I reallyyyyyyyyy don't want to put an ugly license plate on the front of my 8 (not to single out Missouri, no state has a 'work of art'). I live and drive in St. Louis, crossing into Illinois to visit family. What would/could the Missouri/Illinois police do, if anything? Does anyone know?

Here's a list I found on this site of states that require front license plates:

http://www.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto_law/misclaw.html

Alaska, American Samoa, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, British Columbia, Manitoba (newly issue plates), New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan

Thanks for the info rabinabo........as much as I didn't want to hear it, I had to ask.

6 years driving in Ma. without a front plate. I don't like the look of them so...there you have it.

Its only a matter of time until I get caught. I have been pulled over for other things during that time, but the officer never noticed. I keep the other plate in the car........just in case I need to say that it fell off:)

i've seen the missouri plate, and no offense, they're not that pretty. but personally i think the california and maryland plates are pretty nice looking, both pretty nice and simple and tasteful. washington isn't bad also, as are mass and virginia...but why am i critique-ing license plates...

Originally posted by rabinabo
Here's a list I found on this site of states that require front license plates:

Anyone have any similar info on states that prohibit clear corners with white bulbs? I'm looking for specifics...

I don't have one on my FC for the reasons of appearance also. Depending on what part of NE you're in they'll let it go cuz they usually have better things to do. If they do pull you over for it it's usually a fix it ticket and so the plate comes right off after an officer has signed my ticket. Haven't been pulled over in two years now so I better shut my mouth

Yeah, I agree that it looks bad. I don't really understand the logic behind a front plate anyway......how often do the police catch a license plate from a car going toward them?

Michigan only requires one.....in fact, they only give you one!

Originally posted by Aesculapius
I don't really understand the logic behind a front plate anyway......how often do the police catch a license plate from a car going toward them?

Think cameras (http://www.phantomplate.com/). They're coming, even to Michigan!

I hate the fact that when my plates do come, I have to put it on the front too. Never had a car where I minded it as much as this one. I took the bracket off so I can enjoy the look as long as possible. I am planning on mounting the bracket below the front grill as far out of the way as possible when I have to do this ugly thing. (Whine) Since I decided against the Rotary Accents, I don't have to worry about covering it up. Still, with plans to get the Rmagic front lip spoiler, I may have to figure out some way different to mount the damn things.

D Menac 7, I thought Illinois did not require front license plates?

Anyway, FWIW, they are required in Missouri, but I do not have mine on. No problems yet (knock on wood) after 6 months.

It is required in Illinois unless the rule changed. Please tell me the rule changed :)

The rules have not changed, :( we have always had to put front plates on. Growing up in Alton right accross the river, I think Missouri didn't always have to have front plates but do now, I see. Maybe they don't enforce it as much in MO but here in Illinois and where I work, I couldn't get away without them. At least I have a couple months to wait for the new plates which are going to read the same as my name on here. D Menac 7.

Originally posted by Cerestes
It is required in Illinois unless the rule changed. Please tell me the rule changed :)

Yes, you're supposed to have a front plate in Illinois, but I personally think it's a worse crime to screw up the front end of a sports car with a license plate. I took the license frame off the front in the first 10 minutes when I got home with my 8, and it will never see the front of my car. I moved here 18 months ago from Florida, and I didn't put a front plate on my Miata- never got a ticket, and never really got a second glance from a cop. I've had the 8 for 2 months now, and definitely had some double takes from cops because of its looks, but no tickets.

I figure if I can afford a $35k car, then I can afford to pay a ticket not to ugly-up a great looking car... and that's in the off chance I'm going to ever get pulled over for such rediculous offense. I also like knowing that I've removed the best reflective surface for radar/laser speed detection... not that I speed, however : )

-Sean

Yeah, that is why I chose to live on the Kansas side. No front plates and better kept roads. I hate the personallized plates though...sunflowers. Yuck! In Oklahoma, you can pick the color of the plate. I got metallic silver to match my car!

Yep...taking my chances to and going without the ugly plate till I get caught. I see tons of cars and trucks w/o their front plate so maybe the cops don't care unless they have a bone to pick w/you. My neighbor is a state trooper.....I doubt he cares...we chat alot so I have a good repoire w/him.

NH requires a F/R plate. I have not ran with a plate on my Miata in over 4 years. Never put a front plate on my 8 either. I just think it takes away from the lines of the car so much. Like people said, its just a matter of time but until then.... :p

I live in MO and really dont want to put a front plate on. When I had my honda a few years ago I took the plate off the front and got some little covers for the holes. I got pulled over like 3 times in 2 months and just said I got in an accident and had the bracket on order. There was no bracket, just screw holes in the bumper. How does the plate mount on the front of the -8? Is it noticable if you take it off like on the honda's?

I got busted today in Wisconsin for not having a front plate. I also got a warning for going 68 in a 65. What a joke.

WI cops/troopers are @ssholes for front plates. I wish they'd just repeal that d@mn front plate thing... just a pain in the @ss.

Me and my roomate got pulled over not to long ago on the highway just for not having a plate. His excuse was that he pulled into a light pull and shattered the mounting frame and stripped the screws too. They let him off with a warning so if any of you guys get caught for not having one you might want to try that excuse. Actually it wasn't a total excuse because he really did strip the screws but that was a long time ago.

My gf just got a ticket in Ohio for no front plate after not having one for 8 years on her cars. $60 fine plus the mount that her car never came with. I had removed my mount but I decided once that I was getting my windows tinted past legal that I should put it back on...didn't need more fines on top.

My gf just got a ticket in Ohio for no front plate after not having one for 8 years on her cars. $60 fine plus the mount that her car never came with. I had removed my mount but I decided once that I was getting my windows tinted past legal that I should put it back on...didn't need more fines on top.

Where at in Ohio did she get the ticket?
I drive through Boston Heights' cops (which are known for setting up speed traps everyday down Rt8) all the time going to work and have never been pulled over for not having front plates. In fact, I'm seeing more and more vehicles without front plates around my area.

Some places are big on the plate thing, others aren't. I know that some long term park areas at airports are regularly patrolled and tickets handed out for no front plate. Technically though if you're out of your home state and only have one plate I THINK that they can't bust you for it.

Where at in Ohio did she get the ticket?
I drive through Boston Heights' cops (which are known for setting up speed traps everyday down Rt8) all the time going to work and have never been pulled over for not having front plates. In fact, I'm seeing more and more vehicles without front plates around my area.

She was like 2 blocks from her house in Youngstown. She drives back and forth to Cleveland every day for work without issue.

only one on cars here in FL. would suck havin 2. prolly costs more too?

Indiana only requires one and I agree w/ all of you. Two plates would look pretty crappy on any car....especially the 8.

I have a personalized plate and have used the excuse a couple times that it was stolen. So far so good.

I live in MO and really dont want to put a front plate on. When I had my honda a few years ago I took the plate off the front and got some little covers for the holes. I got pulled over like 3 times in 2 months and just said I got in an accident and had the bracket on order. There was no bracket, just screw holes in the bumper. How does the plate mount on the front of the -8? Is it noticable if you take it off like on the honda's?


Same crap here. If I drive my Civic(Black on black with bronze 15" Rotas) I would get nailed for front plate every other time I took the car out. So I zip tied the damn thing to the grill. When I had my 2001 Audi A4 the holes in the back were stripped out so I had the plate in the rear window, no front plate at all and NEVER was given any trouble over a 1year and a half I owned it. So far so good with the 8. Rear plate only......for life!

For people who live in Missouri you may try and find out what the requirements are for a Drive Away plate.

My father owns a couple of car shops, and drive away plates are what they use to go get a car that doesn't have a plate. (My 8 is currently utilizing one of the plates, and both of my fathers personal vehicles utilize a DA plate as well).

DA plates do not come in pairs (as far as I am aware) and even if you got stopped, for no front plate, if you had a DA plate you might get off... just a thought.

I am not a lawyer however so there is no warranty on this advice.

iowa you need two plates... i new this and got stopped at 2:30AM today. The cop was cool and once he realised that i was honest and had not been drinkin or anything, he asked if it even had a place for a front plate, i told him no cuz it was an aftermarket front end. he proceded to reply on how he would not have one on it either and how it would mess up the whole look of the car. (believe me it messes up the look of the car quite a bit ... look at the avatar :banghead: - old pic) .. no ticket, no written warning ... just a 20 minute car show for the cop as he was askin me questions and walkin around my car :)