For those in Illinois who might be interested in the sad details, front plates are mandatory here as well:

625 ILCS 5/3-413(a): "Registration plates issued for a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, trailer, semitrailer, truck-tractor, apportioned bus, or apportioned truck shall be attached thereto, one in the front and one in the rear."

A missing plate is grounds for a traffic stop: People v. Sturlic,
130 Ill.App.3d 120, 474 N.E.2d 1 (1985).

By my unscientific estimate, compliance is between 90-95%, far less on cars like the RX-8 that have no molded area for the front plate.

 

Take a look at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d03/vc5200.htm

 

Thanks bobclevenger!

I think I did come by that page, I thought, though, they would issue some kind of warning if they are serious about the mandation of the front plate, or whether it can be optional.

 

It's only optional as much as any law is. If the officer feels like writing a ticket for it he (or she) can. They usually don't, but it does provide "probable cause" to stop you.

 

Yes, I looked carefully at that. The stock licence plate mount blocks about 20.25 square inches of the airflow path. The licence plate in the relocated position blocks about 38.5 square inches. So by relocating the plate one loses about 18.25 square inches (about 10% of the whole airflow area), which is about the same as a couple of those club/country medallions that people mount on their grilles. I doubt that it is that significant --- and I am keeping a close watch on the temp gauge; so far no difference.

 

Live in the SF Bay area. Don't mind taking a chance not having front license plate. However, have to attach the fast trak transponder (for Golden Gate Bridge). The holes drilled for the ugly plastic thing mazda gives us to hold the front plate are to far apart for the transponder. Any suggestions.
Thanks in advance.

 

How does the front plate attach to the grill? I'm wanting to take mine off but not sure what's involved. Are there brackets or something on the inside (back) of the grill? If so, I think it might be a pain to get inside the back of the grill, no?

Or am I totally overthinking this and it's just a simple unscrew?

 

Yes, there's are two metal brackets behind the grill. They are equally spaced for the plate. You will have to drill through to get to the bracket. If you look very carefully, you will see a two dots where you need to drill in front of the grill. I can take pictures later if you need.

 

Yep, you're overthinking it. That's better than underthinking it!
If you have a front plate already present then all the drilling and stuff has been done by the dealer.
To remove the plate just unscrew the bolts that hold the plate on.
To remove the bracket just unscrew the bolts that hold the bracket on; the nuts will remain in place behind the grille.

 

COOL! That's what I was hoping for. I didn't want to unscrew them and then see all kinds of nuts falling from the back of it.

THANKS!!