Front Tag
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,036
Likes: 1
From: Maryland.
I shaved my front bumper and live in MD so I know your pain...
Sadly, I can assure you that you WILL eventually be ticketed for the Front tag. "Failure to display vehicle registration at front and rear" - I've been driving my S2000's(ap1/ap2) Daily in MD for a few years now and I have gotten to know most of the officers in the area due to my unwillingness to mount my front tag. For over a year I had the front tag 100% off not even in the car and I was ticketed about 7 times($70/pop) not to mention the 5-6 warnings whenever the officer bought the excuse for not having the tag. For about six months I had it Zip-Tied BEHIND the bumper and you couldn't even see it really, unless you were REALLY looking for it to attempt to hold at bay the Front tag tickets...well it worked, for about 4 months. Got two warnings in the same week and then two weeks later yet another $70 ticket.
BE WARNED, IF THE OFFICER FEELS LIKE BEING AN ASS:
- he can ticket you, in MD for "Obscuring Identity" which is a $260 fine/1pt PLUS the $70 Front tag ticket. I have friends who have recieved these, never me(whew!).
In MD, You're gonna be pulled over for it especially in an S2000! They do notice and do actually care, unfortunately.
You can register the car in DE or PA if you know someone there, they do not issue front tags.
After a few years and Thousands of Dollars of tag tickets I finally bit in and Zip-Tied my tag to the FRONT of the grill after folding it up to make it as compact as possible. It doesn't look TERRIBLE and it keeps the officer from being at my window, so I guess it works. There are other options out there, it's all in how you feel like doing it.
Sadly, I can assure you that you WILL eventually be ticketed for the Front tag. "Failure to display vehicle registration at front and rear" - I've been driving my S2000's(ap1/ap2) Daily in MD for a few years now and I have gotten to know most of the officers in the area due to my unwillingness to mount my front tag. For over a year I had the front tag 100% off not even in the car and I was ticketed about 7 times($70/pop) not to mention the 5-6 warnings whenever the officer bought the excuse for not having the tag. For about six months I had it Zip-Tied BEHIND the bumper and you couldn't even see it really, unless you were REALLY looking for it to attempt to hold at bay the Front tag tickets...well it worked, for about 4 months. Got two warnings in the same week and then two weeks later yet another $70 ticket.
BE WARNED, IF THE OFFICER FEELS LIKE BEING AN ASS:
- he can ticket you, in MD for "Obscuring Identity" which is a $260 fine/1pt PLUS the $70 Front tag ticket. I have friends who have recieved these, never me(whew!).
In MD, You're gonna be pulled over for it especially in an S2000! They do notice and do actually care, unfortunately.
You can register the car in DE or PA if you know someone there, they do not issue front tags.
After a few years and Thousands of Dollars of tag tickets I finally bit in and Zip-Tied my tag to the FRONT of the grill after folding it up to make it as compact as possible. It doesn't look TERRIBLE and it keeps the officer from being at my window, so I guess it works. There are other options out there, it's all in how you feel like doing it.
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 735
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, MD
I also live in MD (HoCo) and I havent been pulled over in my S for no front tag yet... I even have bumper plugs lol 
I think the trick is to not have it in the window because if they see it in the windshield they know its a car from MD (which requires 2 tags) and they'll get you for "failure to attach tag to front/rear of vehicle" I've gotten a warning once in my old car because I had it in the windshield and thats what caught the cops attention. In the S I just keep it in the trunk and no one has bothered me about it yet.
There are surrounding states (PA, DE) who dont require a front tag so its kind of a hassle for the cop to go to the back of your car and check if its from MD before giving you that ticket. I've noticed that most officers wont even pay that much attention. But luck also has something to do with it.
I think the trick is to not have it in the window because if they see it in the windshield they know its a car from MD (which requires 2 tags) and they'll get you for "failure to attach tag to front/rear of vehicle" I've gotten a warning once in my old car because I had it in the windshield and thats what caught the cops attention. In the S I just keep it in the trunk and no one has bothered me about it yet.
There are surrounding states (PA, DE) who dont require a front tag so its kind of a hassle for the cop to go to the back of your car and check if its from MD before giving you that ticket. I've noticed that most officers wont even pay that much attention. But luck also has something to do with it.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,903
Likes: 0
From: Usa
I also live in MD (HoCo) and I havent been pulled over in my S for no front tag yet... I even have bumper plugs lol
I think the trick is to not have it in the window because if they see it in the windshield they know its a car from MD (which requires 2 tags) and they'll get you for "failure to attach tag to front/rear of vehicle" I've gotten a warning once in my old car because I had it in the windshield and thats what caught the cops attention. In the S I just keep it in the trunk and no one has bothered me about it yet.
There are surrounding states (PA, DE) who dont require a front tag so its kind of a hassle for the cop to go to the back of your car and check if its from MD before giving you that ticket. I've noticed that most officers wont even pay that much attention. But luck also has something to do with it.
I think the trick is to not have it in the window because if they see it in the windshield they know its a car from MD (which requires 2 tags) and they'll get you for "failure to attach tag to front/rear of vehicle" I've gotten a warning once in my old car because I had it in the windshield and thats what caught the cops attention. In the S I just keep it in the trunk and no one has bothered me about it yet.
There are surrounding states (PA, DE) who dont require a front tag so its kind of a hassle for the cop to go to the back of your car and check if its from MD before giving you that ticket. I've noticed that most officers wont even pay that much attention. But luck also has something to do with it.
Banned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,695
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They sell a motorized front plate, that flips under the car. Press a button and BOOM, its back. "Sir, I pulled you over for no front plate." I then say," Really, it was on there yesterday." He goes and checks, and let's you go scratching his head thinking he has had a long day.
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,911
Likes: 4
From: Benicia, CA
After 10 minutes of careful meditation and consulting with the Lord, my theory is that it's Virginian for 'Aesthetics'.
I got ticketed for it here in CA; it was a $25 fixit. I just threw it back on after, the aesthetics weren't worth the anxiety when cops were around.
I got ticketed for it here in CA; it was a $25 fixit. I just threw it back on after, the aesthetics weren't worth the anxiety when cops were around.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,903
Likes: 0
From: Usa
They sell a motorized front plate, that flips under the car. Press a button and BOOM, its back. "Sir, I pulled you over for no front plate." I then say," Really, it was on there yesterday." He goes and checks, and let's you go scratching his head thinking he has had a long day.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 191
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Originally Posted by NuncoStr8' timestamp='1343410574' post='21894065
What's an "ecstatics"?
I got ticketed for it here in CA; it was a $25 fixit. I just threw it back on after, the aesthetics weren't worth the anxiety when cops were around.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 614
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From: Orlando, FL
Took mine off in March and got pulled over a couple weekends ago. The cop was a total asshole about it and belittled me in every fashion possible, just to let me go with a warning. I'm sure some will say "he's not an asshole cause he let you go," but believe me that I was very close to getting his badge number and filing a complaint for harassment. He kept asking whose car it was, after reading my registration, license and insurance card, that all matched. Told me I was bullshitting him repeatedly and just had hatred in his voice and facial expressions. I was seriously in shock he let me go. I guess he figured the way be treated me was better than ticketing me and letting me be on my way.
Anyway, the anxiety I got afterwards whenever I saw a cop really killed the driving experience, so I just put it back on. I miss the look, but unfortunately it wasn't worth it.
Anyway, the anxiety I got afterwards whenever I saw a cop really killed the driving experience, so I just put it back on. I miss the look, but unfortunately it wasn't worth it.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,655
Likes: 171
I don't use my front plate. Around here if you get a ticket for failure to display front plate you just take your car with the plate attached to city hall and they void the ticket. I also carry the plate with me under the passenger seat so if I get pulled over I can prop it up on the dashboard or make up an excuse about how it keeps falling off the car.
Either go all for it or don't bother. The plate under the seat could come out in a roll and slice up your face. Anyone who keeps it in the cabin, or worse on the window is a fool.
6 years no front plate. I don't get pull over, likely because I don't drive like a tool. I'm assuming most of the people complaining are children.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax, VA
I'm in VA, Fairfax. Been running without a front plate since April of '11. Got away with it for over a year, but finally got pulled over in June. Cop was an ass, I was polite and have no record (literally nothing at all), but he gave me a ticket. It's 25$ here in VA, but the processing fee is 60$ (!!!!!), so with tax or whatever I paid something like 90$.
Got stopped again last weekend - pulled up to a 4 way stop in a quiet area and an unmarked was across from me, I could feel I was screwed (both stopped facing each other and no traffic around) and sure enough he lit up his lights, pulled across the 4 way and up next to me, and I rolled down my window so he could ream me out. Even nastier than the first cop, fortunately no ticket this time though.
As an aside, not sure why rob-2 thinks the plate under the passenger seat is going to come out and slice you up - I also keep mine there to display when I park in DC, and that plate is NEVER coming out from under the seat unless I want it to.
Anyway, seems like the NOVA/MD/DC area is starting to enforce this now, as of late. I'm going to zip tie the plate to my grill, I don't actually want to install the thing. I agree, it looks terrible.
Got stopped again last weekend - pulled up to a 4 way stop in a quiet area and an unmarked was across from me, I could feel I was screwed (both stopped facing each other and no traffic around) and sure enough he lit up his lights, pulled across the 4 way and up next to me, and I rolled down my window so he could ream me out. Even nastier than the first cop, fortunately no ticket this time though.
As an aside, not sure why rob-2 thinks the plate under the passenger seat is going to come out and slice you up - I also keep mine there to display when I park in DC, and that plate is NEVER coming out from under the seat unless I want it to.
Anyway, seems like the NOVA/MD/DC area is starting to enforce this now, as of late. I'm going to zip tie the plate to my grill, I don't actually want to install the thing. I agree, it looks terrible.