gross
Why Front Plates Suck
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Years ago, before I ever owned a Cougar, I saw a modified Eclipse that the owner had painted a replica of his front plate on the bumper. It didn't detract from the lines, and from a distance (20-30 yards), it looked real.
West Virginia, as back woods as many of it's government agencies can be about things sometimes, only gives you 1 plate and requires it be put on the back of the car. This is one time that I think that the Federal Government should butt in. I should be able to move from state to state and expect the exact same DMV regulations dealing with vehicle items like where county stickers go, license plates, ect.
I disagree. Every state has their reasons for doing what they do. In Texas, for example, we don't have registration stickers on our plates anymore. We now have a decal that goes inside on the windshield, just above where our state inspection sticker goes (lower corner, driver's side). The reasoning behind it is that it's much more difficult to steal someone's registration sticker if it's inside of a locked car. It really only stops the casual thief. The only issue I ever had with the registration sticker being in the window was within the first few years they did it, and a Wisconsin State Trooper wasn't aware that Texas had done away with the plate stickers.
As for front plates, I've heard that it's so cops can see the plate of an oncoming car, or of a car that's behind them (because very few people will pass a cop). I didn't have a front plate on my Cougar, or on the BMW I had prior to the Cougar. The BMW was purchased used, and the previous owner kept the front plate. The Cougar didn't have the mounting bracket installed (because I took it out of the hatch and left it at home). I was never given any problems by the police whenever I was stopped.
Another goofy thing Texas does is, when you sell a car, the plates stay with the car. I remember that in Wisconsin, the plates stayed with the owner.
As for inspection stickers, different states test for different things in their inspections. If a state doesn't have any emissions issues, they shouldn't be required to test their residents' cars.
For the record, I dislike front plates, and hate that our New Beetle has one.
As for front plates, I've heard that it's so cops can see the plate of an oncoming car, or of a car that's behind them (because very few people will pass a cop). I didn't have a front plate on my Cougar, or on the BMW I had prior to the Cougar. The BMW was purchased used, and the previous owner kept the front plate. The Cougar didn't have the mounting bracket installed (because I took it out of the hatch and left it at home). I was never given any problems by the police whenever I was stopped.
Another goofy thing Texas does is, when you sell a car, the plates stay with the car. I remember that in Wisconsin, the plates stayed with the owner.
As for inspection stickers, different states test for different things in their inspections. If a state doesn't have any emissions issues, they shouldn't be required to test their residents' cars.
For the record, I dislike front plates, and hate that our New Beetle has one.
That is exactly what I was saying ... the inspection stick goes inside on the windshield. WV does the say. The stickers on the plates are used to show expired plates, not expired inspection.Originally posted by: monogodo
I disagree. Every state has their reasons for doing what they do. In Texas, for example, we don't have registration stickers on our plates anymore. We now have a decal that goes inside on the windshield, just above where our state inspection sticker goes (lower corner, driver's side). The reasoning behind it is that it's much more difficult to steal someone's registration sticker if it's inside of a locked car. It really only stops the casual thief. The only issue I ever had with the registration sticker being in the window was within the first few years they did it, and a Wisconsin State Trooper wasn't aware that Texas had done away with the plate stickers.
As for front plates, I've heard that it's so cops can see the plate of an oncoming car, or of a car that's behind them (because very few people will pass a cop). I didn't have a front plate on my Cougar, or on the BMW I had prior to the Cougar. The BMW was purchased used, and the previous owner kept the front plate. The Cougar didn't have the mounting bracket installed (because I took it out of the hatch and left it at home). I was never given any problems by the police whenever I was stopped.
Another goofy thing Texas does is, when you sell a car, the plates stay with the car. I remember that in Wisconsin, the plates stayed with the owner.
As for inspection stickers, different states test for different things in their inspections. If a state doesn't have any emissions issues, they shouldn't be required to test their residents' cars.
For the record, I dislike front plates, and hate that our New Beetle has one.
What brought this up is that upon moving to WV last month I noticed that there is roughly .5 seconds AT MOST between when a light turns red and when the cross traffic light turns green ... this is VERY dangerous! That setting changes from region to region and it should be the same across the nation. How long a light is green or red is open to traffic demand, but the time beteen when one is turns red and the cross traffic turns green shouldn't be open to interpritation.
I hate insp. stickers and I'm glad MD doesn't have them. I hate front plates too. I think it is so cops have something to shoot their damn radar at. 
Front plates just take away from the appearance of a car.
Even though I have a bigger euro one, it goes with the lines of the front bumper a lot more than the more squareshaped US plate.
Front plates just take away from the appearance of a car.
Even though I have a bigger euro one, it goes with the lines of the front bumper a lot more than the more squareshaped US plate.
not just take away from the appearance of the car, they block airflow to the radiator.... that has to affect that pontiac considering how much of the grill it is blocking.
My front plate blocks most of my intercooler so that sux. 1 cop in my city is anal. Front plate or Ticket take your pick
That's what I was thinking. That, and its ugly as [censored].Originally posted by: bensenvill
not just take away from the appearance of the car, they block airflow to the radiator.... that has to affect that pontiac considering how much of the grill it is blocking.
front license plates mounting location on wrx's are right where a FMIC would breath air.....
front plates do suck, though i've never had one.. because i live in pennsylvania.. yay! no front plate for me!
I agree i hate front plates with a passion. I unfortunately live in one of the worst spots for the whole deal.
Being in Gateway, under the clean air act, any car around here has to pass emissions. Plus the state has a safety inspection on all cars. So not only do i get a tag in the windshield saying i passed safety AND another one saying i passed emissions but then i have tags on my plate from the DMV. Oh ya and even the tags are fuggly... so many people were just using tin snips to just cut the corner off the plates and take the tag, the state now tells you to move your tags to the middle of the plate. So i, like most people around here, have my new Year and Month tag in the middle of my plate and my OLD year and month tag on the lower corners... or you have the original default year printed onto the plate...
Its so much fun getting your tags in St Louis. All you have to remember to bring is:
1. Renew Form
2. Insurance Card
3. State Safety Inspection sheet
4. Emissions sheet
5. Property Tax receipt showing that car
6. Drivers license
I love my DMV :banghead:
Being in Gateway, under the clean air act, any car around here has to pass emissions. Plus the state has a safety inspection on all cars. So not only do i get a tag in the windshield saying i passed safety AND another one saying i passed emissions but then i have tags on my plate from the DMV. Oh ya and even the tags are fuggly... so many people were just using tin snips to just cut the corner off the plates and take the tag, the state now tells you to move your tags to the middle of the plate. So i, like most people around here, have my new Year and Month tag in the middle of my plate and my OLD year and month tag on the lower corners... or you have the original default year printed onto the plate...
Its so much fun getting your tags in St Louis. All you have to remember to bring is:
1. Renew Form
2. Insurance Card
3. State Safety Inspection sheet
4. Emissions sheet
5. Property Tax receipt showing that car
6. Drivers license
I love my DMV :banghead:
front plate increase air resistance
CA state law requires a front license plate to be mounted centrally on the front of the vehicle, and a rear license plate to be mounted either in the center or off to one side of the rear.
CA state law also requires the plates (unless personalized, in which case you can keep them) to remain with the car unless you want to process paperwork to transfer them to a new car. The license plate identifies the vehicle. The vehicle record identifies the owner.
CA state law says that a vehicle must have its emissions system inspected (if required) in order to get updated registration tags. Registration tags go on the plate to determine if registration for the vehicle being on the road has been paid, and as a testament as to whether or not it's been inspected for smog/emissions purposes.
CA cops won't pull over a Corvette with no front license plate, or a Viper, or any other nice expensive car (They generally don't care), but if they see me in the Cougar they will use it as a reason to pull me over and then ticket me.
CA cops can also kiss my ass. The first 3 tickets were $10 fix-it, or $25 fine. The 4th one was $100. I keep paying them because I refuse to put it on. :tongue:
CA state law also requires the plates (unless personalized, in which case you can keep them) to remain with the car unless you want to process paperwork to transfer them to a new car. The license plate identifies the vehicle. The vehicle record identifies the owner.
CA state law says that a vehicle must have its emissions system inspected (if required) in order to get updated registration tags. Registration tags go on the plate to determine if registration for the vehicle being on the road has been paid, and as a testament as to whether or not it's been inspected for smog/emissions purposes.
CA cops won't pull over a Corvette with no front license plate, or a Viper, or any other nice expensive car (They generally don't care), but if they see me in the Cougar they will use it as a reason to pull me over and then ticket me.
CA cops can also kiss my ass. The first 3 tickets were $10 fix-it, or $25 fine. The 4th one was $100. I keep paying them because I refuse to put it on. :tongue:
Oh I am too brother, but in a different way.
why not get a motorized fold down plate for the front. a cop pulls u over, as he walks over you lower it down with the push of a button. "sir you dont have a front license plate" "im sorry officer but i do, you can check if you want" and its there and he lets you go.
or couldnt you just have it sit inside your window? say that someone hit you in the parking lot and it broke the mount so you need to go buy a new one
or couldnt you just have it sit inside your window? say that someone hit you in the parking lot and it broke the mount so you need to go buy a new one
I can't recall what type of car it was, but I remember someone talking about making a hinged license plate. When driving it would hang down when the car was stopped, but then it would rotate back as the car picked up speed.
:wave: I got a nice fat $110 ticket, no warning... for having the front plate in the car instead of on the bumper...
but this was also the same cop that gave me a $110 ticket, no warning... for having a licence plate frame.
but this was also the same cop that gave me a $110 ticket, no warning... for having a licence plate frame.
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