Front license plates - do we really need 'em?

[SFSV650]

As well as the ones that don't have the full year number. Instead of 2020 there is a little round picture of a state (?) seal followed by last two digits. I don't know where those come from but they don't look legit.

They sent me one of those stickers for our leased EV. IDK if it's an easy way to tell what's a SULEV / carpool vehicle, or if it's just something they put on brand new or leased vehicles?

 

[Randy B]

They sent me one of those stickers for our leased EV. IDK if it's an easy way to tell what's a SULEV / carpool vehicle, or if it's just something they put on brand new or leased vehicles?

I think that sticker might also have the plate number on it in place of a serial number.

 

[Johndicezx9]

Didn't even cost her an arm or a leg....

 

[Killroy1999]

My car came used from a state with no license plate, so since 2007 I have been riding dirty with no plate up front. No issues.

I have the plate handy if I need to tell the cop a story like the bracket came off.

To add, I got pulled over twice with this car with no front plate. First time I was pulled over for speeding and I got a warning. The second time I got a speeding ticket. No fix-it ticket either time.

 

[madsen203]

I'm in the camp that it's ugly, annoying, but worth having. It's easy for one plate to be blocked but having a second there for an identifier is important for things like toll, hit/runs, bumpers left on the roadway, etc. As much as I dislike it and would be happy to not have one, I'm in the camp it does more good than bad and therefore worth having.

 

[thedub]

Cops don't pull over for front plate violations. It's an add on ticket only.

I’ve been pulled over for a missing plate.

They don't?

I do a lot of field training. New cops in training do it a lot, because they often have a hard time finding other violations, and that one's easy. Plenty of arrests are made resulting from simple no front plate stops.

Absolutely incorrect. There you go again spewing opinion as fact.

I've been pulled over for no front plate. Once by Oregon State Police, once by CHP.

 

[Bay Arean]

They sent me one of those stickers for our leased EV. IDK if it's an easy way to tell what's a SULEV / carpool vehicle, or if it's just something they put on brand new or leased vehicles?

I dunno. I kept meaning to go on LEO forum and ask but figured it had probably been covered over the years. I kept thinking maybe they were generated in a AAA office as part of their DMV service or something...

Now that you say leased, well, that's an interesting possibility....

 

[asdfghwy]

Cops don't pull over for front plate violations. It's an add on ticket only.

I've been pulled over for it in san jose

 

[Holeshot]

I’ve been pulled over for a missing plate.

Me too. On my DLR. It took a few minutes to explain I didn't have a front plate to run; there's only one DLR. IIRC, he called another office on his phone and confirmed. Other than that, never been pulled over and never run a front plate on anything, ever.

 

[Archimedes]

They don't?

I do a lot of field training. New cops in training do it a lot, because they often have a hard time finding other violations, and that one's easy. Plenty of arrests are made resulting from simple no front plate stops.

Then multiples cops that I've actually asked this question to have been lying to me.

I've never run a front plate, never will, and have never received a ticket. I've taken the chance many times to ask cops about it and to a man/(1 woman) they all said that they won't make a traffic stop just for a missing front plate. Rear plate another story, but front plate, no. Maybe I've just been lucky...

I actually got pulled over a number of years back by a moto cop after turning left on a red light (car coming the other way hung me out to dry in the intersection). Cop walked to the front of the car, saw no plate, looked at me and shook his head. No ticket. Got a warning for the red light though.

Actually, the last ticket I got, doing 100+ on 680 early one Saturday morning, the CHP officer also mentioned the lack of front plate on that car but didn't ticket me. He did write me for speeding though, 1 mph below the threshold that would have negated defensive driving, I think because the road was empty and I was in the left lane.

 

[NorCalAthlete]

I've literally watched SF cops on foot pulling people out of traffic and citing them for front plate violations. My brother's gotten 2-3 tickets for it, and at least one was while his car was parked he came back to it on his windshield.

 

[gixxerjeff]

Then multiples cops that I've actually asked this question to have been lying to me.

That must be the case.
I forgot, it's your world. The rest of us are just living in it.

 

[Holeshot]

That must be the case.
I forgot, it's your world. The rest of us are just living in it.

Yeah, but way better than Bobby's world. That fuckin' voice!!!!

 

[Enchanter]

I've taken the chance many times to ask cops about it and to a man/(1 woman) they all said that they won't make a traffic stop just for a missing front plate.

They gave you their honest opinion, they did not tell you that was the law.

He did write me for speeding though, 1 mph below the threshold that would have negated defensive driving, I think because the road was empty and I was in the left lane.

He exercised his discretion. You think you know why, but there is no way for you to actually know for sure.

[Cool story bro]About 18mo ago I was caught speeding and cited for it. As soon as I saw Ponch put away his lidar, I executed a maximum braking stop and pulled over onto the shoulder in front of him. He had to ride maybe 30ft to get to me.

I put my hands up in a location for him to easily see them as he approached. When he asked for my license, registration, and insurance, I told him where they were (no glove box in my car) and asked him if I could reach for them.

After I signed the ticket and handed back his cite book, I told him that I appreciated him being pleasant and professional throughout the event. He said 'thanks' and walked back to his bike.

That ticket never showed up in the system. I'm clear and valid.

I could say that I didn't get a ticket because I was nice to him, or maybe it was because I pulled over so quickly, or maybe it was my hands, or the color of my car, or the cutie sitting in the passenger seat. The fact of the matter is I will never know the truth.

I'm just happy / lucky the cite never showed up.[/Cool story bro]

 

[Holeshot]

Good story Tim! How fast tho...Inquiring minds and all!

 

[Enchanter]

I was in a 50mph area, somewhere near 20 over the limit. He cited me for 68 in a 65.

Once I pulled my head out of my ass and got tactical about my speeding, I went from 1 ticket every 18mo, to 1 ticket every 8 years.

I've been pulled over many more times than I've gotten a ticket.

Best story:
Was sitting in a left turn lane at a busy intersection near home. I was being extra cautious due to seeing many citations handed out in that neighborhood. In addition, it had only been about 8mo since I'd earned a citation.

I waited 2 cycles of the light hoping that it would either trip for me or another vehicle would pull up behind me...no luck. I decided to wait for yet another cycle of the light. Still no luck.

Ok, it's time to run the light. First, cross check for traffic. Second, look for cops more diligently. Left, right, left, right, just as I decide to go and am looking left...I see what I think is a motor-cop in between two parked cars about hundred feet down the street in the direction I'm heading.

So I decide to wait. Again. I really, really, really didn't want another ticket. I couldn't believe that no vehicles pulled up behind me for what seemed like 3 more cycles of the light! I finally decided to just run it.

I made sure it was safe and just went. I kept looking straight ahead and decided to just ignore him. I go past him and glance in my mirror to see him pulling out and lighting me up. I couldn't freaking believe it.

I pulled over and turned the bike off. He stopped beside me and said "What's your name?" I told him, and he said "I'm John" as he extended his hand "I just wanted to shake the hand of the guy that waited 7 cycles of the light to finally go. I figured you must have seen me. Be safe!" and he rode off before I could respond.

 

[bojangle]

^^^

 

[littlebeast]

I was in a 50mph area, somewhere near 20 over the limit. He cited me for 68 in a 65.

Once I pulled my head out of my ass and got tactical about my speeding, I went from 1 ticket every 18mo, to 1 ticket every 8 years.

I've been pulled over many more times than I've gotten a ticket.

Best story:
Was sitting in a left turn lane at a busy intersection near home. I was being extra cautious due to seeing many citations handed out in that neighborhood. In addition, it had only been about 8mo since I'd earned a citation.

I waited 2 cycles of the light hoping that it would either trip for me or another vehicle would pull up behind me...no luck. I decided to wait for yet another cycle of the light. Still no luck.

Ok, it's time to run the light. First, cross check for traffic. Second, look for cops more diligently. Left, right, left, right, just as I decide to go and am looking left...I see what I think is a motor-cop in between two parked cars about hundred feet down the street in the direction I'm heading.

So I decide to wait. Again. I really, really, really didn't want another ticket. I couldn't believe that no vehicles pulled up behind me for what seemed like 3 more cycles of the light! I finally decided to just run it.

I made sure it was safe and just went. I kept looking straight ahead and decided to just ignore him. I go past him and glance in my mirror to see him pulling out and lighting me up. I couldn't freaking believe it.

I pulled over and turned the bike off. He stopped beside me and said "What's your name?" I told him, and he said "I'm John" as he extended his hand "I just wanted to shake the hand of the guy that waited 7 cycles of the light to finally go. I figured you must have seen me. Be safe!" and he rode off before I could respond.

my neighbor is a moto leo, and we have a similarly stubborn light making a left into our neighborhood. twice while following him (once on his bike, and once in his truck), he slowed without coming to a complete stop - and blew through the light. the first time i waited dutifully for a green arrow, but the second time i hung on his tail followed him through it. it’s become something of a habit since then.

 

[NorCalAthlete]

Had a motor LEO pull up next to me at an intersection I know doesn't detect bikes. I guess he knew it too because he barely slowed (late night) just passed me while waving for me to follow him. Didn't even have to wait a full cycle, we just cruised through the red and he turned off a block or two later.

 

[EarlyApex]

Cops don't pull over for front plate violations. It's an add on ticket only.

You're ill informed. I was pulled over and cited for no front plate in SF 2 years ago.