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      12-16-2012, 09:33 PM   #1
Quasimodem
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Stay on your Toes if you Run Front Plateless

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So I was waiting in the left hand turn lane and a cop crosses in front of me heading in the direction that I was turning. As he crossed in front of me he looked right at me, and I was quite aware that I didnt have a front plate(even though I have been running without a front plate for three and a half years with no problems). So I said to myself, I will bet this guy pulls over to wait until I pass him and jumps on my tail.

Sure enough, when I made my left turn I saw him pulled over on the right hand side. I didnt know if he was waiting for me or not, but I wasnt going to take the chance. I immediately pulled into the parking lot on the immediate right (in front of the Casket Outlet LOL) pulled in next to a minivan and started reading a book. After about five minutes I pulled out and made my right hand turn back the way I was going. As I did so, I looked left and a similar cruiser was pulling through the intersection going away from the way I was going.

Sure he probably got a call, pulled over, and ended up reversing his course to go to an incident, but I had a funny feeling he was looking for me. Then again maybe I am a bit jumpy from seeing The Hobbit yesterday.

I know, CSB.
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      12-17-2012, 01:36 AM   #2
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They'll get you sooner or later if you don't have a front plate...Our communist of a state needs their money. IMHO, it's not worth the risk and hassle.

I had been driving without a front plate over 15 years without issue, but then all the sudden got ticketed while parked on the street one day for missing plate. That was 5 years ago and needless to say that I've been driving with a front plate on all my cars since
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      12-17-2012, 08:33 AM   #3
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Why not have a front plate, what's the big deal about it. Where I live you'd be lucky to last a week without being stopped by the Police or ticketed by a parking warden.
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      12-17-2012, 08:35 AM   #4
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Wait - if a front plate is required in California, why don't California BMW dealers attach it? I have the holder they provided, but I figured it must be optional if it doesn't come attached...
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      12-17-2012, 08:59 AM   #5
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Very very few cops will waste their time and yours for only a front plate. They'll usually get you for speeding, running a light, etc and then look around for exhaust, tints, plates, etc.
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      12-17-2012, 09:07 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TotalPower View Post
Very very few cops will waste their time and yours for only a front plate. They'll usually get you for speeding, running a light, etc and then look around for exhaust, tints, plates, etc.
exhaust? what's the big deal about that? too noisy?
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      12-17-2012, 09:42 AM   #7
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Yeah, when I lived in CA, I never ran a front plate, had tinted windows and never got pulled over for those things. I did get parking tickets for it though, and used a cab when I was drinking, knowing that those two things would increase the odds of me getting pulled over.

In Texas, I've been pulled over a couple of times for no front plate, but never gotten a ticket for it.

You're giving them a justification to pull you over, if you're not comfortable with that, add the plate.
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      12-17-2012, 12:29 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mullini View Post
Wait - if a front plate is required in California, why don't California BMW dealers attach it? I have the holder they provided, but I figured it must be optional if it doesn't come attached...
If you sign a waiver and request that they dont punch holes in your bumper cover, they will throw the bracket in your back seat when you pick up your car instead of mounting it.

I have received a speeding ticket, I was clocked at 85 in a 65. He ticketed me for 75 and didnt say anything about front plate. Of course the guy who was tailgating me at 85 got away clean.
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      12-17-2012, 01:15 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeyV View Post
Why not have a front plate, what's the big deal about it. Where I live you'd be lucky to last a week without being stopped by the Police or ticketed by a parking warden.
It's fugly. Why pay more for the M Sport body and then stick a license plate on it? And besides, it's useless. Red light cameras (at least in California) take pictures of the front and back of your car and I'm not exactly anticipating being chased by the police in reverse...

I haven't had one for six years but I have a funny feeling that I'll post this and get pulled over today haha
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      12-17-2012, 06:14 PM   #10
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Well I verified it is the law in California. But I don't see any obvious place to attach the front holder. Am I missing something, or is this something I need the dealer to do? I certainly don't recall signing any waiver for the front plate...
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      12-17-2012, 06:34 PM   #11
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Most plate holder is contour to your specific bumper. Center it on your bumper and follow the contour of your plate holder...then drill the necessary holes to mount the holder. If you're not comfortable with drilling into your bumper, then take it to either a body shop (cheaper alternative) or the dealer.
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      12-20-2012, 09:26 AM   #12
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Does Cali require you to have the plate mounted on the bumper or just on the front of the vehicle somewhere? I have friends who used to velcro their front plate (Massachusetts) to the passenger visor and whenever they drove by a cop, they'd flip the visor down lol.
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      12-20-2012, 09:43 AM   #13
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Ugh I want to run sans front plate so badly, it's hideous...but the leos around my area have very little serious police work to do (not being an anti-cop brat, it's just the truth), and will happily pull you over for the sleightest infraction. DC cops are generally pretty relaxed as they have serious business to attend to, but Moco police and VA state troopers don't play around. I'm gunna install a tow hook mount so it's not quite as ugly, but i'll still have the stupid holes in my front bumper.
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      12-20-2012, 09:58 AM   #14
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what's the fine if you got caught for not having front license plate on?
$50 something?
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      12-20-2012, 11:42 AM   #15
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Gotta love montreal, only need a rear plate. Then again it falls off easy since we hit every crater on the road and sometimes valleys... middlefinger to potholes
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      12-20-2012, 12:38 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GentleWen View Post
what's the fine if you got caught for not having front license plate on?
$50 something?
$120 here. I was warned last summer by a motorcycle cop as we passed each other on a narrow residential street. As we pulled even he told me to stop, gave me a lecture and said next time he saw me without them it would cost me $120. I said all the 'yes, sirs, no sirs' to make him happy (after all that's what they really want) but it's still not on and i have no plans to. For the last 8 years spanning 2 cars, I've run without. Although it's been more than 20 years since i was last pulled over.
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      12-20-2012, 01:18 PM   #17
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In Texas I find its the State Troopers and Rural cops that will pull you over for it. The 2 times I've been pulled over I told them "I just didn't want to ruin this beautiful car by drilling holes in the front bumper, would you take a drill to your brand new BMW?" Got a warning both times.
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      12-20-2012, 07:23 PM   #18
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Where I live you'd be lucky to last a week without being stopped by the Police or ticketed by a parking warden.
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      12-22-2012, 09:26 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mosx View Post
In Texas I find its the State Troopers and Rural cops that will pull you over for it. The 2 times I've been pulled over I told them "I just didn't want to ruin this beautiful car by drilling holes in the front bumper, would you take a drill to your brand new BMW?" Got a warning both times.
Really? That works for you? LOL. If I was a cop and you gave me that line I'd ticket you, search your car, plant some contraband, arrest you and lock you up.
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      12-22-2012, 09:59 AM   #20
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www.skenedesign.com I use it-no visible holes
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      12-22-2012, 07:14 PM   #21
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So, I'm an Alaskan state resident and my '12 335xi is registered in Alaska (inspected in NY) and I drive in NY. Both Alaska and New York are 2 plate states. I only drive with a back plate, because I'm under the assumption that NY police can't ticket me for violating an Alaska state law, and NY police can't ticket an out of state car for violating a NY specific law. Do you think I've found a loophole? I hope, because I just bought a custom Euro plate for the front. Thoughts? Thanks!
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      12-22-2012, 07:31 PM   #22
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Originally Posted by DEWBMW View Post
So, I'm an Alaskan state resident and my '12 335xi is registered in Alaska (inspected in NY) and I drive in NY. Both Alaska and New York are 2 plate states. I only drive with a back plate, because I'm under the assumption that NY police can't ticket me for violating an Alaska state law, and NY police can't ticket an out of state car for violating a NY specific law. Do you think I've found a loophole? I hope, because I just bought a custom Euro plate for the front. Thoughts? Thanks!
Technically yes. However, as others have stated, if the NY policeman knows Alaska requires two plates, but can't ticket you for it, they'll just ticket you for anything else they can. You're parked? Oh look too far from curb, ticket. Moving? Failed to signal that lane swap, ticket.
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