Front License Plates? Yes or No?
Front License Plates? Yes or No?
Bill is a Corvette Forum user who, like many of us, hates front license plates. He lives in Texas, where they are required, and he has decided to forego a front plate on his C4.
I may live pretty far away from Bill, but being an Ohioan, I can sympathize. Like Bill, I’m bordered by states not requiring a front license plate. I see no use for them other than drilling unnecessary holes and ruining the look of my car.
Law enforcement officials claim that front license plates serve a valuable purpose. But this is directly at odds with popular practice. In my state, registration stickers aren’t provided for the front plate. And as far as I know, no states requires the plate to be lit.
Even the most law-abiding car enthusiasts almost universally agree that unless you’re breaking the law in a more egregious manner, you likely won’t get stopped for not having a front plate.
If you get caught speeding or running a red light, with a loud exhaust and too-dark window tint, the story may be different, though. Many officers see dollar signs for their departments when it comes to adding up violations.
Another bit of advice is to avoid small towns that thrive off ticket revenue. The only time I ever got stopped for having no front plate was in my Mazda RX-7. It was by a rookie officer greener than a par 5 fairway, late at night, with no other cars on the road.
It’s important to respect the law, and the men and women who put their lives on the line for our safety every day. If you do get pulled over for no front plate, be sure to be polite, courteous, and respectful. You may just get away with a warning, like I did.
