U.S. License Plate

[TheDudesSAAB]

Has anyone come up with a better location for the front license plate (US style) so it does not block 1/2 of the lower grill? I'm thinking just taking it off would be best... until I get pulled over.

[K-900]

I trimmed mine down ever so slightly:

[TheDudesSAAB]

I was thinking that if I removed the plastic backing like yours, then wrapped the plates bottom in and around the surface of the bumper it might work better. Stupid laws getting in the way of my cold air!

[9-3Pilot]

Just move to West Virginia, no front license plate!

[soccerrplyr]

can you take it off and put it in your front windshield corner?

[busaboy]

not legally

[earthworm]

I'd love to see both plates removed and replaced by a much more useful microchip. And this may happen - 50 years down the road.
Find out exactly how the front plate law reads, you may be able to fold the plate a little.
Isn't that something, West Virginia is more progressive, or its less repressive, that the Old Dominion State..hope I am right..
I'd also love to see traffic law enforcers(TLE) trained to go by the spirit of the law, rather than the letter..

[busaboy]

§ 46.2-716. How license plates fastened to vehicle; altering appearance of license plates.
A. Every license plate shall be securely fastened to the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer to which it is assigned:
1. So as to prevent the plate from swinging,
2. In a position to be clearly visible, and
3. In a condition to be clearly legible.
B. No colored glass, colored plastic, bracket, holder, mounting, frame, or any other type of covering shall be placed, mounted, or installed on, around, or over any license plate if such glass, plastic, bracket, holder, mounting, frame, or other type of covering in any way alters or obscures (i) the alpha-numeric information, (ii) the color of the license plate, (iii) the name or abbreviated name of the state wherein the vehicle is registered, or (iv) any character or characters, decal, stamp, or other device indicating the month or year in which the vehicle's registration expires. No insignia, emblems, or trailer hitches or couplings shall be mounted in such a way as to hide or obscure any portion of the license plate or render any portion of the license plate illegible.
C. The Superintendent may make such regulations as he may deem advisable to enforce the proper mounting and securing of the license plate on the vehicle.
(Code 1950, § 46-102; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-107; 1960, c. 119; 1986, c. 186; 1989, c. 727; 2000, c. 258; 2001, c. 19; 2006, c. 549.)

[busaboy]

oops - forgot the part about requiring two plates...

§ 46.2-715. Display of license plates.
License plates assigned to a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, tractor truck, trailer, or semitrailer, or to persons licensed as motor vehicle dealers or transporters of unladen vehicles, shall be attached to the front and the rear of the vehicle. The license plate assigned to a motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle. The license plate assigned to a tractor truck shall be attached to the front of the vehicle. The license plates issued to licensed motor vehicle dealers and to persons licensed as transporters of unladen vehicles shall consist of one plate for each set issued and shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle to which it is assigned.
(Code 1950, § 46-101; 1954, c. 210; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-106; 1972, c. 609; 1974, c. 150; 1989, c. 727.)

[blindsided]

Got a ticket for no front license plate last week, $150.00.... ouch :-/

[TheTalladegaKid]

That's ok... I was pulled over for having a swede plate on and my Maine plate on my dash/windsheild area. The cop goes... "Sir... I'm pretty sure it's illegal to have a car registered in two different countries." He goes back to his car for what seemed to be forever. The comes up to my window and gives me a ticket for 160 or so and tells me he couldn't find anything on having a european plate but I did fail to display my Maine plate properly so I'm giving you a ticket anyway.

Can anyone say contest? lmao I should post a officer bashing/pull over story thread.

[busaboy]

say that he beat you!

[Cm452]

Flip it, I did it to mine! It looks kinda weird, but it is better than tacking it to the side of the bumper. By flipping it I mean taking the mounting bracket off and bolting the bottom of it to the top of the license mount on the bumper. It sticks up instead of hanging down, and as a result I have gotten much better IC temperatures.
-Cm

[tucksayre]

I think moving to a state w/o a front plate is much nicer... like PA.

[Satinsax]

I also shifted my plate up on the mounting bracket. Wondering if anyone did an airflow test whether shifting it up even more (blocking more of grill and radiator) creates more efficient airflow for IC and doesn't reduce engine cooling.

[PeteM]

the best location for those ugly front lp's is in the trunk, mine has been there since April of 08 and so far soo good(knock on wood)

[TheDudesSAAB]

Originally Posted by Satinsax

I also shifted my plate up on the mounting bracket.

That was my solution. I move the plastic plate holder up so that the lower set of bolts screwed into the upper holes of the bumper. Moved it up about 2.5 inches and is now centered on the bumper. It works pretty good. I may not be able to feel the difference, but I know it's there somewhere!!

[redrum]

I used to be very anti-front plate on any of my summer/track cars. Now that I've grown older, I just don't feel like the hassle of a ticket or moment of stress when you see a cop coming towards you and waiting for the brakelights/turnaround in the rearview mirror to come after you for the lack of a plate.