2002 BMW M3's First Ticket

Try a magnetic license plate holder:
 
http://www.guard81.com/products.asp?Type=License+Plate+Holders&Display_Type=detail

I don't want the front plate on my IS either when I moved to California but if the law says so then I am doing it.

Tape is a nice idea, but it's not just the holes in the bumper that bother me, it's the way a front plate ruins the looks of a cool car like this one.
 
Sounds like a cop with nothing better to do that afternoon, like, you know, fighting crime, perhaps?

"Sounds like a cop with nothing better to do that afternoon, like, you know, fighting crime, perhaps?"
 
It seems that in Los Angeles, 83.4% of all law enforcement officers fit this category.

I hate that rule. why do we need 2 plates anyways?

If you don't get a plate, the tickets will keep on coming. It gives the cops an excuse to pull you over. Plus you will get ticketed parked, the parking/meter maids look for that, and having the plate sitting on your dash makes no difference. People on my street have been given tickets doing that anyway.
Here's a wacky idea. It's the law.

Photo radar, electronic toll booths, chicken-schmidt parking tickets, chicken-schmidt moving violations...

You missed red light cameras. Which I approve seeing how many people I see running red lights all the time.

Front plates serve the purpose of providing a reflective surface for cops to send radar signals against. Without a front plate, some vehicles have a very low Radar Cross Section (RCS). If you've ever noticed, plates are highly metallic, even when painted.
 
I feel you guys. I don't put front plates on my car, either, despite the requirement in Montana. I hope never to get stationed back in CA.

Hmmm..instead of putting a plate whenever you park, why not just put it on and leave it there? Do you really think everytime you park you're going to want to fix the plate to the front?
 
I can understand the point of front plates ruining the look of certain cars, but if the law requires it you better put up. It makes more sense to add/remove the plates when you're doing photo shoot than each time you park.

I was about to say "if you've got one on the 308, what's the big deal", but guess what, you don't! Do you guys put front plates on any of your test cars? Sounds like a good reward in the making, tip off the cops to raid your parking lot ;-)

"You missed red light cameras. Which I approve seeing how many people I see running red lights all the time."
 
Yep, back when I got my fix-it ticket the officer was actually somewhat apologetic about writing me up for it but they " were being pressured to write them up since people were running through the red light camera intersections and not being caught because of it ".
Just another case of the many paying for the idiotic few's crimes.
 
Personally I think they just need to mount a rocket launcher on those rather than a camera. A few cars exploding after going through a red light would stop most other people from doing it :)
Although if the chance of smashing into another car and killing someone doesn't stop them from doing it maybe not...

I don't know why so many people hate the front plate requirement. Many countries require front plate. It makes it easier for the law enforcement to do their job (ie, look for stolen cars, wanted criminals,

"I don't know why so many people hate the front plate requirement."
 
Have you looked at a car with and without the front plate? It's pretty obvious why they're hated.

I hated having a front license plate in a state where it wasnt required. I do miss CA but not that much! lol. I love PA now. Of course, now, I must put something in the front since it looks ugly and makes noise if nothing is there. :(

hate to bust the "front plate needed for redlight camera" but I don't think they need a front plate for that...
 
Look at AZ and all the red light cameras there and the ones on the 101. AZ doesn't have a front plate law and they seem to be able to catch people doing 140 MPH multiple times with out a front plate.
 
I don't like front plates, never have, never will. I will concede that there is a use to them in certain situations, but when the red light excuse is used I bristle a little because I know it's possible to do that without the front plate.

What I did on my SRT-4 was put the license plate behind the bumper, so you could see the plate number through the cross hair grille, and since I didn't have a big fmic, it didn't block any airflow, either.
 
I got pulled over because the cop couldn't read "Texas" at the top, but he was cool about it and didn't write me a ticket or anything, just told me to go to the dealership and get the bracket put on. Made me long to be living back in Florida.

Living in California, why don't you just lobby that front license plates reduce fuel economy, pose an increase risk of injury to pedestrians, and may cause cancer. They will be gone tomorrow!
 
"No front plates = the next hot trend... tonight only on ET."

My front plate is held to the front bumper with 1 piece of black velcro. I adhere the thing when I go to the airport and when I park the car. I know it's cheesy but it beats drilling holes, and the policeman did not bat an eye when I had the ticket signed off.

I actually like having a front license plate. :o)
 
I think Subaru Imprezas look fine with or without a front plate. Here are a couple of examples with front plates. :o)

"Scott Oldham doesn't want to mar the car's beautiful front end."
 
Do you also not wear a helmet when you ride a motorcycle because it doesn't look cool? Do you also not update your plate registration sticker because the color clashes with your paint job? Do you not strap on your seatbelt because it could wrinkle your clothes? Pride (vanity) is one of the seven deadly sins. You consciously ignore the law, even though you're aware of what the law is. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that you're going to keep getting citations. If I were you, Caroline, I'd put on the front plate myself to make it legal, or not drive the car.

Holier than thou attitude won't get you far.
 
Many people bend/break the law. Do you go faster than the posted speed "limit"? Naughty naughty. People not wearing seat belts are just as malicious as a gun wielding robber. How arrogant of you not to have your headlights on an hour before dark. God will strike you down because you forgot to turn on your blinker when you went around that corner!

Give it a rest altimadude00, greenpony has a good point.
 
All these people whining that the rules don't apply to them because it might reduce the appearance of their front bumper? Good grief people, think about what you're making an issue of here.
 
If your area requires a front plate, then put one on and grow up a bit.

Firstwagon--Give it a rest? Caroline posted this today. Am I not allowed to give my opinion about what the editors say or to what the readers, like you and I say?
 
Maybe I should make my points clearer rather than wrapping them in sarcasm?
 
Caroline--I agree that front license plates can uglify a car's styling. Does this give you a reason to break the law. No. However, it's the owner's choice to follow the law or not.
 
Firstwagon-- Here is MY point.
 
As I was trying to exemplify in my previous post, all of those things are things you need to do by law, but it is up to the owner/operator of the vehicle to obey them. Should you do them? Yes. Do we always do them? No.
 
Maybe I should find a police officer and turn myself in because I was talking on my cell phone while driving. Oops, there goes that sarcasm again.
 
Now, I've said my piece. Rest in peace dearest blog entry.

Fair enough.
 
Can you tell I'm bored tonight? Sitting around the computer endlessly commenting on meaningless stuff. I guess I could watch High School Musical for the 5th time with my kids or do the dishes but I don't feel like it.
 
I hate winter nights.

Altimadude, I definitely understand where you're coming from. I hate having a front license plate, so my solution? Get a vanity plate so I'm actually happy to have one. Do I like driving 65 in a 65 zone? No. So I drive 68, so that it's still within the legal limit. I may not agree with the line of the law, but so that I don't have to keep my eyes shifty all the time while driving, I bite the bullet and follow the law.

"I hate winter nights."
 
Me too. Last night it was 85 degrees warmer in my house than outside. And I STILL had to wear a jacket indoors.

"Do you also not wear a helmet when you ride a motorcycle because it doesn't look cool? Do you also not update your plate registration sticker because the color clashes with your paint job? Do you not strap on your seatbelt because it could wrinkle your clothes? Pride (vanity) is one of the seven deadly sins. You consciously ignore the law, even though you're aware of what the law is. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that you're going to keep getting citations. If I were you, Caroline, I'd put on the front plate myself to make it legal, or not drive the car."
 
There is a big difference between safety precautions (wearing helmets and seatbelts) and putting a license plate on the front of the car. It serves no safety or enforcement purposes. Look, plenty of states get by just fine without requiring front plates. And yes, many cars look fine with them, but many cars look awful with that front plate on (prime example: Solstice/Sky). Basically the front plate law exists because we have a government addicted to controlling citizens lives as much as possible. Its easy to get this rule overturned though. All the car enthusiasts just need to chip in a couple bucks. Use the money to pay Al Gore to fly out here (burning tons of jet fuel on the way) and tell the state government that front license plates contribute to global warming for some such reason. Then the state will sue the Federal government to prohibit the use of front license plates nationwide. Problem solved.

LA meter maids love to hand out that worthless revenue generator ticket. I always must remember to bring a plate for the front of my cars when I go to LA. Or park with my nose facing something really, really close.
 
FWIW, I've had about 5 or 6 of those tickets in LA over the past 7 years. Not a single one in San Diego.

My car is registered in a state that doesn't issue front plates. If I drive my car in Califormia, will I get a ticket?

Stephen, no you won't.

FYI, it's not my car.

Putting a license plate inside the car (on your dash) is also illegal. Front license plate has to be mounted in a certain height and position.
 
And if you do, don't forget to secure it while driving. You wouldn't want something like a license plate inside with you just in case you run into an accident.

*sighs*
 
If you do not obey the law, you run the risk of getting punished for it. Simple as that. This blog post was a prime example of the consequences of such actions.
 
I'm just wondering who pays the ticket. The driver, or the owner of the car?

IMO, putting the license plate at the windshield is 10 times uglier