I know there are a lot of threads on this already, but I was curious to know if anyone in washington state has been riding around without a front plate. Also, has anyone been ticketed and how much was the ticket?

 

I don't know the answer but I'm going to find out. I've noticed a lot of cars without front plates so I took mine off last night to wash the grill. I, ummm, had problems getting it back on. Yeah, that's it.

Its in the trunk right now. If I get pulled over, its because the plate was blocking the air flow to the radiator and the car was overheating, Officer. I'm waiting on a new mounting bracket from the dealer.

Think that will fly?

 

One of my buddies got a ticket for no front license plate few weeks ago and the fine is around 85 I think...
Funny thing is he was pulled over for speeding but only was ticketed for not having front license plate. My friend swears that he wasn't speeding. I guess the officer needed an excuse to pull him over and give him a ticket for no front license plate.

 

I have been driving around since October with no front license plate and haven't had a problem. I don't think they really care so much unless they suspect that they can get you for something more than the front plate. Usually it's just a fix-it ticket. I recommend you just tell them that the bracket broke and your waiting for the dealer to get one in. After all it's a new car and it seems to be on back order, right.

 

with my older car i got pulled over alot for no plate, then i moved it to the front window, and that helped....

they told me that they need the front plate on there to run plates if you are following them, in case the car is stoled, they gave me the whole "for your own good" line.

 

I havent been running with a front plate since july of last year when I got my car, I have the ms front bumper though and I think a lot of cops dont know what kinda car im driving when they glance at it..........when is the last time you saw a front plate on a ferrari.........think they ever get hassled for that ........nope its cause they can afford the ticket and they dont care......cops know that, they usually wont hassle you unless a) the cop is a real ******** or B) your speeding

 

There is a more detailed thread here about the front plate issue:

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/caution-loose-front-plates-31363/

No front plate for me :D

 

I did a "ride-along" with a Bellevue officer a few weeks ago. He never carries a radar gun but is always on the lookout for "suspicious behaviour." His argument was that people who don't want to be found (or have their cars ID'd) will remove their front plates. This makes cars missing their front plates a good target for being "lit up."

Now, I don't know if he's right about criminals removing their front plates, but of the 4 cars he pulled over that morning based on suspicious behavior (missing front plate, swerving, etc), he had 3 with issues (no insurance (damn them! they cost us money!), alcohol/drug use, and no license). Pretty good rate.

As to what you get charged for (speeding vs front-plate missing vs left license at home), depending on the officer they occasionally try to be nice and not fine you for everything that's wrong.

rossc

 

Well....been driving both of my cars with no front plate for years in vancouver, and so far no ticket. I think the cop is looking for an older car with no plates. Most understand if you own a nice brand new car like the RX-8 or better you will probably have an insurance and not running from the law. Until I get caught, no front plates for me

Mark

 

No front plates for me either, for over 7 months now.

I bought my car in Oregon where they're not required. So the dealer never installed the bracket. And I'm not drilling holes into my new car to mount it. (yeah thats my excuss :D )

 

I live in King County and have driven my Ford Pickup without front plates
for about 4 years now. I drove my Subaru around with no front plates for
years before that. Until one day, I realized I could get a ticket for doing so.
I put the plate back on, but bent it in half so most of it was under the bumper.
(Hey, on is on, right). Back to the pickup, it's off not because of asthetics, but because I lost the plate up on a dirt road in the Snoqualmie Tree Farm. It's a
WSU Coug plate and if you happen to find it, let me know. I really don't want a
ticket.
All the rest of my cars, RX8, RX7 (1980), RX7 (1980-parts car) and Jeep
Liberty have front plates. Once again, if WSP pulls me over, I'm not going to
get a ticket for no front plate in those cars. I'm just waiting for the 7 year
plate renewal-cycle to get the new front plate for the truck. Bad excuse,
but I don't drive the truck much anymore with the RX8 in the driveway.

On the other hand, a friend of mine has no front plates for his Jag, Rover
or his Porsche. He doesn't care. He's never been pulled over for no front
plate or issued a ticket. Except when he goes to Canada and
they require him to place it on the dash. I'm not an expert on this matter
at all. But why tempt fate? Why give border patrol or WSP another reason to hassle you?

 

My friend with the Rover finally put his WA state front plate
back on. After $400 in tickets, that is, he'd had enough. And
he's tired of doling out money to the gov't. If you live in WA,
just expect to get a ticket for no front plate sooner rather
than later. Or pay the fines.