California front licence plate requirement

[Invalid User Name]

In Florida nobody knows what the plate laws are. Least of all the DMV. At least all we have is the rear plate, so we don't have to worry about the front plate problem.

Doug
Venice, Florida
1950 Champion
9G F1

[JDP]

quote:Originally posted by Silent Bob

Have you seen a 63 or 64 Avanti with a front plate mounting bracket from the factory? Did Studebaker list a factory part number for a 63/64 front licence bracket for the Avanti?

Sure you can mount the plate under the front rubber center piece, but it looks bad and can cause overheating issues.

The key to the Virginia law is the "original manufacturer's design of the vehicle allows for the use of a single plate".

The plate does mount under the pad, and the bolt spacing is there for that purpose. Yes, it's ugly, but has little effect on cooling, and it's the factory location. Again, all American cars have a front plate mount except some very old models.


JDP Maryland
Disclaimer:
None of the discussions of my Studebakers are a invitation to buy nor a promotion to sell, I'm just sharing the hobby the way I practice it.

[studeclunker]

California State Vehicular Code has always required plates front and rear. There are no exceptions. The difference between now and the past, is that they are no enforcing it as the intersection cameras need a plate number to send you an invitation to Court.[}] The fixit fine in California is $65. Oh, sorry, did I say fine? Gosh how silly of me. I mean administrative fee.[)]

Sometimes I wonder how long it will be before people start using those cameras for target practice.[}]


Home of the famous Mr. Ed!
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Studebaker!
Ron Smith
Where the heck is Lewiston, CA?

[Sdude]

We drove a new Beetle for several years without putting the licence plate on the front. I didn't want to drill two big holes in the plastic bumper to do it.

We were never pulled over by the police. I've also heard from many old car drivers that tell me that the police don't bother us classic car guys about front license plates.

I would recommend leaving them off until told otherwise. It worked for me. Worst case scenario - you pay a small fine. Best case scenario - you never have to put the plate on the front.

I kept my extra plate on the back. The two plates fit together perfectly and you will not have to worry about looking for it if you have to put it on.

Jon Stalnaker
Editor, Hawk Talks
Karel Staple Chapter SDC

[StudeRich]

It seems a bit contradictory, that two or three Californians here said two plates are required in Calif. with no exceptions, but all Historical Vehicle Plates are issued ONE per vehicle!

At least my 1989 issued, still live one was! [:0]

StudeRich

[Skip Lackie]

quote:Originally posted by Silent Bob


Skip

I asked the Virgina DMV in writing about the Avanti noting that the 63/64 did not come with bracket for the front bumper. They came back in writing stating what I provided in my original posting. I kept a copy of their response in the glove box just in case I was stopped.

I too was stopped by the Fairfax police for not having a front plate on a Maserati Ghibli. I had the plate bracket on the car but it was for a European size plate. Cop said too bad - drill some holes in it to put on VA plates. Just a warning with no ticket.

BTW, I'll miss not having lunch with you and the usual bunch of suspects at Spring Carlisle. Long way to go for the chicken strip special.

Bob

Bob-
Didn't realize that was your post. Missed you at the Potomac Chapter Xmas party.

I remember you telling be about you getting stopped in the Maserati, but didn't remember your exchange with the VA DMV. You must've gotten lucky and found a gullible clerk at the VA DMV to write that letter -- someone who thought that an Avanti was one of those exotic Italian cars -- like Maserati. (Or that Studebaker was an exotic German car.)

As JDP notes, the parts books says the front plate bracket is part of the bumper. A more attractive solution is to use the 1554303 license plate bracket used on the rear of 62-66 Larks to reposition the plate.

Skip Lackie
Washington DC

[barnlark]

Since this is a California license plate only topic, I thought I'd offer some www.dmv.ca.org

[showbizkid]

Couple of notes: the law notwithstanding, Ron is right when he says that the front license plate requirement has not been enforced in my lifetime until recently, when the red light cameras came onto the scene. I removed the front plates from my '72 Datsun pickup, '81 Camaro, '84 Rampage, '87 GMC, '87 Wagoneer, '96 Saturn, '01 Saturn, '01 GMC and '05 Voyager, with no notice by police. Now, however, I would not chance this, any my '67 Pontiac and '05 Pilot both wear their front plates. Barney, however, does not have a front plate, and I can truthfully claim if asked that the PO removed it and lost it long before I bought the car.

BTW, Clunk, there have already been several reports of vandalism against red-light cameras. The newspapers don't report this, I believe because the police think reporting may encourage more incidences. The latest one I heard about was in Santa Monica, where the cameras' video feed shows a man in a ski mask walking up at around 3AM and taking out the cams on all 4 corners, one at a time, with what looks like a long piece of rebar!


[img=left]http://members.cox.net/clarknovak/lark.gif[/img=left]

Clark in San Diego
'63 F2/Lark Standard

http://studeblogger.blogspot.com

https://www.studebakersandiego.com

[Starlite51]

I left my '67 El Camino at the Sacramento International airport in long term parking for 9 days...

without a front plate
( I think I was hoping someone would steal it... so I backed it into the space ) ..

I came back to a "special citation" .. not just a "fix it ticket" from Sacramento County courtesy of a "bored" Sacramento Sheriff Deputy assigned to lowly airport duty ... cruising the parking lots looking for vehicle code infractions .. like expired registrations ...
fun things to do while your out in the parking lots at 3am in morning
and he wrote it so it was not to be a fix it ticket .. I forgot how much it was ... $200? or so

strange things are happing as CA cities are they are assigning extra fees to tickets
a first time cell phone use violation can cost up to 300 bucks in Folsom now (each city is different)

so go hang a plate on the front and make sure you have valid insurance and a valid sticker
... my buddy is picking up great deals from lien sales at the local tow companies
....as CHP impounds some cars for a mandatory 30-60 days $$$$$



John
Folsom CA


"Lone Dog ... No Woof"

https://www.cruisinnews.com

[barnlark]

Originally posted by showbizkid
The latest one I heard about was in Santa Monica, where the cameras' video feed shows a man in a ski mask walking up at around 3AM and taking out the cams on all 4 corners, one at a time, with what looks like a long piece of rebar!

I love that initiative! If they were used to just confirm fault in accidents, I'd be fine with them, but revenue abuse for minor speed violations that a cop wouldn't bother with bugs me.

[JBOYLE]

In the early 90s, I bout a new Miata in Arizona which did not require front plates.
Later, I was transferred to Ohio which did, but since my car did not come with the front plate attachment, I never put on the front plates. No one ever questioned it...but then again, I was never pulled over for some other infraction. A cop would have to be pretty bored to pull you over just for that.

Luckily here in Washington, historic plates come only for the rear, so I don't have the problem with the Avanti. Which aside from cost, is the best reason for getting historic plates. I know some are concerned about the restrictions on historic plates, but I really can't see anyone getting a ticket from the police for driving your car too frequently.
Lets face it, there are a lot of cars where front plates spoil the looks...E-Type Jaguars, Miatas and Avantis being three.

I wonder if you could get away with having a front plate made into a vinyl decal and sticking it under the front bumper?
Yes, it's not 100% legal inasmuch it's not a "real" metal plate, but you're certainly demonstrating your desire to conform with the law. The cop would have to really be a hard case to ticket you for it.

But then again, California is broke so all bets are off the table.

63 Avanti R1 2788
1914 Stutz Bearcat
(George Barris replica)

Washington State

[Thomas63R2]

California has a $20b hole to fill - and their favorite way is to collect fees. After all, who feels sorry for people getting tickets, even crummy plate tickets? With all the government "protection" from evil banks and insurance companies, who will protect me from the government? The common people are more than ever the target of our sad bankrupt state. There are more newspaper articles popping up about all the fees being added onto citations, and that its all about the revenue and not public safety.

I think it is a good thing, because once they go too far with revenue generation they will be seen for what they are: parasites living off the productive class. Seriously, I hope that California collapses upon its blade of sticking it to the people. We have way too much state government, way too many entitlement programs, absurd government pension plans that allow ridiculous pension spiking in the last year or two before retirement. Really, its worse than all of that once you start digging. Right now the biggest threat to the common man is not banks, insurance companies, al qaeda - its the too big to fail government.

Thomas

[sbca96]

quote:Originally posted by barnlark

YOM license plates must be supplied by the vehicle owner and authenticated

YOM YOM YOM!!!



Tom

[JRoberts]

Another reason I'm glad I live in North Carolina. Rear license plates only no matter what year or kind of plates you run. My wife's new Subaru has no place for a front tag. I don't know what happens if we were to move to a place that required them.

Joe Roberts
'61 R1 Champ
'65 Cruiser
Editor of "The Down Easterner"
Eastern North Carolina Chapter

[Neal in NM]

While I lived in Washington state I was pulled over for not having a front plate. I didn't like it because it interfered with the design of the vehicle. I played dumb, acted as if it must have fallen off and asked how I could get a new plate. I was let go with a verbal warning (after they ran me of course). Here in New Mexico the state only issues one plate. Neal