I was picking up my sister in law from LAX today in a car that didn't have a front license plate. As I'm driving into the terminal area, I notice a lot of cars pulled over by airport police on motorcycles. I unfortunately was invited to the "pulled over" crowd. Turns out they are pulling over anyone for the slightest reason. I guess it's a good way to spook any bad guys that try to get in.

It's just an annoying fix it ticket. I'm fine with the reasoning behind the pull over. Just letting the community know that the cops are giving everyone the evil eye and you should have your car pretty clean and organized so they don't hassle you too much.

I have my front plate under my passenger seat when i see cops i toss it on the dashboard which supposedly is just as good as being mounted on the front.

I use to do that with my Civic... leave the license plate in the front window part when the cop stops me... but it's still illegal. Still Fix it ticket. :P

thanks for the warning. I won't take the '8 to LAX. 5 months with no front plate; no one has hassled me yet.

Damn I work right behind LAX.

If you short or long-term park your car at the airport, you can get a ticket for anything(no plate, tinted windows, too low, etc.) Expect dog nose-prints also.

Damn it. I'm going to LAX in 1.5 weeks to pick someone up. Now I'll look like I don't have any money driving my other car.

Yes, the person I'm picking up is female.

i recently got a ticket for no front license plate and had to pay $111. Before it was only $10 to inspect & $10 to write off, but seems like they increase the fine......

aw crap and I just took mine off.. bummer.. luckily I still haven't got my offical plates yet..so I may still be in the clear.. whew

Originally posted by Jsuzuki
I was picking up my sister in law from LAX today in a car that didn't have a front license plate. As I'm driving into the terminal area, I notice a lot of cars pulled over by airport police on motorcycles. I unfortunately was invited to the "pulled over" crowd. Turns out they are pulling over anyone for the slightest reason. I guess it's a good way to spook any bad guys that try to get in.

It's just an annoying fix it ticket. I'm fine with the reasoning behind the pull over. Just letting the community know that the cops are giving everyone the evil eye and you should have your car pretty clean and organized so they don't hassle you too much.

The situation will only get worse due to the amount of hidden cameras that are going up, esp. around places like airports and Gov't buildings - no front plate makes it harder to ID you.
I was recently in London where there are thousands of cameras - even pulling a b'ball cap low over your forehead will get you stopped at some point!
Siiiigh - never thought I'd miss the good ol' days of Bill Clinton!

Originally posted by rgonzal3
i recently got a ticket for no front license plate and had to pay $111. Before it was only $10 to inspect & $10 to write off, but seems like they increase the fine......

where do you live

I heard it was going up in price CRAP

I got the ticket in LA...I wasn't in the 8, but was actually in my wife's SUV. I was passing an intersection when a cop decided that this was a good reason to pull me over. He said it wouldn't count against me so its still a fix-a-ticket, but the fines are going up. Cameras going up in intersections and the extra security are all causing this...
I still have my plate off on the 8, i'll take my chances...

I also got pulled over at LAX for no front license plate.

Originally posted by Toadman
you can get a ticket for anything(no plate, tinted windows, too low, etc.)

Huh? A ticket for being too low? I've never heard of that...

Anyway, I'm wondering about the front plate thing as well. If it's really $111 to "fix it" I may install the front plate when I get them in the mail.

Got my 1st fix-it ticket on Lincoln Blvd. near Venice. The cop just waved me over as I approached. He was very interested in my Nordic Green and asked me a bunch of questions.
I've been driving without plates since July and this is my first stop. I'm going to give it up and put on the front plate.
BCEENGU

Being the procrastinator, I have waited until today to clear up my fix it ticket. Tomorrow is the due date.

I went to the sherriffs station to get it signed off. The sheriff didn't even look at the car, signed it off, and told me that usually there is a fee but he's not going to charge. I'm bouncing around the court of california (http://www.lasuperiorcourt.org) site trying to figure out what to next. It looks like there is a $10 court fee. I'm going to fedex overnight citation to them.

I've been pulled over only once since I started driving at 15.5 years old. Since I've had the 8 (6.5 months) I've been pulled over 3 times, what's up with that?! This last police officer was like, "hey man cool car", but as odds would have it, I left my license at home, doh.. Well, his demeanor changed a bit after that. He had to pull my info from his on-board computer and said he had to write me up for the license and not having plates.. :(

I finally figured out how to mount the front license plate and went to my local police station to get written off. I chatted up a cute hotty female police officer and she signed-off without looking at the car but she wants to see it this weekend ;). I have to send a photocopy of my license, her signature and $10 to city hall.

I don't get why I'm getting pulled over so much, the first two times I didn't get cited for anything. And this last time I know nothing would have happened if I had my license with me....

Actually, how do you mount the holder for the front plate on the grill? My 8 did not come with it attached.

A hole needs to be drilled in the front grill. You should probably have the dealer do it.

My RX-8 came with front plate brackets installed. I took the brackets off and the hole is not visible.

Mazda did a very good design job. No visible holes with the plates off. No caps to put in. Putting plates back on is easy, fix the ticket, and take it back off.