A&Q about Lotus
Q:
Originally Posted by aanon4
So .. if this isnt an entirely daft question ... how are you suppose to attach the standard Calif plate to the front of the car?
You're not supposed to
A:
Originally Posted by aanon4
Thanks - they didnt, but I'm sure they will if I ask. Doesnt sound awfully tempting though - maybe I'll see how bad Berkeley need the revenue first.
Berkeley should be fine. I lived there for 6 months and still drive there for work everyday - never had any issues.
I havent heard of anyone in Berkeley getting front plate tickets from the meter maids, that seems to be an SF thing only
A:
The one and only time I got a no front plate ticket in 6 years was on an expired meeter in the SFV. Its not even a big deal, stick the plate on with tape, take a pic, send it in with $10. Done.
A:
Originally Posted by dododge
Here's an example of a European-style plate from www.licenseplates.tv. I intentionally put it a little lower and forward of the clam to serve as an emergency curb sensor (which works, if you'll notice the dent in the plate).
I haven't been pulled over yet, so I don't know I'll be called on it if/when that happens.
Hey Dodge..........when did you do this? I did exactly the same thing including the plate from www.licenseplates.tv .............great mines thinking alike, and in MD too.
I used a simpler system. I just bought a blank metal license plate, bent it 90 deg. and affixed it to the underside of the clam with velcro. I then zip tied the top to the tow hook. It's removable in 30 seconds and no drilling.
A:
Just wondering. Is it legal to have a non-DMV plate, especially a Euro style plate? Or, it that something the judge is going to have to decide?
Reason I mention it is that, while the numbers are the same, the police could make an argument that the plate is not a CA license plate.
A:
Just read the DMV code. It's actually against the law for a dealer to deliver the car without the mounting hardware for the front plate.
5200. (a) When two license plates are issued by the department for use upon a vehicle, they shall be attached to the vehicle for which they 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 plate shall be displayed in accordance with Section 4850.5.
11713.17. (a) Following the retail sale or lease of a motor vehicle for which the department issues two license plates, a dealer may not deliver the motor vehicle unless either of the following occurs:
(1) The motor vehicle is equipped with a bracket or other means of securing a front license plate.
(2) The dealer obtains a signed written acknowledgment from the person taking delivery of the motor vehicle acknowledging both of the following:
(A) The person expressly refused installation of a bracket or other means of securing the front license plate.
(B) The person understands that California law requires a license plate to be displayed from and securely fastened to the front of the motor vehicle and that the hardware necessary to securely fasten the front plate is available from the dealer.
(b) A manufacturer or distributor may not sell or distribute in this state a new motor vehicle for which the department issues two license plates, unless that motor vehicle is equipped or provided with a bracket or other means of securing the license plates.
A:
Originally Posted by Allan Gibbs
Just wondering. Is it legal to have a non-DMV plate, especially a Euro style plate? Or, it that something the judge is going to have to decide?
Yes it is illegal. I was nailed for this with my old Volvo C70...which I picked up at the factory in Sweden. When it arrived back here in the states, I put the CA plate on the back, but left the Swedish plate on the front (front and rear plates are required in Sweden too). If the plate on the front of your car in CA is a) missing or b) not a CA DMV issued plate, you are going to get a ticket if the cops feel like it (I've been stopped once, and let go with a warning once). It is a fixit ticket though, so it's not all that troublesome.
A:
So THAT is what the hell that aluminum thing was in the trunk that I found when I got home from picking my Elise up!!! I thought it was a mounting bracket for a cd changer or amp to be put in the trunk. I just put it up next to my plates ( which arrived last week and still have not put them on hehe). It is an aluminum H bracket, with 4 oval holes for the plate and 4 bolts sticking out the back, looks like you would drill 4 holes in the front clam and use nuts on the other side is the intent. NO WAY IN HELL is that happening on my car !
I am planning on leaving the South Bay Lotus dealer papers/sticker in the front window and putting the plate on the rear. Hoping a cop or meter maid appraoching from the front will wave me off as being a new car.
A:
Originally Posted by redbutt
Just read the DMV code. It's actually against the law for a dealer to deliver the car without the mounting hardware for the front plate.
....
(2) The dealer obtains a signed written acknowledgment from the person taking delivery of the motor vehicle acknowledging both of the following:
(A) The person expressly refused installation of a bracket or other means of securing the front license plate.
(B) The person understands that California law requires a license plate to be displayed from and securely fastened to the front of the motor vehicle and that the hardware necessary to securely fasten the front plate is available from the dealer.
SVAG had me sign the waiver when I picked up the car
A:
Originally Posted by aanon4
Thanks - they didnt, but I'm sure they will if I ask. Doesnt sound awfully tempting though - maybe I'll see how bad Berkeley need the revenue first.
Mine had the bracket in the rear trunk, but no one mentioned what it was.
I think it's in the laundry room, if I haven't lost it by now.......
Still on the dealer's tag in the window, three months out, waiting for my custom plate, which I'll put on the back. I don't fancy drilling holes in the front where they have that mini flat space for our huge California license plates. Now if they'd let us put motorcycle plates on, I'd put one on the front. Otherwise, I guess it is risk the ticket, and zip tie the license onto the grill for the fix it, and carry some cutters for the after inspection mods.
A:
Originally Posted by rnr
SVAG had me sign the waiver when I picked up the car
Really? I got mine there, but I don't remember a waiver, or any comment at all about the bracket, or an offer to install it, or........ anything.
Which is fine, since I really don't want the front air deflector installed anyway.
A:
Originally Posted by LW Elise
Really? I got mine there, but I don't remember a waiver, or any comment at all about the bracket, or an offer to install it, or........ anything.
Which is fine, since I really don't want the front air deflector installed anyway.
BMCD made me sign the waiver as well. Fine with me.
A:
Hmm, the law says a plate must be "clearly visible", but doesn't specify from what angle it should be visible:
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:
So I could mount it on the hood, facing up, and it would be "clearly visible", if you are standing directly in front of the car looking down. In theory one could mount it inside the car, on the dashboard, again facing straight up.
$5 to anyone who tries this
A:
We've got a plate requirement in TX as well. I was shown the bracket and it was suggested that I bolt my front plate to the bracket, scuff it up on the pavement really good, and then toss the assembly in the trunk - just in case.
A:
I've been driving in norcal since 91' without a front plates on any of my cars. My sister recently got a fix it ticket for not having a front plate. She now has a plate on her dashboard. She was told that the dashboard meets the requirements.
If I was to park in the city I might consider bringing the front plate and placing on my dash while parked.
A:
BMCD made me sign a waver too (which seems daft since I don't see why they're responsible for my actions .. but there you go). After rooting around in the 'trunk' (I use that word figuratively) I found a bracket which I have now put in the shed where I'm sure it will be very happy.
A:
Originally Posted by redbutt
Yes it is illegal. I was nailed for this with my old Volvo C70...which I picked up at the factory in Sweden. When it arrived back here in the states, I put the CA plate on the back, but left the Swedish plate on the front (front and rear plates are required in Sweden too). If the plate on the front of your car in CA is a) missing or b) not a CA DMV issued plate, you are going to get a ticket if the cops feel like it (I've been stopped once, and let go with a warning once). It is a fixit ticket though, so it's not all that troublesome.
I think you missed the point. The questioner was asking about having a Euro-style plate made with your actual state tag number as we did in the pictures above. You were running a plate number not registered in your name, of course that's illegal.
There's nothing in our state motor vehicle code that addresses this, and I doubt there is in most other states. It will be an interesting discussion if an officer chooses to make an issue out of it, especially since the numbers on the Euro plate are more visible than on the actual state plate.
A:
I've been driving my VW Passat for over 3 years without front plate without problems. My Elise will live without too
A:
So I could mount it on the hood, facing up, and it would be "clearly visible", if you are standing directly in front of the car looking down.
Or you could "mount" it inside the trunk, so it would be "clearly visible" to an infant with a flashlight who had been kidnapped. Maybe that's what the legislature meant?
Judges tend to frown on this sort of argument. They feel that it shows a disrespect for the law, and more importantly, for their intelligence and their time. If you get a nice judge, he will merely call you names (like "sophist" and "disingenuous") and make you pay the fine. If you get a mean judge, he will find a way to make it a lot more unpleasant and expensive for you.
I'm all for skipping the front plate. But when your time comes, just pay the $35 or whatever. Don't play lawyer if you're not one.
-b
A:
I've had my front plate fastened to the passenger side window visor for about 3 years now. I've been pulled over twice during that time (once for speeding resulting in a ticket, and once because it was late, and he claimed I went over the center line, no ticket after field sobriety and breathalizer tests) Neither officer mentioned having it there as being a problem. Its perfectly visible, but doesn't mess up the outside of my car. Granted if the passenger puts the visor up, then its an issue, but not a huge deal.
I've asked a few friends of mine who are police officers, if what I have done is legal in my state (Ohio requires front plates too. :P ) but none are very sure, and suspect that it would usually be up to the officer at the scene whether or not to make an issue of it. IE: If I was a dick to them, they would probably find it to be a problem...fortunately I'm the very soul of politeness when I get pulled over.