Front plates?

saf

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Apr 2, 2006
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Ames, IA
Yes, it is illegal, BUT I drove my car for 6+ years w/out one and never had a problem (didn't have the bracket).
 

cyhiphopp

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Jan 9, 2009
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Ankeny
Let's rank this one in the grand scheme of traffic violations. I'd agree. Costs more to produce the plates than there is value in writing someone up for not having one.

Can someone tell me why we need one in the front anyway? If I'm speeding, you're going to turn around and follow me anyway right?

My only guess as to the usefullness of front plates is that if someone is tailgating you or chasing you (road rage), you can get their plate number to report to the police. Just a guess.
 

kingcy

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Sep 16, 2006
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Menlo, Iowa
My only guess as to the usefullness of front plates is that if someone is tailgating you or chasing you (road rage), you can get their plate number to report to the police. Just a guess.

If you dont have one it gives a cop an excuse to pull you over.
 

Ames

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Sep 5, 2006
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Can someone tell me why we need one in the front anyway? If I'm speeding, you're going to turn around and follow me anyway right?
A State Trooper told me it gave them a good spot to hit with the laser and it made it easier to get speeders that way.

I've had 4 cars over the last 5 years that I didn't put a front plate on. They just look bad... Only pulled over once and given a fix it ticket. It was by a Trooper. On car forums the trend seems to be mainly Troopers stopping people for them. But it does give them an excuse to pull you over for anything.
 

cmoore_23

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Mar 23, 2006
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Ankeny, IA
i have been pulled over 5 times for not having front license plate.. gotten lucky and gotten warnings.. but ya.. its a really really dumb law
 

cybsball20

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Nov 26, 2006
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Des Moines, IA
There can't be that many states that still require them since Iowa is about the only place I have seen them... Heck, alot of the newer cars don't even have a place to put a front plate, you have to get an add on kit...
 

jjisu

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Apr 11, 2006
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Des Moines
There can't be that many states that still require them since Iowa is about the only place I have seen them... Heck, alot of the newer cars don't even have a place to put a front plate, you have to get an add on kit...
I think its actually around 30 states that still require both the front and back plates. Although it is a very stupid law.
 

milrtym

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Sep 19, 2008
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West Des Moines
My grandpa had a car (couple years ago) that didn't even have a bracket for the front plate. He did research and found that there was only a fraction of the states that still required front plates. Didn't get the bracket because it went right in the middle of the grill.

To sum up: If your a retiree you will probably get away with not having a front plate.
 

Ames

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There can't be that many states that still require them since Iowa is about the only place I have seen them... Heck, alot of the newer cars don't even have a place to put a front plate, you have to get an add on kit...
I've heard from Corvette guys that Texas has the law and is really starting to crack down on it. Corvettes almost never put their front plates on... I don't have anything to back it up, but this is a frequent topic on the Corvette forums and I'd say half the states require them.
 

maui6651

Member
Sep 2, 2008
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Cedar Rapids
I didn't have a bracket for my car when I got it, so I haven't had a front plate for the last 6 years. I got pulled over once in high school the year I bought it and was given a warning (it was homecoming => looking for drunk kids). In August this past year I got pulled over in Toledo on 30 and was given a $58 ticket. I got another ticket in January on a country road south of Cedar Rapids.

On none of these 3 occasions was I speeding, just had the missing plate. The first time was a state trooper, the other two have been local cops. I went 5 years between my first and second ticket, and then only 5 months. My math skills lead me to believe they might be cracking down on it a bit more, but who knows.

Just adding some more data points here. :)
 

Psyclone Brian

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Apr 11, 2006
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42°00'50"N 93°
its illegal...i have been pulled over and ticketed for it
Me too! infact I went to court over it (and naturally lost) Sad thing was, I was an M.P. in the National Guard at the time, and had a "Guard" plate on the back.

And the reason I didn't have one on the front at the time is because I was a victim of a hit and run, and when I got it back from the repair shop, there wasn't any place to put the plate. No holes were bored, nothing...
(Johnston Police didn't care.):skeptical:
 

CarolinaCy

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Apr 18, 2008
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Me too! infact I went to court over it (and naturally lost) Sad thing was, I was an M.P. in the National Guard at the time, and had a "Guard" plate on the back.

And the reason I didn't have one on the front at the time is because I was a victim of a hit and run, and when I got it back from the repair shop, there wasn't any place to put the plate. No holes were bored, nothing...
(Johnston Police didn't care.):skeptical:

Because Johnston police have nothing better to do than camp out at Lawson Elementary on NW 62nd and bust people who dare to drive more than 25 mph through there.