Help!!

I just got a $50 ticket for not having my Front License Plate on. I now want to attach it so I can try to get out of the ticket and not get another one. How do I install it? I have a 2005 Convertible. I found some kind of plastic bracket piece in the trunk that looks like it is meant for the plate but I don't know where it goes. Help, I dont want another ticket! Thanks,

 

If you have a Cooper, there should be an obvious place for your plate.
I'm guessing that you have an MCSC with nowhere to attach a plate on the front. If so, you have to mount that plastic bracket on your front bumper by screwing it in, or by drilling mounting holes and bolting it on. If you look closely, there should be two small divots or dimples in the middle of the bumper. They will line up with the screw holes in the bracket. Get some screws, line up with the dimples and attach your bracket. Next, cry for a bit as your car is no longer a virgin. Then attach the front plate to the bracket. Then get the ticket erased.

 

Use double face tape if you don't want holes in the front bumper.

I read a few threads that people have done this and they seemed good with it. Here in Florida we don't have to worry about a front plate.

 

front windshield or get that M7 grill and link it onto there through the mesh.

 

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Just take it to the dealer, they'll do it for ya!


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yea, that sucks. I dont have my front plate on either(body kit looks stupid cluttered up with a license plate) and have gotten pulled over(no ticket) also. I live in south WI.

I would say double side tape also, if you dont want to drill the holes in the bumper.

If you dont mind a front license plate, the S bumper usually just has 2 holes that the plastic plate holder attaches to.

Whichever the case, get the plate on by court date, and it will get dropped.

 

That's actually not true anymore with the 2005 Models- wheather it be Cooper or S there isn't a built in bracket anymore.

Take the plate you found in your truck to your local dealer and they should install it for you.....OR if you brave enough find the middle of your bumper, hook it into your lower chrome grill and start screwing (use the bottom holes).

I saw go back to the dealer you bought the car from and ask your MA to help!

-C

 

I agree with taking it to the dealer.

One tip: See if they can mount it so the top of the plate doesn't overlap the middle grille (the thin one). Mine does, and I'm going to see if they can move it down a little lower (and put it on level!). Looks like it's possible.

 

My '02 MCS and my '05 MCSC both had the dimples described above.

 

You didn't keep your front plate in the trunk and showed the officer?

 

i have mine zip tied to the passenger sun visor. if i pass a cop, i flip it down in case he follows me.


"...but officer, its right here in the window, right in plain sight!"

haha, believe it or not, it actually works!!!

 

that's why I told him front windshield but I guess everyone thought I was joking >_>

 

I don't believe they pull you over for not having a front plate here in CA ... anyone else know different? My 89 Camaro has *NEVER* had a front plate ... funny thing.... I just took it off tonight, so it has always been on there.... I took it off, so I can go to the DMV, and assign the plate to my MINI (yes, a customer plate) ... sigh... that stupid piece of metal has sentimental value also... dam, all those Reg stickers MAN!

Speaker of Reg stickers, anyone have a better way, than applying them to your plate so they never come off again? There has GOT to be a better way, than letting them pile up, then trying to scrap them off every few years!

Also, I want to know if anyone has removed thier front plate on thier MINI (the camaro was easy, the screws where hidden behind the front grill ) ... did you have to go to a body shop to have them fill in the little holes? Unfortunately, Irvine MINI drills ALL thier MINIs for front plates :(

Doug

 

Sorry Doug, it is illegal not to have a front and rear plate. Since I realized that (and no I STILL haven't put my front plate on either) I haven't been pulled over for it.

I don't want to de-virginize my car either!

My husband, who thinks like an attorney, says I should put it on to give the cops one less reason to pull me over. Just incase I've had a glass of wine or two...good thinking, but I STILL don't want to!

 

P.S. Please chime in IF anyone personally knows double stick tape WORKS!


I had an idea to put the plate under the bumber in the grill area, that is if I can convince my sattorney-minded husabnd to dremel down the plate to the needed size, now IS THAT LEGAL?

 

I don't think they'll pull you over just for not having a front plate, but my dad has gotten tickets twice for not having front plates. Once he thought his neighbor ratted him out after he parked in front of his house, but I don't remember the circumstances of the 2nd. I think it was a $10 ticket, but he had to go to the DMV or have some other official sign off saying the plate had been put on.

 

They can and do pull you over for no front plate with no other reason. Here’s my story- My wife was driving on Hwy 280 doing about 70 MPH (speed limit is 65 MPH) but on this freeway when you doing 70 it’s like your doing 50 as most cars do over 80+ anyway she passes two CHP’s that have pulled some one else over one in a car one on a bike. She doesn’t think much of it until a few miles later she sees the one on the bike closing in on her, she’s still doing about 70 and other cars are passing her by, she takes her exit and the cop hits the lights and pulls her over. When he came up to the window he asked the “do you know why I pulled you over question” she kept her cool and said not really. He then says I noticed as you drove by that you have no front plate. She said she didn’t know that was a violation and that the car was her husbands and when it came from the dealer there was no front plate mounting bracket (aero kit). Well instead of being a nice understanding guy and saying I’ll let you off with a warning please get it fixed this fine example of the stereotypical motorcycle cop (he was also wearing the storm trooper boots and leather jacket, and boss eyes sun glasses) says I don’t care about any of these reasons I’m giving you a ticket have a nice day.

Long story longer I didn’t want to drill holes in the front bumper or to the tape thing so I thought I could utlize the hole in the lower grill that the tow hook screws into to make a detachable bracket. What I discovered in this project is that the tow hook threads are not a standard thread that a 5/8” bolt could thread into. The threads are of some English variety (go figure) that I could not find anywhere even at several specialty nut and bold places. Best anyone could figure the threads are either “wentworth” (sp) or some kind of bolt used on fork flits, made for high strenght for towing. So what I did was to get another tow hook at the dealer and cut and weld a 5/8” threaded rod on to it and weld up a license plate frame with a 5/8” bolt attached and thread a couple of 5/8” nuts on to it so I can screw the rod into the two hook hole and use the nuts to tighten and align the bracket so it is straight.

Seems like a bit of work to do but as you know us MINI folks are very fanatic about our babies. Besides it was a fun winter project and if I’m not driving my MINI the next best thing to do is to be tinkering with it.

In closing I can say the ticket cost me $10.00 not much but the way it happened stinks especially since I know many others who haven’t had a front plate for years. I know I know if you can’t pay the fine don’t do the crime. I did fill out the petition http://www.petitiononline.com/caplate/petition.html some time before the ticket so I may have tempted fate or gotten on some kind of scofflaw list or more likely they target hot looking cars to bust.

One more thing when I went to the CHP office to get the ticket signed off the officer took a look and said looks nice will it hold up to high speed driving? All I could say is I have tested it up to the 65 MPH limit.

 

I'd love to see a picture of this bracket!

 

I knew someone would ask that, I'll try and make some time to do this soon.

 

So far :crossing fingers: I haven't been pulled over for not having the front plate on. My Mini and our SUV don't have front plates. Anyone know the legal issues regarding this? Can I just keep the front plate in the trunk or something?

 

[QUOTE=rsbell]P.S. Please chime in IF anyone personally knows double stick tape WORKS!QUOTE]

I know you could use some heavy duty Velcro.

 

I have fix it ticket for Marin county for our Lexus. No front plate..drilled the holes last night. Got to get it signed off and pay my $10.00.

Does the online petition really work? Do they listen?

 

Calif. state government always listens . This however doesn’t seem to be a winnable thing as it would decrease revenue generated form traffic fines (however small) created by camera cops. There is no incentive for them to get rid of this law just because the people don’t want it.

Does the online petition really work? Do they listen?[/QUOTE]

 

can't they position the cameras so they take a pic of the rear of the car or do they have to show the driver drivers face in the picture?

 

Can you post a picture of your car with the bracket and a icture of the bracket itself? In TX we need a front plate as well. So far I have been driving for 3 years with no problems but who knows?