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

MNBoxster · 11-28-2006, 06:03 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, 06:09 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, 06:16 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, 06:23 PM

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

MNBoxster · 11-28-2006, 06:40 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

djomlas · 11-28-2006, 06:42 PM

17 tickets so far, now i just leave it on and get on with it, its getting old here in chicago.
but then, im so pissed, my friend never had one on his e36 and never got pulled over.

they told me that they can charge you with some kind of homicide if the plate should fly off your windshield/dash and slice your passingers throat. wow

Bob O · 11-28-2006, 07:06 PM

Missouri is a "front plate state". I was stopped the other day by a road block set up by the Highway Patrol. I don't know about other states, but in Missouri, one doesn't really want to mess with the State guys. yes sir, no sir are appropriate responses to most of their questions! He said they had set up the block for a "safety" check..ummmm ok sir, whatever. He walked arouind the car, which is minus the required front plate, leaned over and asked for license and registration. oh dammmm i thought, the ONLY thing i can think of to bring this on is the front plate. I told him I would have to get out of the car to get the license, since it was in my wallet in my back pocket and I couldn't retreive it without getting out. Put his hand on the door, looked at me, and said.. have a nice day sir. whew... Thank you sir... I hope you catch whoever you're looking for.

I've been front plate-less for about a year and a half in the Boxster. Stopped a couple of times by local gendarmes (sp???), but never ticketed for anything!!! let alone no front plate. Stopped a couple of times by the state guys in various road blocks for who knows what, never ticketed or even suspected. lol. Either I'm very, very lucky, or they really don't give a hoot about the front plate. Now, I HAVE heard a couple of stories about the proverbial meter maids issuing tickets for front plates, but those are, at best, second hand, and somewhat suspect, given the source. Besides, if I ever DO get asked about it, its in the front trunk, behind the spare tire.... really it is. I'm waiting for the part to come in from the dealer so I can install it.

Bob

Adam · 11-28-2006, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djomlas

17 tickets so far, now i just leave it on and get on with it, its getting old here in chicago.
but then, im so pissed, my friend never had one on his e36 and never got pulled over.

they told me that they can charge you with some kind of homicide if the plate should fly off your windshield/dash and slice your passingers throat. wow

Wow, I live down state and they have hardly ever bothered me without a front plate in the last 3 yrs. A university cop stopped me twice in a month for not having a front plate, but he didn't ticket me. A state cop mentioned the lack of a front plate while he was was writing a speeding ticket and he said it will be noted and I better have it on there next time

Fine, whatever a $50 ticket every blue moon is a drop in the bucket. It's a BS law and the cops know it.

RandallNeighbour · 11-28-2006, 06:41 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, 06:41 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, 06:21 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, 02:05 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, 03:58 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