I use the tow hook front plate mount right now, but I'm considering taking the front plate off since it still doesn't look good on the car. I know people who used to never run a front plate and never got stopped by cops, but now people tell me things have changed and the cops really ticket for that in both the burbs and city.

Anyone go without a front plate for a long time without any issues form the cops? And do you ever go into Chicago, or mostly just suburbs?

 

I have tried it a couple of times in the past here in MN, and got pulled over almost immediately and issued a fix-it-ticket. :-/ Granted, this was years ago.

 

Here in Texas, they require front and rear plates....never put front plates on any of my cars for years, and have yet to be pulled over...hope I haven't jinxed myself.

 

Haven't run one on the MINI since new. The 06 I had never had a plate, and the 02 i picked up, never has a plate.... even though the holes are there from the previous owner.

On the other hand the bright orange camaro hasn't had one for about 6 days and I hold 3 tickets in my hand... Yeah, I can fight them, but its just a hassle.

I havent had any issues with the MINI in the city, considering my gf lives in the city, the car is parked there A LOT!! But I also am down there after hours, uncommon for parking officals to look for no front plates.

My best words GOOD LUCK!!

 

I have been front plateless in Texas for 10 years now. I got pulled over half way to Austin coming from Houston once about 5 years ago, and I got a warning. I think the cop was just hoping to find something else once he pulled me over. But that was in my loud blacked out truck. no one suspects a mini cooper to be up to no good.

 

Haven't run a plate since I got my 1st MINI, and still don't have one on my Coupe.... I have NEVER had any problems, never even had a cop say anything about it, and I drive to and from Chicago every day (I work downtown in the Loop). I've had good luck with it so far.

 

I've had my BRG 07 S Sidewalk for two years now, and I have yet to be pulled over. I actually had some work done on my Mini a little less than a year ago, and the self-righteous head mechanic at the shop decided it was his duty to go ahead and drill two holes in my front bumper to fasten the license plate there. I took the plate off on the spot, but there are two nasty holes left behind. Of course, I can't do much about this seeing as it is state law to have one, but come on!!

Oh p.s I got one ticket (50$!!!) parked on a street next to the local high school, as it is almost exclusively populated by students and the metermaids will look for any excuse to ticket kids. Other than that, no issues.

 

The time I had my Supra, 2005-2010, I didn't run a front plate. Most of the driving was in the west/northwest suburbs. Never got stopped.

 

I would have demanded that the shop pay to fill and paint and or replace the bumper. YOU DONT DRILL HOLES INTO A CAR THAT IS NOT YOURS!

I would have been unbelievably pissed

 

I'm real tempted to take off the front plate now. But I'm also getting the windows tinted next week, so I'm not sure if it'll make it stand out as a target though ill be only doing the legal 35% tint.

 

I have 20% tint all around and never had a paroble but i got a ticket for no front plate when i even hade the plate in my car...

 

I don't have front plate brackets on my MINI or my M3. Never had a problem in the St. Louis area for last 6 years on the M3 or the MINI over the last few months. I carry the front plate with me in the boot/trunk. I am knocking on wood now.

 

I've had mine for almost 3 years and don't have a front plate. I got 1 ticket when I was parked in DesPlaines on the street. Now when I visit the inlaws I park in their driveway with my tail to the street. I too had the bumper replaced but they asked before drilling. There are dimples where it should go but no holes. My answer to the cop will be, "but officer, the holes don't match up. What if I drill into an airbag sensor?"

 

I've been running without a front plate in the San Francisco Bayarea since new (2010). I've never had an issue with LEOs. Recently I installed a custom Europlate; today while leaving my neighborhood two LEOs coming the other way followed me out onto the main road and one continued to followed me for about a mile. I know he saw the plate but evidently he did not care and turned down another road.
That is my experience; your mileage may vary.



=Laserjock=

 

That's one of the very few perks of living in AZ. A front plate is not required

 

Lucky you. I've gotten two tickets for no front plate in the Loop, though those were during workday hours. I've had one of those meter maids try to write me up while sitting in the damn car waiting for my girlfriend outside a Starbucks (in a 15-minute standing zone)! I drove away and flipped her the bird before circling the block.

If you see one of them pointing their little "Nintendo Blasters" at you, they're taking a picture to go along with your ticket, so act accordingly. For the record, that is not legal advice.

I understand traffic safety is a legitimate concern, but when it's being used to line pockets, it becomes a nuisance. I'm running one of those tow-hook plate mounts as well just so I can stop paying all these bull$hit parking fines. I take it off to clean the bumper once in awhile, but I always put it on before heading back home to Chicago.

 

I think it matters what you have in its place :P



I've had three vehicles not have a plate on and only gotten two warning. But those were in conjunction with other forms of naughty happenings.

 

Well, I was wrong about not running the front plate.... Welcome to AURORA, Thanks for the Ticket...

It says it was wrote at 3:30am... Wow, I didnt even know the parking police works so late? Heck, the rest of the city shuts down at 5pm!!

I can't even pay the ticket after 5pm!!

 

That bites

 

If you were in downtown Aurora, park in the casino parking garage... we do all the time on Tuesday's for trivia at Ballydoyle... after like 10pm or 11pm its free/unattended.

 

I've lived in Chicagoland my whole life and I've been driving for 11 years. I've never had a front plate on any of my sports cars and only a few of my daily drivers. I've probably gotten only a handful of tickets for it in the past 11 years, and I've only gotten them in addition to whatever they were really stopping me for (speeding, etc.).

It actually saved my bacon one time when I was younger. I was doing some e-brake power slides in my neighborhood side streets and an officer was just sitting on the side of the road for some reason and I came around the corner completely sideways, he pulled me over and I gave him the "the brakes locked up" shtick. He said no, it was obviously intentional, and then he said "You have two minutes to find something else wrong with this car or I'm getting you on disobeying that stop sign and reckless driving." I instantly said "I have no front license plate!" He went and looked, wrote that ticket ($25), and then let me by on my way.

 

No front plate or bracket on mine since 10/07. No tickets, just a few looks here and there from officer friendly. South/West suburbs. I'd be more concerned if I was younger and still going to bars 6 nights a week. Its an excuse to pull you over.

My 2000 Trans AM never had a front plate either, didnt want to lose the stock "bird" cover. I got one $25 ticket and that was when I parked downtown at a meter. I hardly ever go downtown, and usually take the wifes car when I do.

 

I was stopped twice within 15 minutes in Ohio and had to show the second officer my warning from the state police. Then again, I was 19 and had a car that looked like it was straight out of the original Fast N Furious movie, a white civic, lowered, wings west body kit, etc., so I looked like I wanted to be pulled over I am sure. Also, it was Ohio, they are really critical there.

 

A quick ticket for me several times, so the plate and ugly bracket went back on!

 

I took mine off, but if I park somewhere, I throw it into the front windshield. (I carry it in the boot).