So I'm turning onto the 400 north ramp and right when I start to merge with traffic. A cop is ahead of me and decides to pull me over. I wasen't speeding, and I didn't do anything wrong. At first he said "this is going to be a PAIN and a Pleasure. I asked him why. He said "a pain because I got to give you a ticket, and a pleasure because i get to look at your car while i'm doing it".

He asked me where my front license plate was, and I took some advice I heard from our Toronto RX8 Meet. I told the cop that the car tends to overheat when the front airdam is covered and i'm getting a new one from Japan. He pulled me over to ask questions about my car, and the specs on it. We had about a half an hour of conversation about the car and racing. He stated asking me when the Dyno kicks in. I asked him if that was a trick question, and he started laughing. He told me he races his prelude all the time and hates the fact that the dyno kicks in so early. My girlfriend waited in the car while the cop and I were talking about cars. lol

Besides all the talking he let me go, and he didn't even give me a warning. :)






:D

Your lucky he didn't look at the front airdam because we all know it's blocked if the plate is on or not.

P.S. it is nice and all for him to pull you over to look at the car, but isn't that kind of invasion of privacy? I mean come on, you are going about your day and a cop pulls you over and you lose 30 minutes.

Could be a pain if it happened all the time!

Originally posted by Pete
He told me he races his prelude all the time and hates the fact that the dyno kicks in so early.Is this some sort of Canuckism? What's a "dyno" in this context?

Originally posted by Wing
P.S. it is nice and all for him to pull you over to look at the car, but isn't that kind of invasion of privacy? I mean come on, you are going about your day and a cop pulls you over and you lose 30 minutes.
You have a choice to make, you tell the cop to screw-off and he can, in short order, write you a ticket for not having a front plate (which I assume is mandatory in your neck of the woods). Or you can try choice #2 which Pete completed successfully. Your 3rd choice is putting your front plate on.....

Originally posted by Pete

He asked me where my front license plate was, and I took some advice I heard from our Toronto RX8 Meet. I told the cop that the car tends to overheat when the front airdam is covered and i'm getting a new one from Japan.

Besides all the talking he let me go, and he didn't even give me a warning. :)


Good to see that my suggestion/excuse worked! :D

I can see this is the beginning of one of those false rumour .... Sooner or later people will just acknowledge the fact that RX-8 couldn't have a front plate because of cooling issues. In this case the rumour will benefit us as we won't have to put up that stupid front plate. Works for me.

(Let's hope Mazda management wouldn't be stupid enough and try to do a recall to "fix" this issue)

Well, it does look cooler without it...

(Sorry but you just new someone was going to say it!)

:)

Thanks again Zoom Zoom for the advice !!!

Live it up while the car is still new boys!

Because believe me, it's not going to last. Especially if you live in the Mississauga area! Those pigs out there are relentless.

I got away cleanly the first time I got pulled over. However the next 2 times wasn't so good....
So unless you've got cash to spare I suggest you put that front plate on! I know it looks out of place and ugly even, but what are you going to do? :D

Later,

Originally posted by Pete
So I'm turning onto the 400 north ramp and right when I start to merge with traffic. A cop is ahead of me and decides to pull me over. I wasen't speeding, and I didn't do anything wrong.

I'm courious! Did the cop make some fancy move and then pull in behind you, or did he some how notice from the front that you were from Ontario and not say, Michigan or Alberta where no front plate is required.

Originally posted by Smoker
I can see this is the beginning of one of those false rumour .... Sooner or later people will just acknowledge the fact that RX-8 couldn't have a front plate because of cooling issues. In this case the rumour will benefit us as we won't have to put up that stupid front plate. Works for me.

(Let's hope Mazda management wouldn't be stupid enough and try to do a recall to "fix" this issue)

Oh contrair

What we need is Mazda to issue a warning to 8 owners that their car could possible over heat with a front plate on the car. Then when you get pulled over you can show the cop the letter and tell him that you are waiting for Mazda to correct the problem :D

Bet you'll get off then LOL

What we need is Mazda to issue a warning to 8 owners that their car could possible over heat with a front plate on the car.

uh... that would constitute a design flaw. Mazda should correct the issue for Canadian market. Alot of car mfgs do the same to. Sux I know. Plates shouldn't be on the front of any car!

Originally posted by eccles
Is this some sort of Canuckism? What's a "dyno" in this context?

Don't worry, I'm Canadian and don't know what this means either. Someone wanna fill us in?

Originally posted by delhi


uh... that would constitute a design flaw. Mazda should correct the issue for Canadian market. Alot of car mfgs do the same to. Sux I know. Plates shouldn't be on the front of any car!

Oh Oh, it's a JOKE there is no FLAW the car was designed with this in mind. Look at the front of your air dam it is half blocked.

Ah... I see. Now in that case as a joke, why don't you create a Mazda letter to say just that and keep it in the glove box. So each time the cop stops you about the plate, you can produce that as some kinda proof. :D

Originally posted by delhi
Ah... I see. Now in that case as a joke, why don't you create a Mazda letter to say just that and keep it in the glove box. So each time the cop stops you about the plate, you can produce that as some kinda proof. :D

Hey delhi

Do you read the full threads or just jump in anywhere?

Originally posted by eccles
Is this some sort of Canuckism? What's a "dyno" in this context?

Guessing here, but I think he meant 'fuel cut' or maybe 'governor'.

Because believe me, it's not going to last. Especially if you live in the Mississauga area! Those pigs out there are relentless.

Pigs, eh? Anyway, I've been driving around in my RX-7 for years now in Mississauga with no front plate and I haven't been pulled over once yet.

What exactly does the front plate DO for the police, anyway?

The uses I can think of for a plate is for them to see the number, so they can call it in, and it is a place to put registration stickers in some jurisdictions.

How do they even SEE a front plate in most cases.
Or, if they are following you while you do something "suspicious" or have you pulled over, why will the rear one not do the job???

weird.

It's useless! It is not needed as far as I am concerned.

The front plate makes it easier for the traffic police to check your cars speed while using the more advance laser speed indicator.

They need to hit the a flat service, and the license plate makes it easier for them to get a accurate indication on how fast you're going.

Other then that...... it's pretty much pointless.....

Originally posted by Pete
The front plate makes it easier for the traffic police to check your cars speed while using the more advance laser speed indicator.


Yep right on Pete.

Or just for the ease of reading your plate for whatever reason in case they are closer to the front end of your year.

Originally posted by Neo
Especially if you live in the Mississauga area! Those pigs out there are relentless.

Hmm.. are they still "pigs" when you are getting robbed and need the cops' assistance? http://webhome.idirect.com/~jsmialek/Smileys/rolleyes.gif Let's get serious for a sec here.. People without a plate are breaking the law, plain and simple. It might be harmless like driving on the hwy at 110km/hr at 4 am at night but that's the risk you take.

Originally posted by Quick_lude

Hmm.. are they still "pigs" when you are getting robbed and need the cops' assistance? http://webhome.idirect.com/~jsmialek/Smileys/rolleyes.gif Let's get serious for a sec here.. People without a plate are breaking the law, plain and simple. It might be harmless like driving on the hwy at 110km/hr at 4 am at night but that's the risk you take.

well said quicklude....i agree

I disagree

What is the cost to produce a front licence plate? Probably alot more then what is made catching speeders by bouncing a signal off that plate. Alberta does not make a front plate, and its the only province that does not have a provincial sales tax.

Maybe its time for us to tell our provincial governments to get their heads out of the sand and take a real look at whats going on.

Save some money, eliminate the useless front licence plate and spend more money on improving highways.

Oh and one other thing about the PIG slang...............

Ya thats a big crime, NO FRONT PLATE. While some schmo is being pulled over and written a stupid ticket for no licence plate (no offence PETE) some other unfortunate shit in getting his car broken into or stolen. Where's the cops stopping that crime. It's easier for the police to make money grabs off decent citizens then it is to be out patrolling neighbourhoods, watching for criminal activities.

And you wondered why they are so often referred to as PIGS

Thank you Evolv.... :)


That's exactly what happens. Pick on the little guy, screw the big crimes....

And what's all this talk about reflecting the laser off the license plate bullshit?!?! That's ridiculous! Do you have any idea how far they have to setup these laser pointers to get a reading? And they're going to be aiming for your license plate?!?!

The front license plate exists because it's easier for a cop to see it instead of waiting for the car to pass. It's that simple.

Later,

Officers routinely use laser guns for speeddetection, in a progressive, more accurate replacement for radar.Patrol cars are equipped with zoom video cameras so that they can hit the flat surface to aquire a more accurate speed reading.


License plats are not only used for the laser guns, but also used for Photo Red Light. The Photo Red Light program is specifically designed to enforce red light violations. The Photo Red Light program has been implemented in surrounding cities and has proven beneficial in reducing red light violations.

I asked one of my close friends at the ministry the reason why the front plates were nessesary.

He told me that those are the two reasons why the plates are both in the front and rear of your car.

It's not bullshit.

Hmmm, I've saw pictures from a Red light camera they only take pictures of the REAR!

Because it would be pretty useless in the front if say the car was from Quebec!

Alright Pete,

If that's what the guy from the Ministry says, then it must be true.

In the end all the front license plate does is ruin the flow of air into the rad (or in my case the rad and the intercooler) and ruin the lines of the car.
But there's nothing we can do. The Government says we have to have it, so we have to have it.
It sucks but what are you going to do?

Later,

Why dwell on something you can't control?
Let's not debate whether the front plate is legal, and compare it to speeding etc.

If anyone on this forum says they have never broken the speed limit I'd call them a liar!

I've been driving my car for 5 weeks now, with no front plate. No problems yet. Taking my chances.

What about trimming the front plate?
I've seen front plates with the top and bottom(just above and below the lettering), either trimmed or folded back.

Is this ok, how does the law look at this if the lettering is visible, but all the white space is removed?
http://members.shaw.ca/paul_galante/license_RX-8.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/paul_galante/license_RX-8crop.jpg

How much is a ticket for not having the front plate installed in Ontario?

Originally posted by Roadrunner
How much is a ticket for not having the front plate installed in Ontario?

I have been told it is $110 for first offence, $245 for the second. These numbers are unconfirmed, but the first number ($110) I have heard from two different and independent sources.

The first offence number is ok, but $245 is getting up there...:(

Hummm interesting find


Looking closely at the Highway Traffic Act for Manitoba, which is apparently very similar to Ontario, I have discovered the following regarding licence plates.

Payment for lost plates, etc.

323.1(2) If a person authorized under subsection (1) loses or is otherwise unable to account for a registration card, permit, number plate or set of number plates, licence, validation sticker or registration class sticker that was furnished to the person by the registrar, the minister may assess the person in respect of any of those items that is lost or unaccounted for an amount that the minister considers reasonable and just and that amount is a debt due to the Crown, and the registrar may set off that amount against any fee payable to that person under subsection (1).

Now having said all that

Take the damn thing off, and when you get stopped, plead innocent. "Huh? I didn't know it was missing, what do I do now?

I bet you will get away with it, atleast once :D :D :D

Plate replacements are free in Manitoba, and $25.00 for personalized.


Happy motoring

great find Evolv


thanks for the info !

The fines for Ontario for not having a Front Plate is $110 each time. Really its $90 + $20 Highway Improvement Surcharge. Now don't take my work on it, but from what I heard Ontario may be getting rid of its Front Plate Law because a lot of people are beating the Province in court.

Cheers
Andrew

I was pulled over in British Columbia for not having a plate. As a Yank, they let me go, but told me I had better put my front plate on the next time I crossed the border. Well, actually, I wasn't "pulled over" in the traditional sense. The cops were executing a field sobriety test and stopping every car...they just made me pull to the side of the road. I was on the way out of Vancouver headed for the Sea-to-Sky road. Any BC 8's taken that trips lately? Probably a great drive in the 8!

One question: do you ever get "Fix It" tickets in Ontario? South of the border here, for something like a missing front plate or cracked tail light, you can get a fix it ticket, where if you get the problem resolved and go by the cop shop, they will "sign off" on the ticket and you pay no fine. Of course, that only works once.

I am going with no front plate here in California. There are tons of people who drive without them. It's rare to get pulled over for not having one, but all the more reason to drive sensibly if there are cops around...not to mention driving sober.

In Ontario the "Fix it" ticket is called a "72 Hours Warning"...Basically the Officer has his discretion and will issue a Ticket for 72 hours in which the driver must get / show that the Infraction has been fixed on the vehicle.

Cheers
Andrew

It would certainly be cool if Ontario got rid of the front plate law, it does look better without it, most cars look better without it!

Manitoba has $25 personalized plates? Crap they are over $200 here! Hell we pay $20 for regular plates.

I don't mind the front plate so much. But I guess that's because my previous car was a '92 Prelude that had a plastic box sticking off the front of the nose to hold the plate. :eek:

Originally posted by Wing
It would certainly be cool if Ontario got rid of the front plate law, it does look better without it, most cars look better without it!

Manitoba has $25 personalized plates? Crap they are over $200 here! Hell we pay $20 for regular plates.

Let me clarify. The replacement cost is $25.00 the original cost is $100.00

I'm still driving without a front plate (almost 2 months) and have now been "head to head" with cops at traffic lights / stop signs about 5 times. Most recent one was yesterday in downtown Toronto...the cop was a chick ... she was looking right at my car the whole time we waited for the light, and once we got the green she just drove by eyeballing the 8 :cool:

My big problem is that I will never put a plate on the front at this point...I think it looks *awful*. Thus, I may have numerous fines coming. Oh well.

If you need a reminder as to why plates on the front are bad, check this out: blech!

http://www.beggs.ca/things/911.jpg

Originally posted by Literatii
If you need a reminder as to why plates on the front are bad, check this out: blech!

http://www.beggs.ca/things/911.jpg

EWWWWWWWWWWW

Originally posted by Pete


EWWWWWWWWWWW

No kidding ewwwwwwwwwww

I have lived in Manitoba for 5 years and have never seen that Porsche, guess the owners to embarassed to drive it around with that hidious front plate...


I was thinking of vanity plates for both my cars. one thats says HELLO and the other that says BYE BYE

I can put the HELLO on the front and the BYE BYE on the rear of the 8 and the other way around on the Saturn...LOL

Originally posted by Literatii
If you need a reminder as to why plates on the front are bad, check this out: blech!Bolting the front plate on an RX-8 makes it look like a Porsche? Ewww!

Originally posted by eccles
Bolting the front plate on an RX-8 makes it look like a Porsche? Ewww!

I'm not convinced that the 8 would look like a Porsche because it has a front plate.

However, I am convinced that the front plates are ugly on a car with a low hood line.

Originally posted by pauleta
What about trimming the front plate?
I've seen front plates with the top and bottom(just above and below the lettering), either trimmed or folded back.

Is this ok, how does the law look at this if the lettering is visible, but all the white space is removed?
http://members.shaw.ca/paul_galante/license_RX-8.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/paul_galante/license_RX-8crop.jpg

Interesting thought, but we down here in Texas just had a law passed that said you can not cover up ANY of the lettering etc of the license plate. Therefore, most people with frames now are driving illegally.

Originally posted by 350 Formula


Interesting thought, but we down here in Texas just had a law passed that said you can not cover up ANY of the lettering etc of the license plate. Therefore, most people with frames now are driving illegally.

Similar laws in Canada, if you have a damaged, covered up, altered or FKed up plate here, fines do apply.

Ok, I don't know if this go touched on, but someone made a comment about how if you were from out of state and that state didn't require a front plate you would be safe. This is bull. You have to follow the states laws that you are driving in. It would be like not wearing a seat belt in California cause your start didn't require you to wear one.

You must always obide by local laws.

Originally posted by NineT4
Ok, I don't know if this go touched on, but someone made a comment about how if you were from out of state and that state didn't require a front plate you would be safe. This is bull. You have to follow the states laws that you are driving in. It would be like not wearing a seat belt in California cause your start didn't require you to wear one.

You must always obide by local laws.

THIS IS BULL

Residents of Alberta (for example) only require one licence plate, a back one. The province does not issue 2 plates, only one. So how could you be responsible for having a front plate in a province or state that requires it when you only have a back plate?