I have a German (European Delivery) plate up front, and another behind my rear plate, and I still haven't been hassled with it.

I think that sometimes LEO's just want to see something up front...

 

ok, now that i know where everyone was when they got their tix, (i was parked in so. pas.), how do you mount the front plate. I've tried, but there are no holes or brackets. can anyone help?
thanks

 

For what it's worth, here is the law, keep a copy in your glove box with your front plate and figure a way around it. Your front plate must be at least 12" above the ground, and no more than 60" above, visible, and secured enough to keep it from swinging..

VEHICLE CODE SECTION 5200-5206

5200. (a) When two license plates are issued by the department for use upon a vehicle, they shall be attached to the vehicle for whichthey were issued, one in the front and the other in the rear. (b) When only one license plate is issued for use upon a vehicle,it shall be attached to the rear thereof, unless the license plate is issued for use upon a truck tractor, in which case the license plateshall be displayed in accordance with Section 4850.5. 5201. License plates shall at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle for which they are issued so as to prevent the plates from swinging, shall be mounted in a position so as to be clearly visible,and shall be maintained in a condition so as to be clearly legible.The rear license plate shall be mounted not less than 12 inches normore than 60 inches from the ground, and the front license plate shall be mounted not more than 60 inches from the ground, except as follows: (a) The rear license plate on a tow truck may be mounted on the left-hand side of the mast assembly at the rear of the cab of the vehicle, not less than 12 inches nor more than 90 inches from the ground. (b) The rear license plate on a tank vehicle hauling hazardous waste, as defined in Section 25117 of the Health and Safety Code, or asphalt material may be mounted not less than 12 inches nor more than 90 inches from the ground. (c) The rear license plate on a truck tractor may be mounted atthe rear of the cab of the vehicle, not less than 12 inches nor more than 90 inches from the ground. (d) The rear license plate of a vehicle designed by the manufacturer for the collection and transportation of garbage, rubbish, or refuse that is used regularly for the collection and transportation of that material by any person or governmental entity employed to collect, transport, and dispose of garbage, rubbish, or refuse may be mounted not less than 12 inches nor more than 90 inches from the ground. (e) The rear license plate on a two-axle livestock trailer may be mounted 12 inches or more, but not more than 90 inches, from the ground. (f) No covering may be used on license plates except as follows: (1) The installation of a cover over a lawfully parked vehicle to protect it from the weather and the elements does not constitute a violation of this subdivision. Any peace officer or other regularly salaried employee of a public agency designated to enforce laws,including local ordinances, relating to the parking of vehicles may temporarily remove so much of the cover as is necessary to inspect any license plate, tab, or indicia of registration on a vehicle. (2) The installation of a license plate security cover is not a violation of this subdivision if the device does not obstruct or impair the recognition of the license plate information, including, but not limited to, the issuing state, license plate number, and registration tabs, and the cover is limited to the area directly over the top of the registration tabs. No portion of a license plate security cover shall rest over the license plate number. (g) No casing, shield, frame, border, or other device that obstructs or impairs the reading or recognition of a license plate by a remote emission sensing device, as specified in Sections 44081 and44081.6 of the Health and Safety Code, shall be installed on, or affixed to, a vehicle. (h) (1) It is the Legislature's intent that an accommodation be made to persons with disabilities and to those persons who regularly transport persons with disabilities, to allow the removal and relocation of wheelchair lifts and wheelchair carriers without the necessity of removing and reattaching the vehicle's rear licenseplate. Therefore, it is not a violation of this section if the reading or recognition of a rear license plate is obstructed or impaired by a wheelchair lift or wheelchair carrier and all of the following requirements are met: (A) The owner of the vehicle has been issued a special identification license plate pursuant to Section 5007, or the person using the wheelchair that is carried on the vehicle has been issued a distinguishing placard under Section 12511.55. (B) (i) The operator of the vehicle displays a decal, designed and issued by the department, that contains the license plate number assigned to the vehicle transporting the wheelchair. (ii) The decal is displayed on the rear window of the vehicle, in a location determined by the department, in consultation with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, so as to be clearly visible to law enforcement. (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a decal is displayed pursuant to this subdivision, the requirements of this code that require the illumination of the license plate and the license plate number do not apply. (3) The department shall adopt regulations governing the procedures for accepting and approving applications for decals, and issuing decals, authorized by this subdivision. (4) This subdivision does not apply to a front license plate. 5202. Every license plate issued by this State or any other jurisdiction within or without the United States shall remain attached during the period of its validity to the vehicle for which it is issued while being operated within this State or during thetime the vehicle is being held for sale in this State, or until such time as a vehicle with special or identification plates is no longer entitled to such plates and no person shall operate, nor shall an owner knowingly permit to be operated, upon any highway any vehicle unless the license plate is so attached. Special permits issued in lieu of plates shall be attached and displayed on the vehicle forwhich issued during the period of their validity. 5203. This chapter does not apply to plates which the department pursuant to law has ordered to be surrendered, transferred to another vehicle, or removed. 5204. (a) Except as provided by subdivisions (b) and (c), a tab shall indicate the year of expiration and a tab shall indicate the month of expiration. Current month and year tabs shall be attached to the rear license plate assigned to the vehicle for the last preceding registration year in which license plates were issued, and, when so attached, the license plate with the tabs shall, for the purposes of this code, be deemed to be the license plate, except that truck tractors, and commercial motor vehicles having a declared gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or more, shall display the current month and year tabs upon the front license plate assigned to the truck tractor or commercial motor vehicle. Vehicles that fail to display current month and year tabs or display expired tabs are inviolation of this section. (b) The requirement of subdivision (a) that the tabs indicate the year and the month of expiration does not apply to fleet vehicles subject to Article 9.5 (commencing with Section 5300) or vehicles defined in Section 468. (c) Subdivision (a) does not apply when proper application for registration has been made pursuant to Section 4602 and the new indicia of current registration have not been received from the department. (d) This section is enforceable against any motor vehicle that is driven, moved, or left standing upon a highway, or in an off street public parking facility, in the same manner as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 4000. 5205. The department may make appropriate rules and regulations for the use and display of stickers or devices issued in lieu of license plates, and shall publish a summary thereof. 5205.5. (a) For the purposes of implementing Section 21655.9,beginning July 1, 2000, and through December 31, 2003, the department, in consultation with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, shall make available for issuance, for a fee determined by the department to be sufficient to reimburse the department for actual costs incurred pursuant to this section, distinctive decals, labels, or other identifiers for vehicles that meet California's ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV) standard for exhaust emissions and the federal ILEV evaporative emission standard, as defined in Part 88 (commencing with Section 88.101-94) of Title40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, in a manner that clearly distinguishes them from other vehicles. (b) For the purposes of implementing Section 21655.9, beginning January 1, 2004, and through December 31, 2007, the department shall make available for issuance, for a fee determined by the department to be sufficient to reimburse the department for actual costs incurred pursuant to this section, distinctive decals, labels, andother identifiers for vehicles that meet California's super ultra-lowemission vehicle (SULEV) standard for exhaust emissions and the federal inherently low-emission vehicle (ILEV) evaporative emission standard, as defined in Part 88 (commencing with Section 88.101-94)of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, in a manner that clearly distinguishes them from other vehicles. (c) The department shall include a summary of the provisions of this section on each motor vehicle registration renewal notice, or on a separate insert, if space is available and the summary can be included without incurring additional printing or postage costs. (d) The Governor may remove individual high-occupancy vehicle(HOV) lanes, or portions of those lanes, during periods of peak congestion from the ILEV access provisions provided in subdivisions(a) and (b), following a finding by the Department of Transportationas follows: (1) The lane, or portion thereof, exceeds a level of service C, as discussed in subdivision (b) of Section 65089 of the Government Code. (2) The operation or projected operation of the vehicles described in subdivisions (a) and (b) in these lanes, or portions thereof, will significantly increase congestion. The finding also shall demonstrate the infeasibility of all eviating the congestion by other means, including, but not limited to, reducing the use of the lane by noneligible vehicles, further increasing vehicle occupancy, or adding additional capacity. (e) For purposes of subdivisions (a) and (b), the Department ofthe California Highway Patrol shall design and specify the placement of the decal, label, or other identifier on the vehicle. Each decal, label, or other identifier issued for a vehicle shall display a unique number, which number shall be printed on, or affixed to, the vehicle registration. (f) If the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, serving as the Bay Area Toll Authority, grants toll-free and reduced-rate passage on toll bridges under its jurisdiction to any vehicle pursuant to Section 30102.5 of the Streets and Highways Code, it shall also grant the same toll-free and reduced-rate passage to vehicles displaying avalid ULEV or SULEV identifier issued by the department pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b). (g) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,2008, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2008, deletes or extends that date. 5206. Vehicles for which weight fees are paid on a partial year basis shall display a certificate or insignia issued by the department, which shall state the end of the period for which the vehicle is licensed.

 

I would be very interested in knowing what vehicle code you are being cited for.

I just helped my son beat a plate violation

He was cited as 5200
Display of licence plates
BLAH BLAH when 2 plates are issued they must both be ATTACHED...
(his was attached but, hung from and subsiquently folded up on to the stering system of his HUGE 4x4. It was attached you couldn't SEE it so they cited him for the wrong code)

Section 5201 is POSITIONING OF PLATES
BLAH BLAH ... CLEARLY VISABLE...

The reasion this is so interesting is that I am trying to see if we could BEND or Cut the plates, almost wrap around.

 

How about keeping your front plate under the passenger side mat. If you see a "suspicious" CHP or other police officer, pull the plate out and place it on your dash board (passenger side). It is then above the 12", below the 60", visible, and it does not swing. Sounds like you meet the "letter of the law".

 

mini pooper,

Must be attached, no laying on the dash.

I don't have a front plate, I will pay the $10.00 (and stand in line 1/2 hour to 45 minutes to pay it). It allows the officer to write you a ticket for something that is not moving. I got clocked on a radar at <100 (not much) and got written for no front plate....

Earl

 

Earl,

Thanks for the input. I understand that the penality is now much greater than $10. More like $100+, first offense and it's not just a "fix-it-ticket".

As Bill Clinton put it, "define attached".

As I read the law, it says: "License plates shall at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle for which they are issued so as to prevent the plates from swinging, shall be mounted in a position so as to be clearly visible"

 

I know many just ATTACH it to the passenger sun visor and flip it down when the see Mr. CHP. Visible plates that are SECURELY fastened. ont sure how it would play out with the swinging thing though

 

How about velcroing it to the back side of the passenger's visor... attach it when being pulled over.

 

Cool............That's got my vote. Securely as in the rubber band you get on asparagus bunches! That's damn secure.

As far as the visor, I would define that as "flipping" not "swinging".

 

Its all in the wording.

 

That's what we have attorneys for! And that why we pay them the BIG $$$$. SO they can help us define what it takes not to have a front license plate on our MINI

 

Thanks for posting the law Norm. On my new tow hook mounted license plate bracket the bottom of the plate is only 9-5/8" above the ground. Tomorrow I will have to redesign it to move it up another 2-3/8" to meet the requirement of the law when I have it attached to the front of my Mini.

 

The front plate does NOT have a min spec only a MAX

 

Perhaps you are right. Leave it to the wisdom in Sacramento to write and re-write these laws. I guess it depends on which version you are looking at.

5201. License plates shall at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle for which they are issued so as to prevent the plates from swinging, shall be mounted in a position so as to be clearly visible, and shall be maintained in a condition so as to be clearly legible. The rear license plate shall be mounted not less than 12 inches nor more than 60 inches from the ground, and the front license plate shall be mounted not more than 60 inches from the ground, except as follows:

 

I've never had a front plate on any of my cars.... Never had problems in California cause they werent required in Placer County

 

Here is the Law of the State of CA as provided by the DMV on their website:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d03/vc5201.htm

As far as I know this applies to ALL counties in CA. If Placer County has some exclusion, I'd like to know.

 

I won't be as hostile as 'sndwave' but I drive a considerable amount also. Luckily, I live in an area where they (police, CHP) have bigger fish to fry. Sorry for those who have rec'd tickets for this.

 

Here in NY it seems that State and local Police Have nothing to be more concerned about. I have had one Ticket From a state trooper. One ticket from a parking officer (car parked @ train station) and 3 warnings from the SAME town cop!! I dont think he will give me a fourth, i guess i will just have to avoid that town, lol

 

I've had some experiences with the front plate issue on my current car. I used to just put it on, get it signed off, pay the "fix-it" fine ($10), then take it off again. I hated the look of the plate on the front bumper, just looked so out of place. This process has happened a few times, but the last time, a CHP pulled me over on the freeway to give me a ticket for no front plate. Is it profiling? Perhaps. I just thought it was too much, and just left it on since.

BTW, I've tried both the "pull out from under the passenger mat and place on dash securely", as well as mounting on the passenger visor. None of them worked, as neither place was deemed "secure" enough other than the mounting plates on the front bumper. Maybe if you get a good lawyer, you'd get them to accept either.

/sigh

 

I'm born/raised in San Francisco. From my past family experiences, cops will ticket you for:

-no front license plates
-license plates on front dashboard
-license plate plastic covers

Since I live in SF, I opted for the tow hook mount and no one has complained that it's less than 12" to the ground.

 

I've never been ticketed in my mini, but when I owned my bmw a cop pulled me over and asked why I didn't have my front plate on. I told her it was attached and it fell off while driving the week before. She asked why didn't I put it back on. I then showed it to her and it was folded about 3 - 4 times from the other cars running over it. She let me go and I had a good laugh. Every time since I just show the cop the plate and they let me off. Happened about 3 times total.

 

I bought my car from someone in TN where they don't require a front plate - unlike where I live in NE. I refuse to put a front plate on and will pay the ticket from the bored cop who bothers. 99% of all of the Corvettes in this and every other state don't bother either, and it's dumb to require them.
If someone could show how many crimes have been solved, or what benefit a front plate has served - I might think differently. The states that require this could cut the amount they spend in 1/2 simply by getting rid of this law. States are always trying to save money where they can - why not do something as easy as this?

...stepping of my soapbox.

 

Ok, this is weird. My car is 1.5 years old.
The DMV only ever sent me one plate. Obviously I put
it on the back with nothing in the front.
Never felt like going through DMV hassle to get another
that I don't even want to use, but if I get a ticket one
day I guess I'm going to have to figure that out.

 

Did you double check to see that it wasn't two plates stuck together?
Not that I haven't used that line before, but I've never actually received only one plate.