The Artie Party

Today's San Jose Mercury News "Mr. Roadshow" article contains two letters disucssing missing front license plates. The first letter was from a driver who complained that Palo Alto police issued a parking ticket for his car that was parked in a Palo Alto public parking lot for "no front license plate." Its a $10 fine if you put it on, $60 if you don't. Mr. Roadshow answered that two plates are required for parking enforcement, plus more cities are going to photo radar to slow speeders and nab red-light runners, hence the need for front plate.

In another letter, a reader asks if the front license plate is required, even though many cars don't sport one. The answer: "The DMV says you need two plates, and two are issued for every vehicle. If a dealer only gives you one, demand a second when the dealer files the paperwork on the car. The cost is $8 and could either be picked up by the dealer or the buyer. If the car does not have a holder for the front plate, demand that the dealer install one."

Is this a new interpretation of the law? Mine didn't have a holder when I picked it up and I never demanded it, nor was it ever discussed. Will I be required to take it back to the dealer and have it installed? (Maybe the answer is, only if I'm stopped or ticketed, I suppose)

Artie

leeep

but sadly, i believe that it is true in CA that we are required to have front plates. however, some dealers (like Rector), i believe, make it policy to not install the front frames without the owner's permission.

i'm sure there are ways to weasel around this (which some have described in the archives). YMMV.

-eric
'00 Avant 1.8TQTipS any day now.

Sean G

The state code requires that if the DMV issues two plates that they BOTH be attached to the vehicle: <a href=http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d03/vc5200.htm>Two Plates</a>

Here is the code for their positioning on the car: <a href=http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d03/vc5201.htm</a>

For years, those who didn't want a front plate on the car really didn't have a problem and even if they were cited (usually along with a more serious infraction) then it was only a "fix it" ticket. As you pointed out, photo radar and intersection cameras to catch red light runners are making the police more interested in missing plates. In Sacramento, they've installed intersection cameras in five intersections and my understanding is that they've increased the missing plate fine to about $250 or so. Ouch!

I bought my car from Rector and they only mount the front bracket upon customer request. Some dealers insist on mounting the bracket and some even butcher the bumper in the process (Hmmm...I wonder who that might be... :-O ) .

Sean..
99.5 1.8Tqm<ul><li><a href="http://www.seansa4page.com">Sean's A4 Page</a></li></ul>

Sean G

Sorry about the screwed up HTML in the first post...

The state code requires that if the DMV issues two plates that they BOTH be attached to the vehicle: Two Plates</a>

Here is the code for their positioning on the car: <a href=http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d03/vc5201.htm>Positioning Code</a>

For years, those who didn't want a front plate on the car really didn't have a problem and even if they were cited (usually along with a more serious infraction) then it was only a "fix it" ticket. As you pointed out, photo radar and intersection cameras to catch red light runners are making the police more interested in missing plates. In Sacramento, they've installed intersection cameras in five intersections and my understanding is that they've increased the missing plate fine to about $250 or so. Ouch!

I bought my car from Rector and they only mount the front bracket upon customer request. Some dealers insist on mounting the bracket and some even butcher the bumper in the process (Hmmm...I wonder who that might be... :-O ) .

Sean..
99.5 1.8Tqm<ul><li><a href="http://www.seansa4page.com">Sean's A4 Page</a></li></ul>

Sean G

No where is my medication...<ul><li><a href="Number of Plates Required">http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d03/vc5200.htm</a></li></ul>

Sean G

<ul><li><a href="http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d03/vc5200.htm">Number of Plates Required</a></li></ul>

Travis

I got a ticket for it in Venice last week! Arrgh

Yoda

I know, you need the front one. I don't have one. I live in a city that has several intersection camera's. I bought a license plate shield for my car. When a black & white camera takes a pic from the off angles in which they are positioned, it blurrs the plate. You can only see the plate when your 'directly' behind my car. Not that I blow red lights all day.

I did have an officer pull me over for cutting someone off. I didn't know I did. He asked me about the front plate. Luckly I just got the plates two days before hand, and he let me go on that. He noticed the rear plate had a cover on it, but didn't question me about it. So, I supposed some people do know about these really cool covers.

BTW $39.95 plus S&H is worth it! Check out their site.<ul><li><a href="www.redlineauto.com">www.redlineauto.com</a</li></ul>

Chard

or not. Of course NOT, but hey, 3 Asian (kids) in a brand spankin new A4...what else is there to think (sarcastically).

Chard
99.5 1.8TQMS Silver

Chard

BTW, didn't get a ticket