racerdave

Any of you new RX-8 owners in a state that requires a front license plate?

If so, where did you place it?

Can you post pics of it?

Thanks.

racerdave

The biggest thing is that the nose of the RX-8 looks SO good all by itself, I am totally unsure where to place the plate. It'd be nice if the designers actually designed a location for the plate to go without fouling the look of the car. The C5 Vette designers actually did a good job in this regard.

The Beav

i'm gonna disregard that rule, i never got in trouble for doing it on my civic

racerdave

Yeah, some states/areas it isn't a big deal.

But in SE Wisconsin, the cops are way too bored or something because I know *a lot* of people who've gotten pulled over for it and ticketed.

AC TL

Some people say the front license plate makes the RX-8 look like a rabbit with 2 big teeth......the front looks so good without it

The Beav

it does, if i thought i'd get introuble i'd look and see if you could just stick it up on the dash

AC TL

.....:D

The Beav

more like

racerdave

Oh my, that is nasty.

Please tell me that not the only place for the plate to go!

I can't imagine completely blocking that opening is a good idea.

What have other current RX-8 owners done? Anyone?

jdl

Not to worry too much. That image looks hardly to scale. Also, the upper part of the black "X" grill is blocked anyway -- the car's more of a bottom breather. So attaching the front plate won't adversely effect the airflow as much (if at all) as you might think. It just blows the looks. *pity*

santino

once my plates arrive, i will be either folding or cutting of as much of the bottom of the plate as i can. then i can put it on the front. the euro plates look alright on the car, judging from some of the pictures from EVO and autocar. i will try to get it to look as close to the euro plate as possible. maybe even cut some of the top too.

is there a law against cutting the plates in CA?

thanks for any info on this.

santino

Aratinga

California requires front plates. Where am I putting mine? In the garage. There's no way to put a front plate on this car without totally ruining the look of the front, IMO. So I'll continue to be a scofflaw (as I've been since 1991 with my Miatas) and run with no front plate.

Thank God my dealer was thoughtful enough to ask me BEFORE they drilled holes in the car to mount the front plate bracket!

And if I ever do get pulled over for it, I'll just play dumb woman with no mechanical skills and nicely ask the officer to show me exactly where the plate's supposed to go. "It came this way when I bought it, Officer... I couldn't figure out how to put on the front plate!"

loco4rx8

Has anyone in Virginia ever tried to ride without a front plate and got away with it? I doubt that would go over too well with the rabid State Troopers we have here. :D

brothervoodoo

I far as I know they don't have to "drill" any additional holes. It's bolted to the front grill and can be undone if needed.

mazdaexe

Hey Aratinga,

I think in CA it is now required to have front license plates. No fix up tickets anymore, the fine is like $200+. I didnt have front plates on my IS300, tried to play dumb but didnt work...

oh btw, I work in diamand bar.

classicred

I live in the Northern Virginia area and have a Miata which has no front plate. I've been driving for almost 8 years with no stops. The Miata is not a daily driver though.

Before moving here, I also drove for 5 years in Minnesota (which also requires front plates). I got stopped once in my own neighborhood but received no ticket.

If I EVER get my yellow RX-8, I don't plan on putting a front plate on it either. Why didn't they build in a spot below the grill for it?

One place you do have to be careful, however, is Washington, DC. They are so ravenous for money that they will ticket out-of-state cars for not having front plates. The traffic ***** also have red light and speed cameras and never ever give warnings. It's all about the money. Since they haven't been able to screw us suburbanites with a commuter tax, they get it where they can.

allstate

I live in TX and front plates are required BUT I have driven my miata since 1997 without ever being pulled over once. In fact I spoke with a cop on this matter and he told me that he actually likes it when people do not have a front plate....that way he can pull them over whenever he wants (i.e. suspected drunk driving). They should never pull you over solely for the reason of not having a front plate. That's how it works in TX anyways. And I AM taking off that front plate....it looks HORRIBLE on the RX-8.

jonalan

Bolted or screwed onto the grill? I would have to drill holes in the grill since there are none.

Do you have a digital camera so I could see a pic?

Aratinga

Hmmm... okay. I'm more inclined to believe you than the dealer at this point. The guy who was prepping the car for me definitely said he wanted to check with me "before drilling any holes". Go figure.

I wonder how many uneccessary holes they've drilled in other 8's they've delivered until they figured out the right way to do it!?

And I guess I've been very lucky (knocking on wood) to not get the front plate writeup yet. If bong's right about that fine, I may have to break down and become law-abiding. What a drag!

antman_x

CA is so $ hungry I figure they'll catch you w/o your front plate but anyone know if it's legal to just have it in your windshield?

I'll check DMVs site if no one knows...

antman_x

can't decipher the law...not sure if its okay to have it on your dashboard....

CA Vehicle Code
5201. License plates shall at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle for which they are issued so as to prevent the plates from swinging and shall be mounted in a position to be clearly visible, and shall be maintained in a condition so as to be clearly legible....and the front license plate shall be mounted not more than 60 inches from the ground...

from www.dmv.ac.gov

jdl

Here's the full url:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d03/vc5201.htm

It does seem to leave some wriggle room as to "mounting" the front plate in the window...hmm!