A word to the wise: avoid parking at O'Hare Airport. All plates are scanned. The cops cruise around looking for any excuse whatever to write tickets including no front plates. Very bad scene. Predatory enforcement at its finest.

 

Well with the economy circling the drain right now the po po are looking for revenue. So, they are going to ticket everyone for everything.

 

Guess they are taking the phrase, " Serving the public "TRUST" to heart....bunch of dolts.....

 

Hmmm. Imagine, the police enforcing the law? Who woulda thought?!?

 

Its probably because of their scanning techniques. I've heard from a family member that after forgetting where they parked their car asking security resulted in them giving a precise location of the car once given the license plate. I'm assuming because its too easy for them to notice given that they can just cruise by and use technology to make it easier. I'm wondering if your front plate was easily viewable from a vehicle passing by or not...

 

Chicago has the highest taxes, gas prices, careless parallel parkers ("that's what bumpers are for" types) and for some reason has **** parking enforcement/ticketing... It really is no fun to have a MINI here.

 

They do this at LAX and some other airports also.

 

I cracks me up when people get caught doing something illegal and complain when the cops are just doing their job. The people with two front plates didn't get a ticket, I bet.

 

Is this a State by State thing? I wasn't aware that front plates were ever required. o.Oa

 

Yes, it is state by state. Colorado requires two plates--one up front and one in back.

 

Yep. There's a bill in the IL legislature to eliminate the mandatory front plate and save the state about $1M ... but the StateCopsLobby is against it as a "safety issue": http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local...-82874887.html .
Until somebody bribes the right person in Springfield to let the bill out of committee, we're stuck.

 

As others have said, it is state by state. If your DMV only gave you a single plate then its a rather good assumption to make that you only need one! New York also requires in in front and back, but most people have claimed to not have an issue. Took my front plate off this week.

 

F double plate states!

 

Wow, there are only 19 States that have just one plate. The front plate law is more wide-spread than I thought. Being from Michigan, I'm stunned that our SoS isn't using this idea. They love vehicle fees, no matter how irrational they may seem.

 

Florida is a 1 plate state, so is most of the southern states.

 

Texas requires two, which really sucks. I've read on the boards before that in some states, I don't recall which ones, the dealerships are required to drill the holes for the front plate to be installed later. Thankfully, as far as I know, Texas does not have that particular requirement or we don't enforce it very well because I didn't even have to ask my dealership to NOT drill holes in my bumper.

Sorry to hear about your "violation!" It's a stupid law, in my opinion.

 

I had a mini which was totaled recently, but it had an aftermarket plate mount that screwed into the tow eye in the front bumper. I salvaged it since it was aftermarket and will use it on my new 2012 when it arrives. I asked the dealer not to install the front plate, had to sign a waiver form, and bought the plate mount afterward. I'm in Texas where they have also entertained doing away with the stupid front plate, but the po-po lobby is strong.

 

That is how Hawaii is. I have yet to plug the holes from where I had a front plate.

 

Lacy, I'm from north Dallas and would really like some clarification as the stupid "front plate" law is the most abused in Texas. I see 20 cars a DAY without front plates. Two co-workers own cars newer than my MINI and they told me the dealer did NOT give them two plates. If issued two plates before the "date," then could we remove the front plate? If the cops whine about it, I can just wait 30 seconds and then a car without a front plate will drive by. And I'll ask why that person isn't required to have it.

 

Beasleyboy, I'm in Dallas, too. A lot of people ignore the law but technically you can get ticketed for it. Personally, I can't afford a ticket so I have the tow hook license plate bracket. It's annoying but having to pay a fine for something so asinine is even more annoying to me. I've put a link below to the Metroplex Mini forum where the front license plate debacle was discussed a while back. I'm not an expert, by any means, but if you call the police department I'm sure that they can give you the full details regarding the law.

http://www.metroplexmini.org/forum/s...=license+plate