Licence plate problem

[chasevdr]

I live in NY state which requires a license plate in the front and the back of the car. I have noticed some pitting in the paint at the front of the car (under the license plate). Having anticipated this issue when I received it new in March '03 I placed electrical tape on the back of the plate to protect against this. Any small pepple can get wedged between the back of the license plate and the car's paint which through vibration can cause damage. Electrical tape does not work obviously. Has anyone had a similar experience and what is the solution for it? There has to be a simple solution to this. Do license plate frames resolve this?, if so, what is the best to get right now?

[whammy819]

I had the same concerns when I took delivery of my Esprit in Oct 2002. I used a combination of wood shims and square-shaped, self-adhesive rubber door stops (available at any hardware store), drilled through the center for the mounting screw to pass through, to fashion "washers" that space the front license plate away from the bumper surface.
So far, no problems.
A couple of extra door stops, placed on the license plate backside at each of the free corners, protect against plate contact with the car bumper.

Dave

[Skerd]

Here in NJ you are supposed to have a front plate also. I never do though. One ticket in three years is less than nothing. The front plate ruins the look of the car. It would be like putting a mustache on Jenny McCarthy.

[chasevdr]

Were you parked when you got the ticket?, or was the policeman able to notice no plate in the front while you were on the go? Since I rarely park the car in busy places I may be able to get away without being noticed if the former was the case. How much did the ticket cost? Thanks.

>> Edited by chasevdr on Sunday 4th January 17:08

[kylie]

Some people here just go to place where printed stickers are made and ask for a smaller narrow number plate to be made up to fit snug and no overlap on the bumper. These stickers are removable and designed not to damage paint work. Cops really have to look twice before they notice its not real.

[Skerd]

chasevdr said:

Were you parked when you got the ticket?, or was the policeman able to notice no plate in the front while you were on the go? Since I rarely park the car in busy places I may be able to get away without being noticed if the former was the case. How much did the ticket cost? Thanks. >> Edited by chasevdr on Sunday 4th January 17:08

I was driving on a one lane road each way with the cop coming the other way. It is a $42 no point ticket. Believe it or not no front plate can actually get you out of a real ticket. My other car has no front plate either. One time instead of a speeding ticket and failure to use turn signals three times (while he was pulling me over) he let me off with a no front plate only ticket.

[cnh1990]

In Minnesota the law reads as a plate to be displayed towards and in the front of the car. Technically the front is anywhere forward of the middle of the car. It says nothing about if it has to be attached to the outside of the car, only that it is secured so as not the swing or move.

So on my car the plate is attached to the inside of the car via small clear suction cups similar to the type used by radar detectors low on the windscreen above the instrument pod.

I had a cop that tried to give me a ticket that insisted that it must be attached to the front bumper of the car, but luckly I had a copy of the statue and regulations in my glove box. I really had to stifle the urge to say "I don't write the laws I only follow them" and not be a smart ass.

Calvin

[andygo]

Fill the gaps with silicone

[Skerd]

cnh1990 said:

In Minnesota the law reads as a plate to be displayed towards and in the front of the car. Technically the front is anywhere forward of the middle of the car. It says nothing about if it has to be attached to the outside of the car, only that it is secured so as not the swing or move. So on my car the plate is attached to the inside of the car via small clear suction cups similar to the type used by radar detectors low on the windscreen above the instrument pod. I had a cop that tried to give me a ticket that insisted that it must be attached to the front bumper of the car, but luckly I had a copy of the statue and regulations in my glove box. I really had to stifle the urge to say "I don't write the laws I only follow them" and not be a smart ass. Calvin

If you ever tried that with the New Jersey State Police they would literally beat you to a pulp on the spot. Seriously.

[Esprit]

I'd go for the stick-on lookalike myself, most cops won't even bother to look, the ones that do will probably let you off, unless they're suffering from PMS

[dasspoot]

Chase, I'm with Skerd. Im taking my chances (in NY also) without a front plate--it just ruins the looks. Though I doubt it would do any good, I have an IOU from the Florida Dealer saying they still owe me a front licence plate bracket at the ready.
Steve

[chasevdr]

I am convinced. I am removing the thing. Got a plate with registration LOTUS V8 and now that I have it, it is a little loud to have plastered to the front of the car.