I think your best plan would be to buy a mount that does not require drilling holes, installing it, and taking a picture showing you have installed a front plate. Then, perhaps, pay one ticket and include a letter saying you were unaware of the front plate law in your state. Worth a shot, but I would bet you will have to end up paying both tickets.



Jeez What is your problem? All your doing in this thread is causing trouble and offering no insight on the matter what so ever. If you don't want to offer advice to the guy then why bother posting in the first place?

 

No dice, I"ll just pay up since I already talked to the department and I know for a fact ignorance of the law is no excuse.

Thinking about getting the one from mossmini since it looks the most sturdy. It worries me that the ones that go in the two hook won't hold up on the highway.

 

Yep, that's the bottom line.

 

The tow hook ones hold up great (speeds we can't post on NAM), I know a few in CMMC that use them and I plan on getting one soon myself. Just make sure you turn it tight

 

I think its an administrative thing. If this is a fix-it ticket, its not like a moving violation ... I bet they accumulate them and send them out in batches. If they had to process each one individually, they'd have to raise your taxes

Front plate laws exist for a reason. While some might "think" its so the red light and speed camera can nail you ... that is not the reason.

Its more for the police to catch the bad guys ... there are documented cases where in dark lots, no front plate ... they cant catch the bad guy depending upon the view of the car. Its for the public safety ... and not a dumb law at all

Sorry toastie but that fact it might not be attractive of a car doesn't trump public safety

 

hm.. makes me wonder if front plate laws are associated with states of high crime rates. Also, I think they do give the original tickets individually, just somehow, I never actually got them.

 

This is not about dumb laws... What it is about is honor and integity. We all make mistakes and mataku thought that he might get away with it for a while but it backfired. So, he needs to just own up and pay the fine.

Skitelluride531 you might think that I am not helping, but you are dead wrong. I have many friends that work in the police force and as Chow said, the front plates are there for a reason. The "insight" that I am offering is self integrity. What did you offer? Oh, yes, another way to lie.

 

Most states are going this direction. How far apart were the citations issued? You might have a valid argument if they are real close together.

 

quite far apart, about 1 month and a half. I think if it was a federal law it would't be so bad, but with it just being by states, it makes me jealous of our neighboring states.

 

I'm sorry, but you did not offer any insight into any so called integrity at all. I never denied that I broke the law, I just disagreed with how I was notified about my violations. Apparently the state agrees, as I am SUPPOSED to get notice of each violation within resonable time. You never really discussed the issue at hand which was the handling of issuing notices, rather statements that simply say: you broke the law, you pay, honestly does nothing for the situation.

Even if you wanted to address the whole front plate issue, reason or argument is never used in your posts, only name-calling and judgements. Note what Chow4us said in response. If you feel that it does promote integrity, I advise you to look at instances where such approaches are taken and in the end, it only provokes the situation.

 

Done...

 

Just tell them you keep your front plate in the front widow on the dash!

 

I've always wanted to do that, but I dont think it's legal If it is, let me know so i can cancel my order.

 

I too will say that you are coming around. Very hostile before, but much more mini-motorer like now =)

 

Nope, I don't fit your profile of a MINI owner.... Sorry...

 

http://home.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto_law/misclaw.html

list of states ...

I am originally from MA. Only rear plate but you can see the trend is to move to both plates there.

Dunno if its a high crime thing ... Montana is on the list

 

Can't believe the hostility! This site is designed to help other Mini owner's , not to lecture, impose your view's etc. If you chose to put a plate on or keep it off it's your businesss. As far as increasing the use of front's plate's on car's used in the states that is a conplete fabrication of the truth. Many States have so many varieities and color's , animal's scenery etc. the vast majorities of officer's couldn't make a identification if they had too.

 

Dude ... it aint got nothing to do with which state. Its got to do with getting a tag number.

Try reading http://forums.officer.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=10 sometime and you will get an appreciation of what the cops go through for very little pay.

 

I'll second this. I have one of the plate brackets that mounts into the tow-hook hole, and it's not going *anywhere* without the help of a 19mm wrench. The hardware that holds the license plate to the bracket is as sturdy as the hardware in the bumper-mounted kits, and the HUGE bolt that fastens the bracket into the tow-hook hole is infinitely more secure than a couple of self-tapping screws going into a plastic bumper.

 

Front plates are a scam, it just a way for the state to get a little extra revenue. So I would fight it. But be warned, Chicago is tough on the no front plate law. Odds are you got the ticket from a meter-maid. I too recieved one in the mail almost 6 months after the violation. Parked on Michigan. Even worse though, I have Indiana plates, where a front plate is not required. Thought it would be easy to clear up, nope, still had to fight it.

That said, do not blame the dealer. Like others have said, blaming someone else, or using ignorance of the law, will not work. I would just say it must have fallen off, or due to the low position of the plate, the must have not been able to see it. Then buy of the those tow hook mount plates, take a pic, and send it in.

Good luck!

 

I have to admit, I was a little dissapointed when I read the title and it mentioned that this was for a CONtest, only to see that it was for conTESTing a ticket.

But I digress on that matter...

Anyway, I've noticed from my fequent visits to the south that Chicagoland police are very adament towards the front plate. I've had many police officers pull instant U-turns in the middle of the road after seeing my naked front only for them to be dissapointed when they get close enough to see my WI plates. (albeit illegal in WI too to not have a front plate, I just think they either a) don't know or b) don't have the juristiction.)

Like Yucca said, unfortunately conTESTing something like this is probably more of a pain then it is worth, however, perhaps sending in a complaint and following through with it about the distance between the issuing of the ticket and you receiving it might not be a bad idea. I think that was very shady of the city to do that.

Did they charge you late payment fees for the tickets they just made you aware of?

 

You can believe whatever you want.

Go over to officer.com and ask that question ... if you can take the flames.

 

Go to officer.com & ask those that own corvettes why they don't have front plates. I did it at the sheriff dept. parking lot. They tend to get very defensive . Explain this please. And yes, I was on my best behavior, just curious you know.

 

For my fix-it ticket sign off I actually dealt with a CHP in another local town who was very vocal about being sympathetic to not wanting to ruin the look of the car with front plate mounts, he hated the way they looked and indicated that he did not have a front plate on his weekend sports car. It may be a bit iffy that he isn't complying with the letter of the law but in this case I don't bear any bad feelings about it, in the end getting the fix-it was waaay better then potential alternative citations and costly parking tickets - it is a PO favor really, and at least the tow hook mount is a great option.

 

Other reasons for a front plate ... stopping the car gives the police a means to check for outstanding warrant and stolen plates.

There is an old thread there already ... officers.com. Here are some excepts you might like:

"Why do States like Texas have a front and rear license.

... you can stop 20 cars a day with no front plate warnings. I've gotten more warrant arrests off them than any other.

We have a lot of Troopers and locals that stand out at toll booths and in traffic jams walking between vehicles making sure they are displayed.

Equipment violation stops can become very entertaining.

During the war, the legislature enacted the one plate rule as a metal saving measure. It has never been repealed

They never did answer why in TX.

Here is an excellent comment

And why do you suppose they give you 2 plates? So you can pick the prettiest one?



Actually, some felt its the law, you get a ticket. Others thought the excuses were funny