Jesus Martinez

I installed a license plate relocator and installed it so that its right under the headlight on the driver side... only thing is, it's not blocking off the oil cooler that's on the opening of the bumper. Is this safe, or should I move the license plate so that its closer to the ground and not blocking the oil cooler? The only thing is, I'm worried that the cops might give me **** for having the front license plate to low.

Junkman 6394226

I don't have one at all, and cops never give me crap about it (Or my straight pipe). But Blocking one oil cooler shouldn't be a problem, we don't have an overly huge problem with oil temps anyways.

Jesus Martinez

California, especially southern California (greater Los Angeles area) are real jerks about a lot of the laws. They see a young looking dude ( I look 16) driving a sports car with aftermarket rims, they automatically assume I'm breaking a bunch of laws lol, so I don't want to risk not having the front plate. Besides, it doesn't hurt me to have it, just thought it would look nicer if it was in a place were a lot of Evo's have it, just didn't want to ruin the car by blocking an oil cooler.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

Jesus, welcome to the club
Lots of guys here in SoCal have relocated their license plates and as far as I know, Police usually don't mind or give you too much crap for it.
Just be very careful not to block the oil cooler (I know you mentioned this already) but when summer rolls around, you might run into cooling issues.

where abouts in SoCal are you?

Grace_Excel

iTrader: (5)

DMV manual states that the license plates are to be installed on the front of the bumper and 18" from the ground. I have mine installed the way you described it as an alternative for three years now and haven't had problems with the LAPD. As long as it is visible in front.

Jesus Martinez

I live in the San Fernando Valley. Which cops here tend to be the douchest of the douche because they're all high school drop outs who got picked on more than usual.

I'll relocate it to the bottom like yours also, cause it looks good. In case cops give me problems, I'll swap it higher and then contest the ticket I guess. I'm worried about blocking the oil cooler and something going wrong.

Grace_Excel

iTrader: (5)

Well, I always drive up to Van Nuys and Northridge area if that makes a difference. The top part of the plate will stick out about half an inch if you align he bottom of the plate to the front lip. It will not block your oil cooler but partially block the light of your fogs if you have one.

monchie

Both of my cars don't have license plate holes in the front, so I don't have to put one...

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

Jesus: mount it the way Grace did and you shouldn't have any issues. Just make sure you don't install a roof rack like he did.
However, you might want to check that attitude about cops in your area because if you do get stopped with that high opinion of the officers, you'll be in for a rough time.

monchie: you're in Vegas, where the laws are different so your experience in this matter is irrelevant.

Grace_Excel

iTrader: (5)

Ahw come on Jedi54, it's my daily-driver and if I have to load stuff like below, it comes very handy


Jesus, here are other pictures I have with my front license plate. You just have to ask yourself if you are willing to drill two holes on your bumper.

Jesus Martinez

Hey Grace, is your side marker amber or clear? And what color is the bulb? I'm thinking of getting clear side markers and bright blue led bulbs but who knows if this will attract the cops attention considering its not a side blinker.

Also, tomorrow first chance I get I will be moving the plate lower. I bought some generic JDM license plate relocator bracket, so I can just use the top holes in the plates to lower and not block off the oil cooler.

Btw, loving your hood. Is it carbon fiber, or its a OEM black hood?

Grace_Excel

iTrader: (5)

I had the JDM side markers but went back to OEM ambers. I broke the passenger side and waiting for a replacement. The hood is FRP wrapped with CF, so it's not a full CF hood, it's not obvious in the pictures but it needs a new clear coat.

monchie

That's why I like Vegas because you could have blue hid lights too...

Grace_Excel

iTrader: (5)

What's your point monchie?

Jesus Martinez

Grace, was it hard to change that part out? So I installed mine just like yours and it looks nicer and more low profile and now I don't run the risk of blowing up my car lol.

monchie

Don't worry about it...

Mazdaspeed RX8 ver2

I haven't had a front LP since i got the rx8 back in 04. Had two fix it tickets for it within that time. One in San Francisco during a Friday night in the clubbing areas which was my fault, the winning blue with ms kit and lowered isn't exactly a subtle car and one was down I5 on my way to sacramento in which i kinda was tailgating a cop a little and he decided to let me pass then give me a fix it ticket... other than that, no issues. I've never been haggled when i took trips to so cal, went there 7 times in the past two years and never got pulled over with no front LP. I was mainly around Disney Land and Universal Studios area though :P

Grace_Excel

iTrader: (5)

Bay Area/Sac-town and OC cops are very linient compared to LAPD. Try driving around L.A., I'd say you are lucky to not get cited for a ticket because even Meter-Maids are very keen to give one for not having a front license plate.

No, it's not hard. You turn your wheel inward and use a short Phillips head screw driver to remove three plastic tabs nearest to the corner light. Open the top fender liner and you will see a 10 mm/Phillips head bolt. Remove that and the corner light slides out.

Justinspeed79

I live in a fairly small town in Texas, but it's just north of Houston, so there's a lot of traffic and police around. Up until about three months ago I never used the front plate at all, but one day the sheriff pulled me over for it. He was pretty cool about it, but told me I had to put it on the car. I just stuck it in the gap between the dash and the windshield. I've driven by that same sheriff several times now and haven't been pulled over again. Not sure if that would fly in your area, but might be worth a try.

Grace_Excel

iTrader: (5)

Nope, like I stated above, the DMV manual states: the front license plate have to be fixed securely on the front bumper and 18" from the ground. Placing it on the dashboard poses a hazard during a collision, it becomes a projectile object.

Jesus Martinez

A sharp metal object that isn't securely strapped in front of my passenger... not sure I'd take that risk especially cause physics aren't exactly anyone's friend.