PUR NRG

My understanding of the california vehicle code is the front plate must be securely affixed to the car and not more than 60" from the ground. Its markings much be clearly legible and it can't be covered.

As we know the problem is the stock mounting location looks dorky and restricts some radiator airflow. I think it's legal to fold the top and bottom of the plate over double so the white space above "California" and below the plate numbers are eliminated. This makes the plate shorter in height and therefore less obnoxious.

Does anyone know of a vehicle code that prevents bending the front plate in this manner? If it's legal then it would reduce the bucktooth effect.
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Kassy21

Navybeardbb

there was a post on this earlier, i think the end result was it was illegal but i dunno. FIND OUT!!! At my college about a month ago they gave tickets to almost everyone in the parking lot with no front plate...except me? i was like wtf, i thought it was pretty tight.

mazdabob

I've seen lots of license plate frames that have wide borders top and bottom. So, perhaps there's a way to bend back the top and bottom, and somehow make it look like there's a frame around it, and reduce the overall size.

Fanman

Here is a link to a previous thread :

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...=License+Plate

My guess is that it would attract more attention from the police than no plate, and probably get you into more hot water, as they would state you are altering a state identification document or some stuff like that.

Equis

It is illegal to modify the License Plate itslef in any way, I got a ticket for trimming my plate around the edges so it was smaller. I trimmed it all the way around you could see the California and the number but the CHP officer game me a fix it ticket and I had to reorder a duplicate plate. Bendind the plate back I think is still I would guess legal per say that you are not modifying it like I did but rather you can say, "Gee officer how did that happen" instead of my method what can I say "WOW who who did that to my plate".

Mikelikes2drive

nothing you can do except get tickets -____-

Rotary Rasp

iTrader: (2)

Here ya go:
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-exterior-appearance-body-kits-27/front-plate-chop-relocation-51349/

PUR NRG

Previous threads talked about cutting the plate to make it shorter. It may be a fine point of law but if license plate mutilation is against the law, does that definition include bending the plate? Note I proposed eliminating only the whitespace and leaving both "California" and the plate number clearly visible.
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Zaku-8

i see banged up plates all the time on the road, bent all over.

Just make it look "accidental." Like the car ran into an appropriately sized parking garage bannisters or armco at extremely low speeds

Razz1

Just put it on the front dash. It's visable and below the 60" height so, it's legal.

Fanman

Actually I don't believe that is legal. I have seen people get pulled over for this as it is not "permenently affixed" to the car.

mrtux

i remember reading in some other forums that it is not legal bending or cutting the plates. like the other forum thread, i think it's better to either leave it on or keep it off.

i put mine on. i dont think it looks that bad.

if you're worried about air flow to the radiator..they do have those license plate mounts that are sort of angled downwards.

PUR NRG

With the MS front bumper I'm not worried about radiator airflow. This is just for looks.
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PinkPussyCat

RX8Bliss

It is illegal to modify your license plate. Legally, you are required to purchase a new plate if your old one was in an accident and are no longer legible. You cannot bend, or cut the license plate in any way. You also cannot tape it up, or otherwise block any portion of the license plate (so those extra thick license frames are ticketable, not that anyone really cares).
Also, putting your plates on the dash is illegal. They must be permanently fixed to your vehicle and in plain view. Putting your plates behind the windshield can be considered hindering the view of the license plate, even if the windshield is crystal clear.
And those people who buy those "hide your plates from camera flashes!" clear coats and plastic things to put over their plates? Also illegal.

How do I know? My cousin is a CHP officer. But in most cases, they dont give a **** about your front plates, not enough to pull your over anyway, unless you're a real ******* or entering federal property (i.e. the airport).

Edit: It is also illegal to have your license plates installed at an extreme angle. Like on the hood or something stupid like that. So if it is lying down (as would be the case if you put it on your dash) it would be illegal.
Also the license plate must be viewable from any angle of the vehicle (which is why it is smack dab in the middle) so you can't attach it on the right/left side of the bumper if it is not viewable from the opposite side. (I.e. it is on the left side of the front bumper and is not viewable while standing on the right side of the vehicle.)

rXter

How about a permanent mount on the right upper side of the windshield? That seems to satisfy all the requirements and keeps the stupid thing off the front of the car.

Could you mount it to the back of the passenger visor?? How about that for a wack idea.

NomisR

Mounting it inside is possibly the most dangerous thing anyone can do though. Considering that a semi soft plastic figurine come flying at you when in an accident can cause a bruise, imagine what happens if you're in an accident or in a situation that requires emergency braking and the plate comes flying at your passenger. It might end up being really bloody and someone headless.

Better to just keep it off entirely. Unless you go to a beach, airport, schools or any places with too many cops that that has nothing to do so they sit around trying to protect people from the dangers of no front license plate, you're fine without it. If you're in So. Cal, I'd stay away from Venice Beach, there's ******* cops camped right outside parking lots putting everyone and their grandmas over for dangerous no front license plate!

Rotary Rasp

iTrader: (2)

What about the Evo plate?

Photic

I wonder if it would be legal to develop a mechanism sort of like the LCD screens in peoples dashes. Have the plate pop out of a slot and hang down when you turn the key off, and suck back up when you turn the car on. a bit like a VHS tape. It would be visible when you need it most, and out of the way when your driving.

NomisR

The problem is, they want your front license plate there not for parking but for driving. They need it to ticket you with red light cameras

Outlaws eXtreme

I saw an ad in the magazine for Autoloc that had a plate thing that was similar to DVD in dash mechanism. Press a button, and the plate pops down, press it again, pops up and hides.

RX8Bliss

While the Evo plate is hung on the left side of the bumper, it is mounted in a way that it is visible from both sides of the car. It sticks out a little further than the rest of the car. So that is ok. Like I said, it must be viewable from both sides of the vehicle.

If the license was put into a recess of the bumper, it wouldn't be visible so would be illegal. Since it isn't, its ok.

From my original post:

RX8Bliss

If you ment mount it outside the windshield, I think that'd be ok, as long as it doesn't block your field of vision.
If not, then please reread my post. A windshield is considered an obstruction of view.