Front plate required?

[Michael Jones]

When I moved from Florida to Colorado, I went from a state requiring only a rear tag to a state requiring front and rear tags.

I've swapped off my front tag for a "Corvette" plate while driving to and from show events. Never been stopped. Can you get into trouble doing this? Is it enforced? I'd like to wear my Vette tag all the time. I just saw where a resolution to make Colorado a single tag state died in Committee this year.

Michael

[Tom B.]

Re: Front plate required?

We go through the same thing in Ohio every year. There is always a resolution to get our hopes up and it always dies. As far as being inforceable, yes it is. It's the law in your state. My wife just got a new Pontiac Vibe from an Indiana dealer so there was no front license bracket. The bracket is on backorder with no estimate of availability. She has been stopped already once and probably will be again befor we get a bracket.

Tom

[Tom B.]

Re: Front plate required?

We go through the same thing in Ohio every year. There is always a resolution to get our hopes up and it always dies. As far as being inforceable, yes it is. It's the law in your state. My wife just got a new Pontiac Vibe from an Indiana dealer so there was no front license bracket. The bracket is on backorder with no estimate of availability. She has been stopped already once and probably will be again befor we get a bracket.

Tom

[robert leazenby]

Re: Front plate required?

Working in the enforcement field, I can tell you that if the state that your vehicle is registered in issues two plates, you are required to display both. And unfortunately you can be cited in that state. Further, you can also be cited in most other states for one plate if your home state issues two plates.

If your state issues only one, then no other state can cite you for only displaying the one.

Usually you will not be cited for the ciolation unless the computer shows that you have been stopped numerous times for the same thing. It is usually just used as probable cause to make the stop.

[robert leazenby]

Re: Front plate required?

Working in the enforcement field, I can tell you that if the state that your vehicle is registered in issues two plates, you are required to display both. And unfortunately you can be cited in that state. Further, you can also be cited in most other states for one plate if your home state issues two plates.

If your state issues only one, then no other state can cite you for only displaying the one.

Usually you will not be cited for the ciolation unless the computer shows that you have been stopped numerous times for the same thing. It is usually just used as probable cause to make the stop.

[Grant M.]

Re: Front plate required?

We have a two-plate requirement here in Ontario, but judging from the number of collector cars (many Corvettes and a few others) that I frequently see with only a rear plate, I assume enforcement is not a priority for most police officers. Just don't get caught doing 'burn-outs', or attracting police attention in another fashion, lest a ticket for no front plate gets added to another violation notice.

[Grant M.]

Re: Front plate required?

We have a two-plate requirement here in Ontario, but judging from the number of collector cars (many Corvettes and a few others) that I frequently see with only a rear plate, I assume enforcement is not a priority for most police officers. Just don't get caught doing 'burn-outs', or attracting police attention in another fashion, lest a ticket for no front plate gets added to another violation notice.

[Mike Yager]

Re: Front plate required?

About 15 years ago when I lived In New Jersey, I always drove my Vette without a front plate. It was an '85 and I hated the way a front plate looked on it. I had bought the car new and had been driving it this way for several years without a problem. Even received a speeding ticket and the cop never cited me for only having one tag. State inspection never said anything either.

Then one day while driving through a little town (at the speed limit) in a rural part of the state, a cop passes me coming from the opposite direction. Locks up the brakes and hangs a 180. Pulls me over an issues me a ticket for having only one plate. I guess it made his day. It wasn't a moving violation (at least back then). I mailed my $25 to the little town of Atco, NJ.

I put the plate on and kept it there until I sold the car.

[Mike Yager]

Re: Front plate required?

About 15 years ago when I lived In New Jersey, I always drove my Vette without a front plate. It was an '85 and I hated the way a front plate looked on it. I had bought the car new and had been driving it this way for several years without a problem. Even received a speeding ticket and the cop never cited me for only having one tag. State inspection never said anything either.

Then one day while driving through a little town (at the speed limit) in a rural part of the state, a cop passes me coming from the opposite direction. Locks up the brakes and hangs a 180. Pulls me over an issues me a ticket for having only one plate. I guess it made his day. It wasn't a moving violation (at least back then). I mailed my $25 to the little town of Atco, NJ.

I put the plate on and kept it there until I sold the car.

[Mark Skroupa]

Re: Front plate required?

Law enforcement individuals have a term for this "probable cause" .
That missing front tag allows you to be pulled over and perhaps find something unlawful or illegal.

[Mark Skroupa]

Re: Front plate required?

Law enforcement individuals have a term for this "probable cause" .
That missing front tag allows you to be pulled over and perhaps find something unlawful or illegal.

[Jack H.]

Welcome to Colorado!

As your local Judging Chairman, welcome to the 'flock' -- we hope to see you at chapter events once you've gotten settled.

The answer to your question is YES. Colorado law requires both front/rear plates properly affixed to the car. You can be cited for a moving violation without correct, current and properly affixed plates front and rear.

Now, I have two cars (one is a trailer queen award winner). It 'rules' the garage and it's trailer most of the time. But, DOES come out to 'play' for certain show & parade activities. It wears a legitimate Colorado rear plate and an NCRS Zora-Arcus Duntov Mark of Excellence front plate. The odometer just rolled over the 500-mile mark in the 11-year interval since restoration and active campaign. It's NEVER been stopped/cited even when driven on public highways during law enforcement sponsored parades.

You'll find a number of law enforcement officers know and understand the concours 'game'. BUT, with a daily driver (my other car has +50K miles in the 6-year period since frame off and wears both front/rear Colorado plates), you're tempting fate not to comply with local ordinance.

[Jack H.]

Welcome to Colorado!

As your local Judging Chairman, welcome to the 'flock' -- we hope to see you at chapter events once you've gotten settled.

The answer to your question is YES. Colorado law requires both front/rear plates properly affixed to the car. You can be cited for a moving violation without correct, current and properly affixed plates front and rear.

Now, I have two cars (one is a trailer queen award winner). It 'rules' the garage and it's trailer most of the time. But, DOES come out to 'play' for certain show & parade activities. It wears a legitimate Colorado rear plate and an NCRS Zora-Arcus Duntov Mark of Excellence front plate. The odometer just rolled over the 500-mile mark in the 11-year interval since restoration and active campaign. It's NEVER been stopped/cited even when driven on public highways during law enforcement sponsored parades.

You'll find a number of law enforcement officers know and understand the concours 'game'. BUT, with a daily driver (my other car has +50K miles in the 6-year period since frame off and wears both front/rear Colorado plates), you're tempting fate not to comply with local ordinance.

[Chas Kingston]

Re: Front plate required?

Illinois is a two-plate state. I have been stopped twice for having only one plate. The last time was in a '91 yellow/blk convertible, on my way to work. the real trouble was that I was in the small-town where my office was located. But, before the officer got up to the car, I took off my hat to let the sun reflect off my bald pate. I also removed my partial dentures. I then gave the officer a wide, gape-tooth grin.

I explained that I had bought the car out of Wisconsin, a one-plate state, and the car didn't have a bracket. He warned me to get the bracket and display the plate (which I did, as I knew that he would be watching for me). As he walked back to his squad, I could see him convulsing in the laughter that he had stiffled while giving me the stern warning.

I just wasn't the kid that he had hoped to nail in a Corvette.

Geezer

[Chas Kingston]

Re: Front plate required?

Illinois is a two-plate state. I have been stopped twice for having only one plate. The last time was in a '91 yellow/blk convertible, on my way to work. the real trouble was that I was in the small-town where my office was located. But, before the officer got up to the car, I took off my hat to let the sun reflect off my bald pate. I also removed my partial dentures. I then gave the officer a wide, gape-tooth grin.

I explained that I had bought the car out of Wisconsin, a one-plate state, and the car didn't have a bracket. He warned me to get the bracket and display the plate (which I did, as I knew that he would be watching for me). As he walked back to his squad, I could see him convulsing in the laughter that he had stiffled while giving me the stern warning.

I just wasn't the kid that he had hoped to nail in a Corvette.

Geezer