I grew up on WA and always loved the state. It took me 15 years and two great-paying jobs before I was able to find a satisfactory replacement career in the PNW. During that time, I had the pleasure of living in freedom-loving TX, along with two other less-is-more states. The one thing I enjoyed about these states is that I wasn't required to have a front license plate; I have been kicking around the idea of introducing a voter initiative in WA to rescind the requirement for the front plate, but need helpers to collect the signatures required to place the initiative on ballot. The single most obvious benefit would be the reduction of cost in plate production. This, by default, would result in a net tax increase to taxpayers (without an accompanying reduction in registration costs), but it would free up more money to be spent on other transportation needs. I imagine it would be opposed by law enforcement.

To this point, I have already secured interviews with two police department spokespeople and would love to interview them and write a story on the subject. I am looking for interest/help in obtaining legitimate, required signatures to either procure a vote in the State Legislature, or put it to a vote of the people. What do you think?

Current Law:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.16A.200

Current Laws: Think you aren't breaking one of them?

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/dispo.aspx?Cite=46.16

Initiative process:

https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/Initiatives-FAQ.aspx

 

Pretty much a slam dunk on this board.

Best of luck - I hope this makes it.

 

The only thing I can think of that would have this shot down right away is all the camera crap they are putting on 405. If that stuff needs front plates for some reason this won't get far. I'd be all for it though. Never needed a front plate in AZ and hate I need one here.

 

I got a ticket for this yesterday ... $124. Same price as the one I got in about '92 in my TR7 convertible. On the one hand, it's a bullshit ticket. On the other, at least the price hasn't gone up in 20+ years.

I consider it a "beauty tax".

 

Yeah I actually thought it was way more than that but even $124 is steep since it is a BS law that solve zero problems.

 

It is helping to solve the perpetual revenue problem of governments. That's the *real* reason they won't repeal it.

 

In the 11 years ive been driving this car, I have never had a front plate on it, nor have I ever got a ticket. I pass by cops almost daily just in the small town i work. The closest I ever came was having a Sno county Sheriff yell out his window at me wile we were doing about 40mph, asking me where my plate was, i shrugged and gave him the thumbs up and he drove off haha, and then one other time from a Seattle parking attendant bitch that thought she would be cute by telling me about her power trip she could use if she wanted. Ive got my fair share of speeding tickets in the past however.

 

Like Junky, I had not put the front plate on my car since I bought it in 2009. For the Mt. Baker run, I decided to put it on, so I did it like this (numbers changed to protect the guilty):

[attachment=80928:20150614_FrontPlate.jpg]

I bent the top 1" of the plate forward so I could mount it to the underside of the grill opening. I also trimmed about 1/2" of the metal outside of the raised ridge to reduce the size somewhat.

I also think the law is for revenue only, no problems addressed. I drive across the 520 bridge, and the toll cameras have no problem billing me just using the rear plate.

 

I hate that we have to run front license plate here in WA. I've never really had to do it since I was military and we're always moving around every 2-3 years. Now that I am making this my permanent home of resident I feel that the front plate doesn't play much of a roll besides the hov lanes and cameras all over the roads up here. I am still running with no plates and haven't had a bump or a problem with LEO yet. I guess it's all about location or how you drive to get yourself pulled over for a ticket? Lucky maybe? Lol I hope this can happen so that we don't have to drill holes in our bumper just to mount a plate.

Or just buy a license plate bracket where it can be mounted and stowed away when not in use or front plate needed? I've done a plate relocation before on the front bumper. Maybe a good solution for those that don't want to drill into bumper.

Any how I hope this front plate goes away lol.

 

Roscoe, there is no need to drill into our bumpers to mount a front plate...