[HapkidoNinja]

A friend just got a notice from Audi Barrier Motors via email in Bellevue informing him that law enforcement officials in Bellevue, Redmond, and a few other cities nearby will begin vigorously enforcing the front plate law from 2011, which if you are caught without a front plate carries a $125 fine. Barrier was offering all customers free mounting to avoid the fine.

Has anyone heard anything similar from their contacts in the area?
Alternatively, if so, has anyone had experience with a product like the Hide-Away plate holder? Other solutions out there folks recommend? I really don't want to drill the bumper of a new BMW and the look of the current plates and frame are fugly.

[Taran.J]

Tow hook plate. But yes WSP has always done $124 tickets and are worse in the south sound IMO.

[HapkidoNinja]

Funny, I have been driving a Trans Am since summer of 1999 with no front plate and yet WSP has never ticketed me for that. They did pull me over once for lead foot syndrome but I was let off with a warning to keep the speed down. I think the guy just wanted a closer look at my car.

I will check out the tow hook option, Thanks.

[doug piston]

I still roll without a front plate, I feel the tow hook versions look a bit off.

[yogi]

Originally Posted by HapkidoNinja

A friend just got a notice from Audi Barrier Motors via email in Bellevue informing him that law enforcement officials in Bellevue, Redmond, and a few other cities nearby will begin vigorously enforcing the front plate law from 2011, which if you are caught without a front plate carries a $125 fine. Barrier was offering all customers free mounting to avoid the fine.

what a dog shit law to enforce. so much for serving and protecting. just like the redlight cameras, they are pickpocketing drivers through enforcement of trivial laws

[HapkidoNinja]

Originally Posted by yogi

what a dog shit law to enforce. so much for serving and protecting. just like the redlight cameras, they are pickpocketing drivers through enforcement of trivial laws

At least with cameras they can claim that it prevents drivers from zipping around corners without coming to a complete stop on red, or trying to squeeze through a red light - ever notice how they squint when doing that?

This is a pure legalized collection agency. In this day and age they should really kill the whole front plate idea anyway and do something more useful.

[yogi]

Originally Posted by HapkidoNinja

At least with cameras they can claim that it prevents drivers from zipping around corners without coming to a complete stop on red, or trying to squeeze through a red light - ever notice how they squint when doing that?

This is a pure legalized collection agency. In this day and age they should really kill the whole front plate idea anyway and do something more useful.

the cameras have actually been shown to cause/increase collisions due to the hard braking of drivers trying to avoid a bullshit ticket.

[carzaddict]

my dealer delivered a car to me without the front plate because of how ugly it looks on the car. unfortunately i had to make him put it on too many people i know have gotten tickets

[HapkidoNinja]

I am waiting for my plates but already have the towhook mount installed....Nobody is drilling my bumper!

[doug piston]

Just was hit this Saturday. Pulled over strictly for not having a front plate.

[HapkidoNinja]

Originally Posted by doug piston

Just was hit this Saturday. Pulled over strictly for not having a front plate.

Ouch! Was it WSP or one of the local yokels?

[doug piston]

WSP. Wasn't even speeding. Stater flipped around on a 4 lane highway.

[lbear]

Oregon is real stinky about this too. I have a Jeep Rubicon and they have no front plate mounts at all. I had to sandwich it under the winch fairlead bracket.

[hill]

They're stepping up enforcement to make sure that their cameras can identify the car. I guess a rear viewing camera will sometimes be blurrier because the subject is receding (hopefully at a BMW rate of speed) and there've been people winning by taking their bill to court to say "It was never me!" and the photo was indistinct enough for a dismissal.

So some mayors says "Hey, we're losing money - need better photos" and the dutiful tax collectors go out charged with the task of catching and ticketing non-compliant no front plate citizens.

I think that with the ridiculously high "use" tax on car registration it should mean we've paid to "use" the roads any way we please within the bounds of safe operation.

[FFM]

I got one not too long ago, $215.

Not sure why Bellingham would be so much but that's insanity. I went to court over it just to hear it from the judges mouth as to why this fine would be more than no seat belt or even a damn speeding ticket.

He didn't have a good answer, I assume it's easy money for the department.