothers me....how come in some states its required and in others its not? its not like we drive worse or whatever the excuse may be that out cars need to look worse w a reflective square with numbers on front.

now, anyone for one of those chain looking licence plate frames and an eagle on top?