Tips for NOT having a front license plate???
 

I see soooo many front end pics on here of Z's WITHOUT front license plates. Am I one of the few people that lives somewhere where it's required by law to have a front license plate (BC, Canada)...or does someone have a secret for avoiding fines? I've had my '11 Nismo for half a year now and have only got warnings from the fuzz, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time before someone makes me slap a stupid plate over that sleek front nose! Any tips?

Wear a short skirt, low cut top, and wink a lot, if/when you get pulled over again.

Can you put the plate in the front window?

Ha! Yeah, I'd be going straight to the slammer if "I" tried pulling that off. I COULD try putting the plate in the front window. Doesn't look TOO bad with a nice black plate cover and a couple suction hooks to hold it against the front window, but I can't tell which looks worse - mounting it in the front window or drilling holes in my fender :(

First, did you actually use the term "the fuzz"? :icon17: Nice. I like it.

Seriously, I do not have a front plate on any of my Z's and never have. I have no strategy other than I will deal with it if I ever get nabbed by The Man, The Heat, The Coppers, etc.

I know this probably does not help and I also know that by even writing this I am tempting fate.

don't speed or otherwise make your car stand out a lot, so they won't stare at your car and notice the lack of a front plate?

Nissan - GoMiniGo-Home of Innovative Products for your car

if you get pulled over you can try saying, "yea, my car never came with one, but i ordered it from the dealership, should be here soon officer, i swear". and if you do get a ticket, buy the tow hook mount, get it written off and remove it again!

It's nice just to know I'm not missing out on some secret way of avoiding fines. The last thing I want to do is drill holes in the front fender. I find road blocks are the only places where they razz me about it because they're looking for stuff...and because they see me coming from the front end. I've just been telling them I have an appointment to get it mounted etc, and I show them the plate/frame for getting it mounted, but that's only going to work for so long. I'll just keep BS'ing until I actually get a ticket. My last warning was for a ticket over $300.00 though... :P

Don't forget: The Five-O', The Bacon, The Donut Munchers, and my favorite... Captain America (this is any cop that actually believes the missing license plate violation is worth bringing up). My brother is a police officer and he claims that no self respecting lawman gives tickets for this kind of stuff, only the wannabes.

I do not run one, but I agree that it is likely only a matter of time.

Thanks for the laughs. :tup: :icon17:

Fingers crossed!

I just caught on to what you were saying with the tow hook mount. Good idea! I never knew those existed. Where can you get one of those? Through the Nissan dealership?

I'll remind everyone to stay on topic and KEEP the Negative Comments about Police Officers Out!!

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Sorry if I stepped over the line, Triple's. I don't think I did.

It's a reminder only so folks won't cross it, And if they do? They won't wonder why their banned :icon17:

Gotcha. :tiphat:

I could only speak for myself. Mine is a DD, And I pretty much don't stay out late night or venture into parts of LA that are patrolled by Police officers just looking for a reason to pull you over. :(

I've been without a plate going on 3 years now :D

We seriously need to stop discussing this topic. This is how you tempt fate and then next thing you know, we are going to get tapped for the no front plate thing.

In CA it's all about revenue -- no front plate, no redlight cam, etc.

Okay, I just noticed that you already attached the link for the place to buy a tow hook mount. I just went online and ordered one. About $100.00, but well worth it for piece of mind. Thanks again for the great feedback! I love this site for oddball advice!

I had heard that if your car didn't come from the factory with pre-drilled holes then the law was they could not force you to mount one. Our Z's have dimples where the holes should be but are not pre-drilled. Again, this is what I thought the law was. I mean a car like the corvette doesn't even have a place to mount a plate.

mr.gale- you speak from experience? :icon17:


for me, i just use the front plate. :D

I don't rock one and deal with the $25 fix it ticket if I get one, I also drive with my windows down to keep the police away(tint). They don't really notice here in CA until they get to the front of the car to head our plate, then they ask and usually hand you a ticket... oh and I'm getting ready to tint my windshield at about 65%, should add a whole new layer of fun

Not sure if I will use 3M crystalline or 3m regular tint...

I am also as polite as polite can be even when I'm proving them wrong eventually to be let go with no ticket...

I've only had one piggy pull me over for it, I stated that when I bought it (used) it had only one plate on the vehicle so I assumed that was legal. He wrote me a warning telling me to get a front plate. I inquired if I could just stick it at the front window, his answer was no due to being a decapitation hazard. He also told me that it's on my record that I've been given a warning for no front plate, can they actually do that or is he just BS'ing me? Regardless, I'll just pay the fine if I ever get ticketed for it. My car looks natural without it and I refuse to ruin my car.

I'm far too hairy to consider pulling that off... But who knows, maybe that could work in my favor. :inoutroflpuke:

I've been ticketed for it 3 times now. I just pay the fine and go on with my life. The hassle of getting it fixed and then getting a cop to sign off on it cost more time than the amount of the fine is worth.

In Germany ALL drivers have 2 plates and thats the standard in the EU. I dont mind, its the law, im not above it and for the priviledge of doing 100+mph EVERYDAY, its worth it :) I dont think its killing the looks of the car overall. Im sure others will differ of course.

Frankly I dont see what the big deal is about doing what is required. Ive lived in LA and Im from Westlake Village. My cars had 2. I have better things to do than be lectured by the Police on something Im required to have in the first place. It makes beating another ticket for speeding easier if you already dont have an infraction waiting to begin with eh? ;)

Not true ... California requires all cars to have front plates. But, so far they are not enforcing it unless you do something that gives them a reason to pull you over. Then if your cool the only thing they will give you is a missing front plate ticket and a warning for whatever you did. It just gives them a reason to pull you over.

I've been pulled over way too many times for no front plate. Therefore, I run front plates:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y25...IMG_3335-1.jpg

BTW- Corvette does have a mounting location under the cover that reads corvette for a license plate. I mount a plate under the cover and only put the cover on for pictures or events. So far I haven't been pulled over during corvette events. I mean almost no one runs plates on the front of a Corvette.

For all of you who live in Washington State, SIGN THIS! PREESE! It's a petition to remove the requirement of the front license plate.

Removal of the Washington State Front License Plate Requirement Petition

Just found this, literally!
Altec Retractable License Plate Holder - 400EU

Not one to argue but you are refering to the C5 corvette. They have a cover in the front the reads "corvette" that when removed allows for a plate. The newer C6 corvette on the other hand does not have this, nor does it have a place for a front plate. The only way to mount a plate is to drill into the bumper. I've only seen a couple C6 vettes with plates and they had a similar front plate mount as on your Z. The Vette isn't the only car like this. So really, CA police are going to make you change the factory bumper to mount a plate?

Just looked up Nevada state law and it's as I mentioned previously. If a car didn't come with mounting from the factory then it is not required. So I was right, just that apparently it's only for Nevada. I'd just like to see what a CA cop would say when you show him there is no mount for it from the factory.

I mean maybe I'm remembering wrong. When I had a C6 vette it didn't have a front plate and I never saw a place to mount it. Just now I pulled up pics of the C6 (don't have mine anymore) and didn't see anywhere a plate could go.

:icon18:

trick plate :stirthepot:

I am in Texas where it is required, I straight told the dealership not to drill into the front bumper. I got the License plate inside my car if i get pulled imma slap it in the front windshield.

I know in Cali that won't fly

It needs to be a fixed period

Just buy one of the alternate front plate mounting systems that don't drill into the bumper, its really a no brainer for states that require a front plate.

Getting pulled over by the cops is a hassle, bigger than a cheap fix it fine and most states will often add on surcharges that can easily make it a $60 ticket and often the cops will try and find something else to give you a ticket for, or even tailing you to see what else they can nail you for. All this attention drawn to you because of no front plate.

I ran for about 3 yrs. on my corvettes with no front plate in NYS with out getting pulled over, most local PD and sherriffs didn't really care, it was the state troopers that would pull you over all the time. Mom moved out to the counrtry side = more thruways and state cops = $60 ticket = on went the front plate.

Seems like no more front plate in Texas for now. Driving to work I don't see it at all on Civic Coupe, Mustang, Charger, Challenger, Camaro BMW, Benz, Lexus, 350z, 370z, G35 coupe, G37 coupe, Escalade, and Corvette. I'm in DFW area and no one seems to care.

Texas Lawmakers Accidentally Omit 2 License Plate Law

:ugh2:

well i'm at a loss about what to do. i was pulled over yesterday for the second time within the last year. hell i didn't even know it was the same highway patrol guy..

he ran my record and comes back with a xhit eating grin on his face and says
sir we've met before. i gave him a dumb look and ask where. he says last summer pulled you over for the same thing...... i'm thinking i'm screwed.
well he gave me a warning again but he says never again. bad thing about it i
live in a small town and the DPS headquarters is right around the corner from i live....... and as you all know a 370z sticks out like a sore thumb.. looks like i'm stuck.. now i need to figure where i left my bracket and front plate!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If he gives you a ticket, how are you going to be fined? Current law states that no punishment is imposed. :ugh2:

So are you saying in Texas. there is no fine for driving without a front
plate. They just issue warning tickets?

Oh, right.... I was thinking C4, C5.... For C6 a lot of guys use the hide a plate. Yeah, C6 would look weird with a plate... I'd use the hide a plate or one of the many quick release ones on the market. Be happy your in Nevada. I'm sure your right about the law in that state. CA requires you to have a front plate. However, your chance in getting a ticket for that alone is really rare. I drove many cars without front plates over my 36 years of driving and only got one not front plate ticket in the 90's over in the SF Bay Area driving my '73 Camaro. I took off pretty quick and a motorcycle cop pulled me over. Gave me the ticket and told me to slow down a bit. He was actually pretty cool considering I spun the tires just a bit trying to get a good hole shot to get over a lane or two. Doh ....

Cool - I found an old picture of the Camaro. See no front plate. I couldn't even imagine putting one on the front of that car:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y25...C/DSC00981.jpg

Man, do I miss that car. However I do like it's replacement:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y25...d/DSC04479.jpg

Back to Z front plates ... I've had the type that screwed into the front tow hook point. Just make sure you use Locktite on the small screw that holds the plate to the larger solid post that attaches it. Mine got loose one day and it was just holdin on by a couple of turns by the time I noticed it. The plate holder was distroyed in my 350Z accident.

Here's what one of those look like on the front of a 350Z:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y25...hsideducts.jpg

Just do as I did and install it with cable ties. That way you don't have to drill holes in your bumper or facia. It will actually channel more air to your radiator instead of blocking the flow. It also gives you a little more downforce. See post #26 above for a view of what it looks like.