i just got a fixit ticket to attach my front licence plate-- what came with my car is an uninstalled front licence plate frame with only three screws-- two for attaching the plate itself to the frame, and only one to attach to the grill. the only place i see that will hold the screw is on one side of the plate frame...after screwing this into the front grill, the other side is always loose. am i suppose to have two screws to attach this frame to the car, or is it just this one screw, and i'm doing this wrong? it'll be great if someone can advise me on how to do this. thanks for your time.

 

Check out: http://www.finishlineperformance.com...09_015_03.html for instructions.

 

huhsler-
hey thanks for the quick response and info-- much appreciated!

 

Seng,

Where do you live?

How long had you been driving before getting nailed?

I *hate* front plate requirements. And they really bung up the 8's appearance!

 

I've been meaning to start a thread about this. I live in CA, driving with no front plate for 5 months and no problem (though I had a temp plate for 2 months.) This includes the gate guards at military bases who are usually real **** about this stuff. Anyone else getting away with this? If so, what state are you from?

 

seng lung,

How much of a legal problem anyone might have will depend on the specific language of your state's pertinent law. That, and how vigorously law enforcement agencies choose to enforce it.

The dealer should have installed the plate bracket, though. Or did you ask them not to?

 

I've had no plate on mine for almost 5 months in cali
no problems yet

 

Live in California, have had car for 4.5 months, been pulled over twice (don't even know why) but the officers didn't sweat me for having any plates (front or back).

 

I'm sure I'm jinxing myself by posting this, but...

I've never had a front plate on my '91 Miata. Yep, since '91. No tickets. No front plate on the '00 Miata or the 8, either. I'm sure I'm seen by at least one law enforcement officer per day, since I work near a sheriff's station and commute the So. CA freeways regularly.

I know my '00 Miata was thoroughly checked out by an Anaheim PD officer just this past Saturday night as he cruised by me on the 91 freeway; of course, it might have been the fact that I was driving topless with lit Christmas lights along my windshield header and windstop on my way to a club run.

I'm just waiting for a cop to show up at the staging area of a Miata club run. What a $hi+load of "no front plate" tickets he could write there!

 

Your dealer was supposed to attach it as part of the dealer prep procedure, so if it's not attached you should bring it back to have them do it for free.

The only reason that won't work is if you specifically requested for them to leave it off, and even then they have to add it unless you signed a waiver.

 

ARe you a female? Then I could easily understand him overlooking the plates under these circumstances. LOL

 

I have been driving for nearly two months in Washington without a front plate on. Never been pulled over and most likely won't either. I hate the front plate and I took it off the 2nd day I had the car. Cops can't read your plates while your going the opposite direction anyway and if someone stole your car I am sure that they would have to put on a fake plate anyway since there are not enough of them on the road to blend in with.

 

There are numerous examples of a-hole cops in WI who like to throw everything they can at you. I think I'll resort to taking it off like 93rd does and just keep it in the trunk, "in case."

 

I live in Wisconsin and haven't had the front plate since I got the car in August. No trouble yet.

 

Guys:

Been driving my 3gen since '97 w/o a front plate (northern SD County) and no prob yet, including the times I've been ticketed for (ahem) other infractions.

Don't plan to put one on my '8 next week either.

 

Yo, booth. Welcome to the club and congrats on the new '8. Glad to hear the local cops aren't bothering you; maybe they just respect fine cars (not!) Hey, check out the West forum. there are 2 or 3 rides coming up over the holiday you might like to join up on.

 

Ran my Mustang for 3 years in Texas (with one pull-over for an erratic lane-change--warning ticket issued) and never have been hassled about no front plate. My wife has run with no front plate on her TransAm for the past two years. I'm not planning on putting one on my 8. I hear that most cops in Texas will issue you a warning ticket for a front-plate infraction anyway. Roughly 1 out of 5 cars down here runs with no front plate, so it's hard to take it seriously.....

 

No front plate on my Ford Probe GT since '94. No front plate goes on my 8 either.

 

No front plate on my 8 since July delivery.

 

Well, I just asked my salesperson to leave it off, and they did. No waiver signed.

Been driving daily without since July 25 (knock on wood). I do keep the plate in the trunk, though. I plan on using the "I'm just waiting for the bracket to come in" line. I'm thinking I can use that for a while, but eventually, that won't work any more.

 

I just took the bracket off myself. You'd need a magnifying glass and lots of time to tell it had ever been there. I need to dirty up my plate a bit and pretend like it was on, but keeps coming off.

Thats my story and I'm sticking with it... ;-)

 

That's good, and I plan on doing the same. Perhaps the cops around Madison aren't as **** as the Milwaukee Sherrifs or some of the suburban forces, because I know a number of folks that have gotten nailed for it.

That said, I plan on pushing the envelope until ticketed. :D

 

Woo Hoo!!! Maybe enforce we can repeal that stupid law.

 

I used to get tickets with my cars just parked in front of the house, so I had to install them.

Heck, parked outside resturants and such on major streets you'll get a ticket too.

(San Francisco)

 

I'm also military. I haven't had a front plate and no problems on post or anywhere here in GA. I also have a '92 miata and when I took it home to VA last year I got pulled over 2x on the same trip. I really don't see how they can tell that fast on the interstate but whatever you do, put them on in VA.