Quinte 8

I took the front license plate off and I bent the top and bottom so that only the numbers show. I then bolted it directly on the black grill.
Looks way better!!
However, I wonder what the OPP and local cops will do? Does anyone know if I'm going to have a problem? Anyone had any related experience? I might drive over to the locall OPP station and ask.

Critters

oo, can you show a photo of it in place?

Quinte 8

The simply answer is no. The camera has gone with my son to school in Guelph. I might try to borrow one but it will be a few days.

TODreamer

I know its too late but you really should have checked with the OPP/TPD first

Quinte 8

Good thought. But it was spur of the moment. We can unbend it if need be. But here is an update!!We took the car to to local OPP station and were given the Okay!! he found a charge regarding the location of the plate (ie in the window). But we have it attached in exactly the same place. He did say that an officer who was in a bad mood could take exception but at least we would now have a good defence if it went to court. If I can get a picture I will post it in a few days.

Shamblerock

Good Job Quinte. Lets see pics.

Frostee

wouldnt that be construed as modifying the plate? therefore making it illegal? i was under the impression that all modifications to ontarion license plates are illegal....

Quinte 8

Good question Frostee. Does anyone have a "reference" or section from the Ontario Highway Trafic act? I know a guy who got fined for removing his front license from his Miata. We got a warning when we took it off our RX7. We had it in the window and claimed it had just broken off. The OPPer who we talked with today couldn't find a section when he checked. As I said.. at least we'll have a defence if we do get charged.

Frostee

AHA!

this is what happens when you have way too much time on your hands at work :D

http://192.75.156.68/DBLaws/Statutes...h08_e.htm#BK32

Ontario Highway traffic act, Section 2 Paragraphs 12-15

edit: by what I read, you could get charged, as the plate has been altered...

MrJynx

my friend did the plate thing on his S2000, bent the top and the bottom so only the numbers are showing..

Cops don't like that and they will pull you over.. He's only been pulled over once though, so if they're having a bad day you can expect to be stopped

MrJynx

Quinte 8

Thats very interesting Frostee. Now I have to balance your info with what the officer said. Do I take a chance. It looks pretty good!! I can just hear myself telling a PJ that I didn't deface it.. I just "rearranged it a little" Thanks

Frostee

hey, if it looks good, go for it just say you didnt know and fix it if you get told

scoop

You can always try my little science project if you like it . . . I personally like it much better than the stock location and it is completely legal. You need an EVO VIII plate garnish which unbelievable as it may seem can be ordered from the local Mitsubishi dealer for delivery in two days even though they don't even sell the car in this country. The bracket is a custom one crafted by me using aluminium stock, rivets and stainless steel fasteners. I got the idea from another post on the forum from someone in California. That one did not look very robust and I wanted no modifications to the car, i.e. no drilling and I wanted to move the plate closer to the outside edge of the car so there is no overlap with the AC condenser and rad. I tossed together some quick photos that I took in the dark this evening (not the greatest) and put them on a web page, they wouldn't upload here for some reason. If I could custom mold plastic bits in my basement I would probably ditch the EVO holder and try to achieve even better alignment.

http://rx-8.ca/plate.html

73JPS

I made sure the dealer never even installed my front plate. Two years, 28000 KM with nary a problem and counting (although I do not drive in the winter...)

On the other hand, if you want to stay legal, I have found that people who put a smoked cover on the front plate dramatically improve the appearance of their car.

Frostee

license plate covers are not legal....

HELAS

SCOOP, DID YOU PERSONALLY FABRICATE THAT YOUR SELF? IF SO.....YOU SHOULD REALLY THINK ABOUT MASS PRODUCING IT. THATS FRIGGIN AWSOME!!!

DARKMAZ8

im not feeling this plate idea. I think it actually gets more attention then having no plate. Plus I don't really like the idea of drilling holes in the bumper.

Quinte 8

Should be posting picture later today. Quick 7 snapped a picture last night and he took it home.
One thing about the way we attached the plate was that we didn't have to rip, saw or screw/drill anything. We just bent the top and bottom and the screws lined up perfectly.

HELAS

Dark, the way Scoop hase it does not require drinning into the bumper

Quinte 8

The good news is I have some Pictures on my computer.The bad news is I cannot get them to up load to this site!! I keep getting an error message that says "only partial upload" Any Suggestions??

DARKMAZ8

create a cardomain page at www.cardomain.com

then create a link to this thread.

scoop

Thanks Helas, some like it, some don't, it's definitely a personal taste thing but the majority of people I have encountered in real life like it. The whole bracket and backing for the EVO garnish was fabricated by me from a chunk of aluminium from Home Depot, you won't find it anywhere else. Even the EVO part was shaved in a few places to exactly match the contour of the bumper. The problem with producing a part like that is that one is dealing with a bunch of compound curves, weird angles and mounting points chosen by Mazda for completely different purposes. There are many slots cut in the bracket for adjustment and precise alignment, if the thing is off by just a few degrees in any direction it looks really bad and completely out of place. Right now it is very good but not quite perfect to my eye, the limiting factor being enough material in the original EVO piece. It was an interesting tinkering exercise in my spare time, actually there was way too much time put into it but I would rather build neat stuff than spend hours in front of the idiot box. The problem is that right now if I gave it to someone disassembled they would have so spend several hours trying to get the alignment right, no consumer would stand for that. Maybe I will try a simplified version in the winter when the car is parked and I can pull the plate off for a while. I won't be driving around without a plate on the front, an arrest me officer red 8 just draws way too much attention already without throwing in any sort of flagrant disregard for the law . . .

73JPS

From the Highway Traffic Act:

"Obstruction prohibited

(3) The number plates shall not be obstructed by any device that prevents the entire number plates including the numbers from being accurately photographed using a photo-radar system. 1993, c. 31, s. 2 (5).


(3.0.1) The number plates shall not be obstructed by any device that prevents the entire number plates including the numbers from being accurately photographed using a red light camera system. 1998, c. 38, s. 2 (1).


(3.1) The number plates shall not be obstructed by any device or material that prevents the entire number plates including the numbers from being identified by an electronic toll system. 1996, c. 1, Sched. E, s. 2 (1)."


Covers are fine, as long as they are not of the variety that prevents... well, you guys can read.

73JPS

Here is another "relevant-to-this-thread" part of the Act:

Violations as to number plates

12. (1) Every person who,

(a) defaces or alters any number plate, evidence of validation or permit;

(b) uses or permits the use of a defaced or altered number plate, evidence of validation or permit;

(c) without the authority of the permit holder, removes a number plate from a motor vehicle or trailer;

(d) uses or permits the use of a number plate upon a vehicle other than a number plate authorized for use on that vehicle;

(e) uses or permits the use of evidence of validation upon a number plate displayed on a motor vehicle other than evidence of validation furnished by the Ministry in respect of that motor vehicle; or

(f) uses or permits the use of a number plate or evidence of validation other than in accordance with this Act and the regulations,

is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or to both, and in addition the person’s licence or permit may be suspended for not more than six months.

Open to interpertation, I guess. Just as quoted earlier.

Additionally, I could find nowhere in the Act where it states in what manner plates are to be affixed to the vehicle: leaving open to interpertation, once again, the concept that you could display your front plate in the front window of your vehicle.

Really, it ends up coming down to your own comfort level regarding how much you want to deal with with respect to the law, and how much hassle you might want to subject yourself to, even though "in principle" you might be correct by the letter of a seemingly vague law...

Frostee

i was just regurtating information from a news cast a few months ago here. any license plate cover other than a clear one (the ones that at the time were being sold by the ministry of transport), are illegal, and you can be fined for $100 for having them. shortly afterwards, there was talk that all plate covers were no longer legal as even the clear ones were causing problems for red-light cameras.

buddy of mine got a ticket 2 months ago for having plate covers (although his were a smokey-grey), but he was also told that by the cop that all covers are illegal.

**EDIT: i was curious, so i called the ministry's info line and talked to a representative there (1-800-268-4686), and here was her response:

"the legislation in the highway traffic act is very vague, so you can be fined for ANY license plate covers, regardless of color. the officer makes a judgement call on whether they change the appearance or function of the license plate. the best practice is to not have any license plate covers at all on your vehicle."

so the ministry says since its vague, that any cover, you can be charged for, based on the officer's judgement. **