I just got a new RX8, and I don't really like the idea of a front license plate.
In DC you're supposed to have one (grrrr).
Did any DCer ever get fined for not installing a front plate? How much is it? Might be worth it...
Thanks!

 

I live in Virginia and I rode without a front plate for a year and a half. Then one day, a cop pulled me over for no other reason than I didn't have a front plate. I had to go to court and the judge just let me go without paying the fine (or getting the points on my record). I brought a picture showing the plate was on and he just told me to make sure it stays on. Yes it is a points violation in VA. You should make sure it's not in DC.

Yes, it looks bad, but I've had my plate on ever since. It's not worth the aggravation if you ever get ticketed.

 

In Maryland, we are required to have front plates on too. The basic Maryland plates are white with black lettering. On the front of my VR RX8, the plate makes it look like the car is a buck tooth rabbit. Anticipating that, I switched to the Maryland Agricultural plates which are a gradation of red and yellow. The plate looks much better. DC seems to have a few different plates, maybe one will look better on your car.

 

In the VA suburbs it's not too bad. I took mine off when I went to the track and left it off for 6 months (I just took it off again, so it may be off for a while.) There are a lot of out-of-state (military) folks in the DC suburbs, and many of their cars are registered in states that only have a rear plate. A policeman would have to see the front of your car, then see your rear, then be bored enough to actually want to stop you for just the plate.

I'll probably put it back on when track season is finished (need the extra air flow for cooling).

ps - BTW, you can minimize the buck-tooth look if you get one of those smoke-colored license plate covers.

 

live in Arlington, work in DC-

i've had mine off for a year and half- I agree with Paul that its hard to get a MOVING violation for it. The cop has to be really desperate having to wait to see your rear tags to confirm that you're from a state that doesn't allow it.

Your chances of geting a ticket while parked is a bit higher. I got a 40 dollar ticket in arlington once - the ticket was timestamped 340 AM on a friday night/sat morning. AGAIN, DESPERATE cop.

its a 40 dollar ticket. no points if you're parked. its like a parking ticket. I just carry my front plate in my car. IF a cop gets me, i at least have it right there. Since i got my ticket when i park in the same neighborhood I just put it on my dash.

i figure a 40 dollar mod that makes the car look much better.

 

Oh believe me, it's not hard to do.

 

i knock on wood daily

 

I will think positive thoughts for you.

 

Ssssshh, I've had mine off for the last few months. I also carry mine in the trunk ... I've got this nifty excuse about putting on my front air dam. Having to take the whole front end off and all that. Just gonna hope he doesn't know any better.

 

Why not just go with the Evo style mount? Low and on the drivers side?

 

heres the deal if you have a virginia state inspection and county sticker on the windshield you would need to be a fool not to know it needs two plates.IMO most if not 98% of car tickets were given from pulling the car over from behind.if enough people got together e-mail etc.and complained about wasting tax dollars on two plates instead of one like pa.,ny..
i am sure we would still pay the same amount for the tags but a whole lot of people could and would love to put on some of those great front tags sold across america!!!!i don't see many people having the police pull them over from in front of the car unless you are on the highway and he or she jumps out the bushes at you..at that point you pass them and they still get your plate number from behind you.!!!!!!

 

agreed wit all. stupid MD, VA and DC are required to have front tags. I havent had my on for almost a year now and haven't got pulled over for it. (knock on wood.) Cops usually only do pull you over with no front tags if their desperate. It gives them reason for them to pull you over if they feel like it.
It does look ugly with the front tag but it is a risk, if you want to take with it off. I keep my on the floor on my passenger side of the car so incase they do pull me over I'll just tell them that my bracket is gone and I am going to get it fixed. Hopefully they'll be nice then.

 

I'm in MA, not DC. But I got vanity plates, with my company's name on them. Then I wanted everyone to see :-)