So I'm driving home minding my own biz Friday, and Leander's finest pulls me over for no front plate. (This while people are running 25mph over the limit straight past his radar)

So, I figure I'd best mount the damn thing. The last thing I need is to get pulled after having a couple for a stupid front plate violation.

I have seen many threads about various mounting solutions, and none look that great. It looks like the best option is to either engineer my own mounting directly to the grill, or to use the dealer bracket.

Does the dealer keep these in stock? I would think they would in states that require them. Any idea how much $$?

For those in Austin, TX what dealer do you recommend?

I don't want the thing hitting and abrading my paint either! Argh!

 

I saw an 8 with one zip tied inside the grill from the top only so that when it was driving it flipped up and disappeared in the air.. but when it stopped it fell down

 

HAHA, DIY?? :D
That away is only useful to say "YOU GOT MOE-DID OFFICER!"

Anyway, usually they would come on stock. If you don't have it im sure you can order.

 

I moved from GA, where they don't have front plates so I don't have a bracket and I've never seen one up close.

BTW, he also told me my clear (perfectly clear) lexan cover over my rear plate was illegal too.

 

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=65745

There is a free bracket being offered

 

That's funny. That's my thread and we're in the same city. I had an extra bracket to give away, but unfortunately it's spoken for. It would have been a lot easier to give it to someone local.

I do have my original one that I was going to keep. I guess I could just tie wrap my plate if I needed to. If you buy me a starbucks coffee, it's yours.

 

Thanks Parmer8. I'm going to look into some self-engineered mounting solutions. I maybe looking you up. :-)

Are you running without one now? Any hassles? I truly hate to put it on because its not only ugly, but I think it blocks some air flow.

 

If you want a lower bracket that also protrudes less, I found this one at Pep Boys for a few bucks. I'm sure it blocks some airflow, but I've seen no problems (remember, only the lower portion of the grill is functional). It mounts with the stock screws.
Virginia is pretty **** about front tags. Only Corvettes seem to get away without them.

 

Thanks G-Rex. I'm going to check out our Pep Boys here this afternoon.

 

I got pulled over by Colorado State Patrol all the time in my Miata. I refused to have one on there at all. I am refusing one on my RX-8, luckily my wife's license is in New Mexico. No front plates there at all, so I am registering it in her name.

 

Yes, I running around w/o the front plates. I've been lucky. I got stop once, but that's for speeding and they didn't bother looking at the front plate. This is here in Austin though. Williamson county cops are more **** I hear. I changed out my front grill so the only way to mount the plate is by using tie wraps. You're more than welcome to take my front mounting bracket.

 

How much is it? Like 15 bucks? Chalk it up to the cost of owning a sports car. Besides I think the car looks stupid with the front plate. If I wanted a stupid looking car I could have saved 10 grand and bought an SRT4.

 

i got pinched today too.....told the cop that the backet is broken and in the trunk (which is the truth) and he ran my license, saw it was clean and let me go (i keep it in my windshield)...just gave me a warning cuz i live in the area i got caught...

 

You lucky dog! He let the tint go too, I guess. Maybe it was the flag on the trunk that got you off.

After I took the pics I forgot to put my plate back on. I figured the one time I did that, I'd get a ticket, but the cops weren't caring today. :p

 

was it a DPS officer in a ford expedition? same dude pulled me over but I got off with just a warning, then I saw him at the schlotsky's on 1431 but I was in a buddy's ride at the time. (whew) good luck in getting it sorted out.

 

well the good news is you should e able to take a picture of the plate on the car and get the ticket dismissed.

 

Canary,
It was City of Leander. Same Fat F. that pulled me for 45 in a 40 on Bagdad road. Just can't do 40 on that road. Really, all they want to do is pull you for anything and then hope to score something big.

GotBass,
If you are talking about the ticket for no front plate, I'm not sure of the cost. Its the "other things" they may find that I'm worried about.

 

I'm legal now. I didn't like how the stock bracket stuck out, and put it right under the lip of the front bumper so I went with the PepBoys bracket. $3.99 in Austin! I didn't have any holes in the thing already, so I had to tap them myself through the black plastic. I guess it will hold. I'll crawl under there this weekend and put bolts / nuts on it. I warped the lower portion of the plate to have a curve that matches the grilll.

Parmer,
Thanks for the offer on your stock bracket though. Mighty kind of you.
Chrisbert

 

you got that right, when homedude got me in Cedar Park he was shocked at how squeaky clean I was and polite etc., I guess he was expecting some punk kid high on drugs with alcohol spilling out of the car or something

 

no stops as of today in Brazoria co. but I feel I'm pressing it but I keep my plate next to my driver seat in hopes of getting off on a"I was in route to get the hardware to hange it"excuse. yeah,ha ha hmm fat chance,right........... :D