license plate mod in NJ
 

I was in California a couple weeks back, and I saw a parked RX8 with the front license plate problem solved in an intersting way - the plate was folded over so that only the actual number appeared on the front, with the "California" part and the lower part folded back behind the plate. I forgot to take a picture at that point, but it looked pretty nice and should solve a little bit of the airflow issues some people have been having.

What do you think about trying to pull this off in NJ? Would it be any better legally speaking than just running plateless? Anyone know what the exact laws are for the front plate? Does it have to display the number? Or the number and the state? Or does it have to be compltely "unmodified"? Anyone running a similar setup and have you had any issues with the stormtroopers?

Legally speaking I believe it has to be unmodified. I would be hesitant about hiding the state. I have thought about folding over the edges (probably have it professionally done so it looks nice) when I finally do my relocate.

Not that the stock location in front of the nose doesn't block any ventilation. It just looks like it does. If you relocate to the bumper then you risk loosing airflow.

Yes I think hiding the state wouldn't be too good... But that "Garden state" part is worthless anyway :-D It's try that most of the airflow to the radiator goes through the bottom opening... But I've seen cars with intercoolers in that spot, so that might be worthwhile?

i modded mine and put it in the back of the car under the passenger carpet

same here, mines just under the front carpet, great airflow!

From the legal standpoint....

Part of 39:3-33 states: No Person shall drive a motor vehicle which has a license plate frame or identification marker holder that conceals or otherwise obscures any part of anymarking imprinted upon the vehicles registration plate or any part of any insert. Which means - that you cannot conceal any part of the plate ie: The Reg number, New Jersey or Garden State....
The Fine for this statue is $44

Also 39:3-32 - States that if the plate is Damaged, lost, Defaced or stolen you must report it within 24 hours of the discovery. So if you bend the plate, they can hit you with both......
The Fine for this is also $44

If you have no front plate at all also under 39:3-33 and its the same $44 fine.....

Hope that helped...

Personally I would think that unless a cop is having a really bad day, he wouldn't pull you over so long as the state and numbers are visible. Anything else is just decoration on it anyways...

Hehe... I'm rolling with 20% tints on the fronts, anyway... Just trying to see if any more would be "asking for trouble" :lol2:

Alucard: thanks for the numbers of the statutes, I'll read up... $44 bucks doesn't sound that bad...

Alucard-obviously you know your stuff, it's your job, but the 44$ fine for no front plate...is that statewide i'm assuming, and not township/borough/city mandated? because my friend got written for no plate on his lightning, and it was a 64$ fine. did they screw him over? that was the only violation.

Im sorry I forgot they raised the fines to $54 this past year.....thats what I get for looking in a 2004 Statue book, I had to check the back of my ticket book......lol

06Carbon - I saw you last week or so on the Flemington Circle....you were with a few other cars that night, I followed you guys down 31 past the High School......... lol

If your friend got charged $64 the municipality must have added some fees onto that fine cause the fines that are imposed on state statues are mandated.

When I complained to the local chief of police about the local 18 yr-old asswipe that pulled me over for tints & ticketed me, the chief wrote back to me & said the asswipe told him he should have also ticketed me for not having a front plate! Funny thing is, if the asswipe had looked at the front of my 8, my plate was on there as clear as day!!
A few weeks after I wrote that letter, Ofc. Asswipe slowly circled me while I was gassing up at the local Sunoco. I think he was trying to "give me the evil eye" but since he's 5'5", he could barely see above the dashboard for me to be sure.
(He's also no longer on the force. Watch it-he's out there in NJ somewhere!)

i was about to say, i know the charge was more than 44.....damn belmawr cops.