Front license plate, do you have it?

[NHman]

Dave2, no hurt feelings on my side. Agreed, unless there is history in exchanging posts with a forum member, it is difficult to know what is real vs. sarcasm.

Thank you for the explanation. Agree with your statement on the risk/reward. It has never been an issue for me before and I've owned some nice vehicles. For whatever strange reason, I just have the idea in my head to not install a front plate on my future M3. Still four months away until delivery, perhaps this idea will pass.

[pbonsalb]

NH enforces. You could get pulled over soon or it could take a while, but why give a reason to get pulled over. And if you do get pulled over for something else, it is just one more thing you are doing wrong and for which you won't get the benefit of the doubt (you are presumed to know the law, so ignorance is not an excuse).

You have local, county and state police all enforcing the law. In NH, the county sheriffs do not seem to do that much traffic work, but you will occasionally see them pull people over. Locals from one town to another may vary in their enforcement. The state police are more consistent, but individual officers may vary. Certainly the one running laser and trying to point it at your license plate will notice it is missing.

Chances are pretty good that if you do get a ticket, you will be able to get the ticket dismissed if you fix it and demonstrate the fix to the court. It would be helpful to have an excuse, like the plate fell off.

Good luck. I run front plates even though I would prefer not to and have previously not run one when I lived in states where either one was not required or there appeared to be no enforcement.

[WCH]

I didn't want the potential hassle of being pulled over for a plate but didn't want the holes in the front of the bumper so went with this:

http://skenedesign.com/FPBracket/index.shtml

I actually don't mind the look of the plate in the front - just didn't like the OEM bracket. The tow hook thing looks silly to me - worse than having it in the middle - just my opinion.

[WingZeroX5]

I got stopped once for no front plate and no inspection. The cop saw me in his motorcycle in a parking lot and got pulled over shortly after

Jokes on him because i just traded in the 328 for a civic beater and i was well within 10 day window that NH gives

Still dont have front plates but i keep it in the trunk just incase for all my vehicles

[osteome]

Originally Posted by NHman

Lucky

I grew in in Amherst, NH and the front plate and the snow are about the only things I miss.

[NHman]

Thanks for the responses. Based on the feedback, it's not worth it to me to risk a ticket by not having a front plate. It was a thought but I'll stay within the system.

WCH, thanks for the idea and link. I like that option.

[WCH]

One other suggestion. I put some felt tape on the back of the plate so that even if it got pushed back it would not scrape the bumper.

One other advantage of the Skene Design option is that it is easy to remove the plate without removing the brackets attached to the bumper in case you want to have the plate off.

[DopeM3]

No front license plate on mine. Never had an issue. I've passed a few troopers and nothing.

I keep mine in the back of my trunk just in case I do get stopped in the future.

As for getting stopped, I believe "it depends". Maybe the cop isn't having a good day.

As for me, I plan on keeping it that way until I do get stopped and most likely it will be a friendly warning.

Just keep it in the back of your trunk. Personally I hate the look of it with the front license plate.

[Dave2]

Originally Posted by AyooooJay

Just keep it in the back of your trunk.

What is the point of keeping it in the trunk?

[DopeM3]

Originally Posted by Dave2

What is the point of keeping it in the trunk?

In case I get stopped.

I've been stopped before not having a front license plate before. I had a 06' 330xi that time. The trooper pulled me over for not having a front license plate. He asked for my license and registration (the usual). Went back to his car to check everything is good. He then asked where I had my license plate and I told him it was in my trunk. He advised me to get that on there as soon as possible and to have a good day. That was it.

By the way, I was on my to work at that time and he saw my laptop and other work materials on the passenger side.

This is from personal experience

[Dave2]

I can tell you from my personal experience that it is highly unlikely that the officer's decision to issue the ticket will not be based on having the tag in the trunk. But, then again, it does not cost anything to keep it with you.

[zeeman335]

what about those robotic license plate arms that come in and out ? Anyone try those ? Forgot what they are called but did see youtube video on it.

[Endless619]

Honestly in my experience it has to do with your driving history when they look it up and your age. If you are a kid or in your 20's (looking like a punk, like so many kids in Southern California) then you have a higher chance of getting a ticket. I got them all the time. I had a couple speeding tickets before 1995 and would just tack them on.

Now in my 30s they don't bother and the 2 times I have been pulled over here, not one mentioned no front plate.

[LarThaL]

I have always used a front plate for the 31 years that I have been driving and it doesn't bother me at all. In fact, since I have always had one, the car seems a little "naked" without it to me. I have always just used a nice plate frame. In fact, on several of my cars, I have had the plate frame painted with OEM paint to match the car. With my M3 I just went with the CF option.

I just don't want any extra excuse to get pulled over, ticketed, etc. In MA, it is a moving violation.

I do wish, however, that more auto manufacturers would integrate a front plate area into the design of their cars so it wouldn't look so "stuck on". Corvette does this very nicely.

I also think the tow hook option really makes the car look silly. Okay....so you haven't put two small drill holes in your front bumper. It still looks really bad. Of course, in the end, it is all about what one's brain perceives. If your brain is happy with the notion that there are no holes in your bumper, despite the fact that the plate looks hideous off to the side, then go for it.

[s2k11]

No bolts

[inter1032]

where did you get that from?

[s2k11]

Tunermotorsport.com

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-14...x5-e83-x3.aspx

[inter1032]

Originally Posted by s2k11

Tunermotorsport.com

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-14...x5-e83-x3.aspx

thanks

[brodie]

Couple points; 1) after telling the dealer not to put any of dealer stickers on the car I never assumed the front plate bracket would have been screwed directly into the bumper so it's is now there permanently unless I want to fill and re-spray.. bummer 2) In my personal experience, I've been pulled over multiple times without a front plate, the only time it was an issue was when running a euro plate on my audi. They do however always ask if I have it in the car, which for whatever reason seems to help. I've also heard "I don't know why cars like these with no place for a plate are required to have one" in regards to my audi. I wouldn't be running a front plate if there weren't two holes in the bumper.

[inter1032]

Originally Posted by brodie

Couple points; 1) after telling the dealer not to put any of dealer stickers on the car I never assumed the front plate bracket would have been screwed directly into the bumper so it's is now there permanently unless I want to fill and re-spray.. bummer 2) In my personal experience, I've been pulled over multiple times without a front plate, the only time it was an issue was when running a euro plate on my audi. They do however always ask if I have it in the car, which for whatever reason seems to help. I've also heard "I don't know why cars like these with no place for a plate are required to have one" in regards to my audi. I wouldn't be running a front plate if there weren't two holes in the bumper.

perfect excuse for a euro bumper lol

[Roundown]

I mounted the front plate bracket with a bit of scrap plastic and 3M mounting tape. It's rock solid, removable and didn't require holes in my bumper.

[leemik]

I have never run a front plate since they became required in around 1990-ish?

I've been pulled over many times for stupid offenses including "car too low" (it is not) and the cops always tell me to put the plate on but I have only received verbal warnings thus far.. Last month I received a written warning sent to me in the mail for no front plate. It was some Boston cop who saw me near Beacon Hill and noted my plate number..

I don't drive much these days but I think they will eventually get me with a real ticket..

--mike