i just got a fixit ticket to attach my front licence plate-- what came with my car is an uninstalled front licence plate frame with only three screws-- two for attaching the plate itself to the frame, and only one to attach to the grill. the only place i see that will hold the screw is on one side of the plate frame...after screwing this into the front grill, the other side is always loose. am i suppose to have two screws to attach this frame to the car, or is it just this one screw, and i'm doing this wrong? it'll be great if someone can advise me on how to do this. thanks for your time.

Check out: http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/docs/09_015_03.html for instructions.

huhsler-
hey thanks for the quick response and info-- much appreciated!

Seng,

Where do you live?

How long had you been driving before getting nailed?

I *hate* front plate requirements. And they really bung up the 8's appearance!

I've been meaning to start a thread about this. I live in CA, driving with no front plate for 5 months and no problem (though I had a temp plate for 2 months.) This includes the gate guards at military bases who are usually real anal about this stuff. Anyone else getting away with this? If so, what state are you from?

seng lung,

How much of a legal problem anyone might have will depend on the specific language of your state's pertinent law. That, and how vigorously law enforcement agencies choose to enforce it.

The dealer should have installed the plate bracket, though. Or did you ask them not to?

I've had no plate on mine for almost 5 months in cali
no problems yet

Live in California, have had car for 4.5 months, been pulled over twice (don't even know why) but the officers didn't sweat me for having any plates (front or back).

I'm sure I'm jinxing myself by posting this, but...

I've never had a front plate on my '91 Miata. Yep, since '91. No tickets. No front plate on the '00 Miata or the 8, either. I'm sure I'm seen by at least one law enforcement officer per day, since I work near a sheriff's station and commute the So. CA freeways regularly.

I know my '00 Miata was thoroughly checked out by an Anaheim PD officer just this past Saturday night as he cruised by me on the 91 freeway; of course, it might have been the fact that I was driving topless with lit Christmas lights along my windshield header and windstop on my way to a club run.

I'm just waiting for a cop to show up at the staging area of a Miata club run. What a $hi+load of "no front plate" tickets he could write there!

Your dealer was supposed to attach it as part of the dealer prep procedure, so if it's not attached you should bring it back to have them do it for free.

The only reason that won't work is if you specifically requested for them to leave it off, and even then they have to add it unless you signed a waiver.

Originally posted by Aratinga
of course, it might have been the fact that I was driving topless with lit Christmas lights along my windshield header ...

ARe you a female? Then I could easily understand him overlooking the plates under these circumstances. LOL

I have been driving for nearly two months in Washington without a front plate on. Never been pulled over and most likely won't either. I hate the front plate and I took it off the 2nd day I had the car. Cops can't read your plates while your going the opposite direction anyway and if someone stole your car I am sure that they would have to put on a fake plate anyway since there are not enough of them on the road to blend in with.

There are numerous examples of a-hole cops in WI who like to throw everything they can at you. I think I'll resort to taking it off like 93rd does and just keep it in the trunk, "in case."

I live in Wisconsin and haven't had the front plate since I got the car in August. No trouble yet.

Guys:

Been driving my 3gen since '97 w/o a front plate (northern SD County) and no prob yet, including the times I've been ticketed for (ahem) other infractions.

Don't plan to put one on my '8 next week either.

Yo, booth. Welcome to the club and congrats on the new '8. Glad to hear the local cops aren't bothering you; maybe they just respect fine cars (not!) Hey, check out the West forum. there are 2 or 3 rides coming up over the holiday you might like to join up on.

Ran my Mustang for 3 years in Texas (with one pull-over for an erratic lane-change--warning ticket issued) and never have been hassled about no front plate. My wife has run with no front plate on her TransAm for the past two years. I'm not planning on putting one on my 8. I hear that most cops in Texas will issue you a warning ticket for a front-plate infraction anyway. Roughly 1 out of 5 cars down here runs with no front plate, so it's hard to take it seriously.....

No front plate on my Ford Probe GT since '94. No front plate goes on my 8 either.

No front plate on my 8 since July delivery.

Originally posted by DisneyDestroyer
The only reason that won't work is if you specifically requested for them [the dealer] to leave it off, and even then they have to add it unless you signed a waiver.
Well, I just asked my salesperson to leave it off, and they did. No waiver signed.

Been driving daily without since July 25 (knock on wood). I do keep the plate in the trunk, though. I plan on using the "I'm just waiting for the bracket to come in" line. I'm thinking I can use that for a while, but eventually, that won't work any more.

I just took the bracket off myself. You'd need a magnifying glass and lots of time to tell it had ever been there. I need to dirty up my plate a bit and pretend like it was on, but keeps coming off.

Thats my story and I'm sticking with it... ;-)

Originally posted by mamccubbin
I live in Wisconsin and haven't had the front plate since I got the car in August. No trouble yet.

That's good, and I plan on doing the same. Perhaps the cops around Madison aren't as anal as the Milwaukee Sherrifs or some of the suburban forces, because I know a number of folks that have gotten nailed for it.

That said, I plan on pushing the envelope until ticketed. :D

Woo Hoo!!! Maybe enforce we can repeal that stupid law.

I used to get tickets with my cars just parked in front of the house, so I had to install them.

Heck, parked outside resturants and such on major streets you'll get a ticket too.

(San Francisco)

I'm also military. I haven't had a front plate and no problems on post or anywhere here in GA. I also have a '92 miata and when I took it home to VA last year I got pulled over 2x on the same trip. I really don't see how they can tell that fast on the interstate but whatever you do, put them on in VA.

i live in s.f. california--i guess i was one of the few unlucky ones that came across a bored cop that had nothing better to do...oh well. the damn front plates would make my car looking like it has buck teeth.

I drove my celica in San diego for 4 years before getting a fix it ticket for no front license plates. When I did, a friend of mine who is a police officer, just signed it off.

I'm in San Diego and don't have the front plate on the '8. I've been pulled over once and the cop didn't seem to notice (he also didn't give me a ticket either).

I had no front plate on my FD and I got pulled over, and the cop decided to give me a fix-it for no front plate instead of what he originally pulled me over for (exhibition of speed) which was somewhat b.s. anyhow, but I did take off pretty fast and he was right behind me (on a bike, didn't notice it was a cop). I wasn't gonna argue however since the alternative ticket is much more serious than a fix-it.

C'est la vie.

Originally posted by Speed_racer
I drove my celica in San diego for 4 years before getting a fix it ticket for no front license plates. When I did, a friend of mine who is a police officer, just signed it off.

What's to stop you from putting on the plate, getting the fix-it fixed, then taking it right back off? It'd probably hold you for a couple years before another anal cop got you again.

Originally posted by seng lung
i live in s.f. california--i guess i was one of the few unlucky ones that came across a bored cop that had nothing better to do...oh well. the damn front plates would make my car looking like it has buck teeth. Check my avatar -- no buck teeth!

Originally posted by bobclevenger
Check my avatar -- no buck teeth!

is that a plate i see in your avatar under the grill? if so, how you went about to attach it there?

$h!+... i can't believe it!! i started my car this morning to back it out to wax it, and 2 secs later it died on me! after i tried starting it again... it cranks, but wouldn't kick over. it was such a f#%*ed up feeling seeing the tow guy towing my rx8 away from me to the mazda dealership! this ever happen to any of you?

Originally posted by seng lung
$h!+... i can't believe it!! i started my car this morning to back it out to wax it, and 2 secs later it died on me! after i tried starting it again... it cranks, but wouldn't kick over. it was such a f#%*ed up feeling seeing the tow guy towing my rx8 away from me to the mazda dealership! this ever happen to any of you?

It was probably just flooded.. it happens when you start and stop the car quickly / stall / usually when cold.

Originally posted by seng lung
is that a plate i see in your avatar under the grill? if so, how you went about to attach it there? It sure is.
Check out this (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14069&perpage=15&highlight=front%20plate&pagenumber=1) thread.

That's better - but I don't wanna cover up my front rotary accent :D

Originally posted by Tamas
That's better - but I don't wanna cover up my front rotary accent :D Whatever works for you. I'd rather cover up the rotary accent than have the plate in the stock location, and I won't give the police probable cause to pull me over if I can avoid it -- nothing to hide, it's just good sense to keep a low profile.

In San Francisco, the meter maids will get you if you give them half a chance, they have "performance goals" to meet . So I'm putting mine on, ticket is $50 I believe.

Originally posted by Tamas
That's better - but I don't wanna cover up my front rotary accent :D

Reinstall the front rotary accent just above the license plate (as it appears on bob's car) right dead center in the grill.

Your car will look like it got a frickin nose.