Are non DMV plates illegal on the front of a car?

theBMWenthusiast

theBMWenthusiast

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I was told a couple of days by a friend that he got pulled over by a cop one day and that he got a warning for not having licence plates on the front of his car, like the exact copies that you have on the back htat gives your licence number...so is it illegal to have none DMV issued licence plates on the front of your car??? is that illegal because I have hte BMW roundel's that u can get from BMW on the front of my car.

i live in cali so if anyone knows the traffic laws here please let me know...thanks!
 
carcus

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In a few states there is a front plate law where it is mandatory or you get a ticket. Been there done that. From what I heard it is something to do being able to get a licence plate number from a vehicle is easier if there is a plate on the front and not just the back, guess taking plate numbers for armed robbery, what my cop friend told me anyway. The last state I was stationed in had a 2 plate law, out here there is only one plate issued for the rear and that is it, they could care what is on the front. Most cops will not pull you over for something like that, but guess depends on the timing and situation, if they pull you over for something else, will probably tell you about the front plate as well and give a fix it ticket. Some people put the plate in the front window, ugly as hell. Just my experience with the plate issue. Cali is a 2 plate state. You can also get nailed for tinted licence plate covers, in Idaho, got a $65 dollar ticket for a smoke rear licence plate cover, no fix it ticket from the trooper there, really bent him out of shape, got pulled over just for that....in a way, guess I understand from their point of view...most of the time anyway.
 
coyotefreek

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Well the short answer is yes.

In California you must have your DMV issued licence plate on both the front and back, no exceptions. There can not be any covers in front of it, no stickers, no modifications what so ever. Wheather or not they will pull you over for it is another question.

I have a friend who gets pulled over all the time for his flame tinted windows and he dosent have a front licence plate and they have never complained. Many cops will walk aroudn the car and see how many things they can get you on, not once have they complained about it.

I have clear covers on another car and never has any cop complained (yes even clear covers are illegal).
 
codex57

codex57

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CA does require both DMV issued plates. Whether a cop cites you for it depends on his mood or the priority of his department. If you're in LA or SF or any other city where they're ramping up the red light camera systems, those cops will be looking for it. Even the meter maids are allowed to cite you for it and leave you a ticket. It's like a $100 ticket too. Not a fix it ticket either so check the municipality you're in.
 
B

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To add to what has been said in all states I know putting a plate not assigned to that car is called "Ficticious Display" and against the law. I would not do it.
 
Ghost

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Illinois is a two-plate state. I got nailed for it when my car was parked.
[offtopic]The one that really pissed me off was the front window tint. Yes it is illegal, but IMO CPD can find something more criminal than a BMW that was PARKED in front of a house in a fine neighborhood at nine o’clock at NIGHT!
 
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ODDferkOUT

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I put my plate on the inside on top of the dash. They seem to be ok with that over here. But it's Southern California... Orange County more specifically and my area I'd say more than half drive without one or have one of those plates with the emblem on front. So it seems to be ok.

But since I got my Euro plate my sister-in-law tells me to keep my original plate on the dash, she works for the D.A. so I trust her judgement.

Haha...
 
codex57

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Technically, for California, if it's under 60 inches and above (I forget), then it's good. So, a front plate on your dash in a typical car would qualify. Course, only nice cops care about that technicality and won't cite you. Most will give you the ticket anyways and force you to pay the $10 fee or waste a day in trial.
 
codex57

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yeah, it's illegal. So, any picky cop will nail you. Cops in Berkeley and Oakland prolly won't (they got more important things to worry about), but if you come back to Cypress, the cops in that area don't have much to do and will likely bother you about it.
 
ODDferkOUT

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codex57 said:
yeah, it's illegal. So, any picky cop will nail you. Cops in Berkeley and Oakland prolly won't (they got more important things to worry about), but if you come back to Cypress, the cops in that area don't have much to do and will likely bother you about it.
Click to expand...
Really... ?

I live in Buena Park and almost half the cars I see around here don't have the front plates...[???1]
 
codex57

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They like to bother kids more than adults driving Benzes or BMWs. The ricers get picked on more. The less crime there is in the area, the more likely the cops will pick on stuff like front license plates. Come to Cerritos in a rice rocket with no plate and you'll probably get stopped. You gotta look the part too. My friend passed down his rice rocket to his brother. Neither of them ever get in trouble cuz they look... well, really dorky. I always got hassled cuz I looked more the part I guess.
 
skandalous

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Big Daddy said:
To add to what has been said in all states I know putting a plate not assigned to that car is called "Ficticious Display" and against the law. I would not do it.
Click to expand...
I've seen some cars (BMWs, Mercs, etc) with those European tags on the front of them and regular plates on the back. Is that illegal as well?
 
B

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If the Euro plates are registered to the vehicle they are ok. If they are not then they are ficticious and illegal. When my brother came home from Germany with his car he bought in Germany he ran the Euro plates (they were assigned to the car in Germany) until he registered the car in his home state here. After that time he removed the Euro plates when he got a polite warning from a State Trooper.
 
BavarianWheels

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I don't have a plate on the front of my car, but what I did do is I asked my service consultant to give me one of the "new car" stickers to put in the front corner of the windshield...I've been driving around So. Cal. for about three years with it...and I haven't been stopped yet. (on the white 528e)

Call it luck??
.
.
 
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