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-   -   Anybody drive without a front license plate? (https://www.rx7club.com/nw-rx-7-forum-33/anybody-drive-without-front-license-plate-583323/)

asiansuperstar 10-01-06 08:48 PM

Anybody drive without a front license plate?
 
I'm thinking of taking mine off, I really dislike how it looks on the 7. Yes I know there is a risk of getting pulled over. Does anyone else drive without theirs?

jenkin 10-01-06 09:01 PM

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...=license+plate

Upgrayedd 10-01-06 11:10 PM

I do... since I got my FMIC I haven't been pulled over in my FD, prior to that I was pulled over 3 times and never got a ticket. But I have NEVER had a front plate on my FD

ra ra rotory 10-01-06 11:56 PM

I just got pulled over and ticketed for it last wednesday... and modified exhuast.. what a dick... But, the only reason I didnt have my front plate on is becuase I hit a racoon, at 70.. I just went to the dmv and got new ones for like 30 bucks..

islanders_rx7 10-02-06 12:09 AM

I got ticketed 8 yrs ago for no front plate driving my z28 in Portland & also in Washington the same day. That totally sucked

Cgotto6 10-02-06 09:49 AM

I have been pulled over 3 times for not having one on my last FD. Granted all of those were right in front of my highschool and two of them were the same cop. Since I have graduated and got my new car I havent had any problems. I actually just have a plate that says RX-7 on the front plate now with no problems yet.

Fumi 10-02-06 09:57 AM

i haven't had a front plate on either of my vechiles foralmost 3 years now.
i stopped even carrying the front plate with me....
and i've been warned once but thats it....

kly 10-02-06 10:23 AM

i have been warned but i will never put one on the fd

BemaniFreak 10-02-06 03:05 PM

I stick it between the front dash and the window, it fits in pretty nicely.

Chixican 10-02-06 04:38 PM


Originally Posted by BemaniFreak
I stick it between the front dash and the window, it fits in pretty nicely.

That's a terrible idea. If you get into an accident that plate turns into a piece of flying metal death. I highly suggest you secure it somehow. Personally I use 4 suction cups to keep the plate attached to the inside of the window. I'd rather use a bracket to ensure that in a crash that the plate will stay firmly attached to the car rather than fly around in the cabin. But those suction cups stick pretty hard though!

ra ra rotory 10-02-06 04:39 PM

^ Thats actually pretty dangerous.. When you get into an accident.. it would be better to just carry it with you... like.. in the pocket behind the passenger seat.

Fumi 10-02-06 05:08 PM


Originally Posted by 1988 10th AE
That's a terrible idea. If you get into an accident that plate turns into a piece of flying metal death. I highly suggest you secure it somehow. Personally I use 4 suction cups to keep the plate attached to the inside of the window. I'd rather use a bracket to ensure that in a crash that the plate will stay firmly attached to the car rather than fly around in the cabin. But those suction cups stick pretty hard though!

for a whil i used mounting tape and put it in the passenger side top corner
worked well and didn't impare MY vision

JDM Drifting 10-02-06 07:09 PM

I don't like the whole have to have a plate on the front law. There really isn't a point to it. A cop can get your plate from the rear just as easily

asiansuperstar 10-02-06 07:14 PM

I'm going to take my front plate off, I'll take the risk, my 7 would just look so much cleaner without this awful chunk of metal in the front.

BemaniFreak 10-02-06 09:22 PM


Originally Posted by 1988 10th AE
That's a terrible idea. If you get into an accident that plate turns into a piece of flying metal death. I highly suggest you secure it somehow. Personally I use 4 suction cups to keep the plate attached to the inside of the window. I'd rather use a bracket to ensure that in a crash that the plate will stay firmly attached to the car rather than fly around in the cabin. But those suction cups stick pretty hard though!

You know? You have a good point, haha. Well, I've seen various ways to stick it in the general *front* of the car, maybe I'll experiment with a couple things.:uh:

Upgrayedd 10-02-06 09:33 PM

Here's the problem with the front window, cops are more likely to give you a ticket for that because it's so dangerous if it's not secure and you are involved in a collision. Cops are dicks if you still have the plate visible inside the car cuz then why woudn't you have it on the front? Mine stays in the passenger side rear bin =)

MWMburton 10-09-06 04:08 PM

ive heard cops would rather have no front plate than one in the window. but my buddy got pulled over saturday because of it and got a 98 dollar fix it ticket. so u may get some grief here or their but if ur bumper doesnt have a place to put it then u can always fight it.

Upgrayedd 10-09-06 04:44 PM

I'd say you're better off having "no place to mount it" (tell them that if you get pulled over) and keeping it IN your car, but NOT in your front window. Every time I've shown em the plate and explained that my car has no place to mount a front plate they are pretty understanding. That's all WSP officers though. City cops probly won't be as nice... They never are for anything else!

Chixican 10-09-06 05:14 PM


Originally Posted by mazdatim
I'd say you're better off having "no place to mount it" (tell them that if you get pulled over) and keeping it IN your car, but NOT in your front window. Every time I've shown em the plate and explained that my car has no place to mount a front plate they are pretty understanding. That's all WSP officers though. City cops probly won't be as nice... They never are for anything else!

Madatim, that sounds like a reasonable way to get out of it, but I tend to go with the letter of the law rather than the spirit. :)

You can only get away with "no place to mount it" if you have the car inspected by WSP and get their certification that you truly cannot mount it on the car. I've never done this myself, but legally it is possible. As far as the window goes, by state law the license plate has to be no more than 4' off the ground. I got pulled over once for it and actually argued a bit with the officer about it. The best thing you can do is arm yourself with the facts. By law, if the plate is secure in the window, I don't see it as being illegal, it's in the front, attached conspiciously, it's readable, and it's no more than 4'. That was my reasoning, and the officer did not give me a ticket, he only warned me that I may be pulled over a lot in the Bellevue area.

[Edit] Also, I think the reason most cops give out that ticket is because of the hazard it presents if the motorist gets in an accident.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.16.240

Here's the section you want to pay attention to:
"The vehicle license number plates shall be attached conspicuously at the front and rear of each vehicle for which the same are issued and in such a manner that they can be plainly seen and read at all times. However, if only one license number plate is legally issued for any vehicle such plate shall be conspicuously attached to the rear of such vehicle. Each vehicle license number plate shall be placed or hung in a horizontal position at a distance of not more than four feet from the ground and shall be kept clean so as to be plainly seen and read at all times. In cases where the body construction of the vehicle is such that compliance with this section is impossible, permission to deviate therefrom may be granted by the state patrol."

Upgrayedd 10-09-06 05:49 PM

Holy crap dude... That's too much work for me to find all that! I am going based on personal experience and I DO NOT have anywhere to mount it. The 3 troopers that have pulled me over said that was fine if I have nowhere to mount it and said it is ILLEGAL to post the plate in the front window because of the danger it presents in the event of an accident. And I'm not lying when I tell them I have nowhere to mount it, cuz I really don't! Not gonna drill holes in my bumper or throw it in the front window and obstruct my view and take away from the high class look of my FD.

notveryhappyjack 10-09-06 07:09 PM

damm it I just got pulled over for the first time in three years of driving my car for not having my front plate in the 'correct' location last friday. I was driving on 405 and a state-r pasted me doing around 80, about two miles up the road I see him on the side of the road stopped and he then pulls out and followed me for a few miles then pulled me over. he gets up to the window and proceeds to tell me the plate is in the wrong spot blah blah blah and I feeed him some bs line about how someone hit the front bumper and broke the brackets off and he let me go without a ticket. What a borde state-r to pull me over for that in 4pm traffic lol

heres a pic of where my plate still is lol, -observe how the wiper conveiently covers the numbers up.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...7/resized2.jpg

Chixican 10-09-06 07:16 PM


Originally Posted by mazdatim
Holy crap dude... That's too much work for me to find all that! I am going based on personal experience and I DO NOT have anywhere to mount it. The 3 troopers that have pulled me over said that was fine if I have nowhere to mount it and said it is ILLEGAL to post the plate in the front window because of the danger it presents in the event of an accident. And I'm not lying when I tell them I have nowhere to mount it, cuz I really don't! Not gonna drill holes in my bumper or throw it in the front window and obstruct my view and take away from the high class look of my FD.

Hey man, I wasn't trying to flame you or anything. I know that it's very possible to explain your situation to the officer and get off with a verbal. All I was saying, as a fellow motorist, I like to dot my "i's" and cross my "t's". Before mounting my plate in the window with suction cups, I went through and researched the actual law. No offence was intended at all, and I'm sorry if it came across that way. I'm super anal about laws and compliance of my cars to those laws. This isn't because I want to be super legal with my car, it's to cover my ass incase a cop try's to write me a bs ticket. In my case I did argue a bit with the cop, but he backed down because I think he knew that I knew the law and that he had no just cause.

Notveryhappyjack, your plate could be technically grounds for a ticket because the number is illegible.

All that said, I think the front plate law is a bunch of crap, many other states only issue one plate and don't require the front. Think of how much money the state could save if they produced only half the plates. lol

Fumi 10-09-06 09:11 PM

lol on friday night i had a "friendly" cop encounter which required a cop to run my plate when he was in front of the car.
he looked around for a bit then walked to the back and didn't say anything.
i was really expecting some grief for it.

Upgrayedd 10-09-06 09:20 PM


Originally Posted by 1988 10th AE
Hey man, I wasn't trying to flame you or anything. I know that it's very possible to explain your situation to the officer and get off with a verbal. All I was saying, as a fellow motorist, I like to dot my "i's" and cross my "t's". Before mounting my plate in the window with suction cups, I went through and researched the actual law. No offence was intended at all, and I'm sorry if it came across that way. I'm super anal about laws and compliance of my cars to those laws. This isn't because I want to be super legal with my car, it's to cover my ass incase a cop try's to write me a bs ticket. In my case I did argue a bit with the cop, but he backed down because I think he knew that I knew the law and that he had no just cause.

Notveryhappyjack, your plate could be technically grounds for a ticket because the number is illegible.

All that said, I think the front plate law is a bunch of crap, many other states only issue one plate and don't require the front. Think of how much money the state could save if they produced only half the plates. lol

I know you weren't tryin to flame me. No offense was taken. I was just surprised you pulled out your book of law to look it up. And I was trying to explain my specific situation and experiences with how the Police respond. I think it's partly the look of the FD that gets me so little crap. I've had it for a little over 3 years and I just turned 22 on Friday, so the car really helps out. I think most people my age would get hit hard for it if they were driving more of a "ricer" car.... You feel me?! It really depends on how you present yourself and your car IMO. Keep in mind everything we say is MOSTLY opinion... =)

Chixican 10-10-06 11:58 AM


Originally Posted by mazdatim
I know you weren't tryin to flame me. No offense was taken. I was just surprised you pulled out your book of law to look it up. And I was trying to explain my specific situation and experiences with how the Police respond. I think it's partly the look of the FD that gets me so little crap. I've had it for a little over 3 years and I just turned 22 on Friday, so the car really helps out. I think most people my age would get hit hard for it if they were driving more of a "ricer" car.... You feel me?! It really depends on how you present yourself and your car IMO. Keep in mind everything we say is MOSTLY opinion... =)

Haha, no worries... I guess I'm kinda wierd, that way. A while back I got on a kick about learning exactly what laws my car could be in violation of. Incase anyone get's bored here's a good site for a bunch of car modification related laws.

http://www.wsp.wa.gov/traveler/cvd/pasequip.htm

It won't account for ordinaces in specific cities or towns, but you'll get a good general feel.

tandolla 10-20-06 02:14 AM

i got a ticket for not having a front license plate about amonth ago, so i put it on but not that im putting a Front mount on my car i dont know what im going to do. lol

bstrange99 10-20-06 10:42 AM

I agree. I like it much better without, but I've been stopped for it before. It still doesn't look "awesome", but it does look better if you just flip the bracket.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...PICT0125_2.jpg

Upgrayedd 10-20-06 11:32 PM


Originally Posted by bstrange99
but it does look better if you just flip the bracket.

I disagree. Seen id done on an FD and it just looks terrible with a front plate. Not to mention it blocks air flow to the IC

importedboi 10-21-06 01:02 AM

my school cop ask about my front plate but i told him some story then he just said put in the window where it is visible. I drive by one cop almost everyday and nothing has happened so FAR, thank god. Cant speak to soon, and I plan to leave it without a front plate.

fstfwd 10-27-06 10:22 AM

I'd just assume drive my car into a brick wall before I put a front plate on my car.

Boost Lee 10-27-06 05:44 PM

I made a rig that folds up when I'm at speed. Two separate flat pieces of aluminum about 6" long and 3/4" wide. Drilled a hole at each end. Bolted one end of each bar to the stock license plate location. Used keyrings to attach my license plate to the othe end of the bar.

At a stop it hangs perpendicular to the ground. At 15mph, it's flat up against the inside of my bumper ;D.

I was actually pulled over while moving once for no front plate. I acted surprised and asked if he was sure I didn't have a plate. He checked again and then got all confused, because he was sure there wasn't a plate there!! He apologized and let me off. If this had happened during the day and he saw my rigging, I don't know what his response would have been.

Upgrayedd 10-27-06 06:01 PM

Absolutely genius!! But not possible for me cuz the stock mounting spot is gone. Had to cut it away to fit my FMIC =) Also, I'd be afraid to do it cuz it might smack against the paint and create scratches.... Weatherstripping on the back might help a little, but still I'm too anal for that...

Boost Lee 10-27-06 08:36 PM

3 Attachment(s)
CHeck it out!!!


http://tooyoungto.servebeer.com/images/lp.wmv
I'm a boost nut!!! :D

rspunk96 12-20-06 10:53 PM

thats awesome Dr. IfTeR hahaha... , and for the record i havent had a front license plate on my FC or my camaro and only been pulled over twice in the FC for it and i told each officer that id take care of it..., i hate front lic. plates they take away from the car.

95MX6 12-22-06 04:41 PM

The best method I've seen so far is to mount the licence plate to your passenger sun visor. A friend of mine did that on his STI, 4 holes and some zip ties and you're done. It's about as secure as anything else in the car in the event of an accident.

His trick was to leave the visor up but flip it down if he got pulled over.

tandolla 12-22-06 04:52 PM

i got a ticket for it once but now i am not driving with one becuase of my FMIC. .. lol

93silverbullet 12-22-06 09:21 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Front license plates... what are those??? :p:

RedShayla 12-22-06 09:34 PM

My 7 has the plate on the front. I have never been pulled over and I don't want to take the chance!

Shay

SAMIboarder 12-23-06 12:05 AM

1 Attachment(s)
never been talked to about it for over a year....

jkstill 12-23-06 11:24 PM

No Front Plate
 
2 Miata's

3 RX-7's - an 88, a 91 and a 83

Never a front plate, never stopped.

Being 49 years old probably helps. ;)

tandolla 12-24-06 01:07 AM


Being 49 years old probably helps.
yupp.. :)

rspunk96 12-24-06 02:01 AM


Originally Posted by SAMIboarder
never been talked to about it for over a year....

i thought u could get a ticket for cuting the Plate or altering it? or maybe im just an idiot...which is possible lol.

that looks kinda cool tho!

1MZFE 12-29-06 01:53 PM

Here's my daily driver...there is no way to mount it...I've been pulled over once in my life and it was for speed...no WA state cops have cared... I know it's not a 7 but it relates to the topic. :D

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l1.../100_0745b.jpg

scoin11 01-07-07 03:18 AM

the front plate law doesnt make sense. its not like a cop is going to be facing the opposite direction of traffic watching for stolen cars and stuff. it really doesnt seem to have a legitimate reason, other than just another excuse to give you a ticket. also, if a cop is on the side of the road they are gonna see the front and back of your car no matter what. so as long as you got the rear plate on (which looks better than nothing) then they shouldnt ticket you.

JamesBaud 01-07-07 01:33 PM

Except now they have cameras at intersections that snap pictures of the driver and front of the car, including plate.

Matt22 01-07-07 02:59 PM

ya I have got a ticket before becaseu of no plate, also got warned for it a few times, but its a small risk not to have one, and not a big ticket anyways, Later my friend gave me a mounting braket from a Land rover, (not sure where the hell she got it) but it put the plate off to the side more, and I liked it so i actually left it on after that.

Oh and i never got pulled over in my RX2.

Kelly Mason 01-07-07 05:55 PM

I got pulled over for not having it on... But the cop seemed more interested in the 20 cases of Rockstar in my trunk. I didn't get a ticket and he wasn't an ass, but as I was pulling away I noticed there was another cop behind him with his lights on as well.. Maybe they thought I was trafficking drugs in Rockstar cans? Woohoo

k-man 01-09-07 04:29 AM

i dont have a front plate on any of my rotary cars, front plates are tacky

Chixican 01-09-07 11:51 AM

Damn pulled from the dead... Well read this.... You'll notice that the plate has to be under 4' and 'horizontal' but to what it doesn't specify. It also has to be 'attached conspiciously' meaning the numbers and stuff are easy to see. I read up on this before attaching the plate with suction cups to my window. I got pulled over and the cop said that I had to have it on my bumper. I argued with him saying that it only has to be in the front of the car and under 4'. No ticket. I did offer to change it after I made my arguement, but he back peddled and said that I didn't have to change it but I might get pulled over again for the plate.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

RCW 46.16.240
Attachment of plates to vehicles -- Violations enumerated.

The vehicle license number plates shall be attached conspicuously at the front and rear of each vehicle for which the same are issued and in such a manner that they can be plainly seen and read at all times. However, if only one license number plate is legally issued for any vehicle such plate shall be conspicuously attached to the rear of such vehicle. Each vehicle license number plate shall be placed or hung in a horizontal position at a distance of not more than four feet from the ground and shall be kept clean so as to be plainly seen and read at all times. In cases where the body construction of the vehicle is such that compliance with this section is impossible, permission to deviate therefrom may be granted by the state patrol. It shall be unlawful to display upon the front or rear of any vehicle, vehicle license number plate or plates other than those furnished by the director for such vehicle or to display upon any vehicle any vehicle license number plate or plates which have been in any manner changed, altered, disfigured or have become illegible. License plate frames may be used on vehicle license number plates only if the frames do not obscure license tabs or identifying letters or numbers on the plates and the plates can be plainly seen and read at all times. It is unlawful to use any holders, frames, or any materials that in any manner change, alter, or make the vehicle license number plates illegible. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any vehicle unless there shall be displayed thereon valid vehicle license number plates attached as herein provided.

SkqqterRX7 01-17-07 12:43 PM

Tacky or not, my new plates are going on the front and back - just got personalized plates:

MZBHVN1 on my 87 and when I get my 90 on the road it will be MZBHVN2.


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