CA declares war on cars with no front plates! - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Wilkie · 15th January 2004, 23:32

I heard in the news recently that the state was going to crack down on front license plate scofflaws, probably to help enforcement of the spy photos taken at intersections. I am officially a casualty of this war. The last 2 months, my beast has received THREE tickets for no front license plates, while legally parked on the street. To add insult to injury, one ticket was issued at 1:30 AM, while my beast was parked in front of my own house, which is located at the end of a cul-de-sac in a quiet resiential area; the other two times, I parked in the street on order to avoid parking in a pay lot and to avoid having a parking valet touch my beast. At $25 a pop, I may well have to surrender and install my front plate (if I can still find it).

For those Californios who are fortunate enough to have avoided attack so far, be forewarned.

Wilkie

Gustav · 15th January 2004, 23:35

In Sweden they assaulting the no front license plates guys too. I always do like this after you get pulled over for no plate:

"Oh sorry officer, I just washed it (or just took the car out from the garage or something like that) and the licensplate is in the trunk. Actually Ill put it on right now."

Then you show the licenseplate and start assemble it on the car.

Been stopped 3+ times and always when I go and start screwing the plate on the car again they won't give me tickets. It works

Philip · 15th January 2004, 23:56

I think you are the target of the local L.A pig force, and not any California general plot.

I have both plates off my 2000 M5 and 1997 Z3, and have never had a problem. BUT, I keep the orriginal registration tag taped to my front windshield. The 525i has never seen a front plate. They are out to get you, and probably enjoying it.

mottati · 16th January 2004, 01:04

i'll knock on wood here, but in 17 years of california driving (my entire driving 'career') i have never had a car with a front plate and have never gotten a ticket. I've been pulled over, asked where the plates were, and i must have had a good enough answer! Hoping this luck doesn't change...

Wilkie · 16th January 2004, 01:17

Hmmmm,

Maybe this is a Southern California thing? Three times in two months is no coincidence. Have they started installing "spy cameras" at certain busy intersections to catch cars that run red lights in Northern Cal yet?

Wilkie

Mr Kram · 16th January 2004, 01:35

That seems excessive. I received one ticket in 16 years in LA. 3 of my 4 cars have no front plate.

mottati · 16th January 2004, 02:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilkie

Hmmmm,

Maybe this is a Southern California thing? Three times in two months is no coincidence. Have they started installing "spy cameras" at certain busy intersections to catch cars that run red lights in Northern Cal yet?

Wilkie

Yes... there were also a few photo radars in some small east bay towns too, i think they no longer exist however.
Mike

SeanAron · 16th January 2004, 02:08

Yeah, thank god for the police!! I'm so tired of all those dangerous criminals running around with no front plate on--I mean, who do they think they are?! Murderous psycopath no front plate people. Sheesh. I'm also glad they've solved every murder and theft that have ever happened. Well they haven't found (or even tried to find) the motorcycle that got stolen out of my garage--but I'm sure they've solved every other one by now! I mean, how else could they waste precious resources on something as trivial as no front plates ... right?

Yeah, I got pulled over for it on Sunset in West Hollywood last week. Also gotten three from metermaids on my old M3. By the by, even if you fix it, you still have to pay the state ten bucks. It's win - win for them. I'm still not putting mine on. It just makes me a better target for their illegal traffic cameras.

Sean@D/A · 16th January 2004, 02:12

Yup they got me last month parked right in front of the shop. Now the kicker is we always have cars parked half in and out of the driveway with exp plates or no plates on them. They didnt even bother one of those. Just walked right up to my porsche and slapped it on the windshield.

Maybe I should have parked on the sidewalk?

Wilkie · 16th January 2004, 04:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by meener

Yeah, I got pulled over for it on Sunset in West Hollywood last week. Also gotten three from metermaids on my old M3. By the by, even if you fix it, you still have to pay the state ten bucks. It's win - win for them. I'm still not putting mine on. It just makes me a better target for their illegal traffic cameras.

Well, at least I haven't gotten pulled overe for that yet. Ten bucks? That must have been years ago! It's now $35 in Beverly Hills, and $25 in L.A. And yes, I'm pretty sure that my absence of a front plate saved me from a photo radar ticket at least once.

Wilkie