[SVT2RS]

Those two hole-looking things in the front bumper, are they mounting points for a euro plate, and if so are they already drilled through?

Nope, no holes, and the spacing is wrong for the US plate.

Plus, with final body work this winter, I'll be smoothing that space over

 

[slipster17]

damn you and having 2 posts pop up before I made my reply! lol.

Edited because it suddenly became irrelevant

 

[666spd]

Jealous cops with little pieces of pork sausage between their legs.

Plate or no plate, that thing is sick.

 

[slipster17]

Seems the cops around here in Central PA just don't care about plates period. Granted we don't have front plates here in PA, but I drove around from almost 3 weeks in early June with a Euro plate on my rear as well (for Carlisle All-Ford) and no cop so much as looked in my direction :dunno:

 

[thepepperman]

There are also non-motorized hide-away front plate mounts. That might be a better idea when dealing with police, because it shows you can't just hide the plate from inside the car, you have to get out to put it up.

Obviously not as cool, but it might buy you a little more leeway with hard-ass cops.

 

[SVT2RS]

Seems the cops around here in Central PA just don't care about plates period. Granted we don't have front plates here in PA, but I drove around from almost 3 weeks in early June with a Euro plate on my rear as well (for Carlisle All-Ford) and no cop so much as looked in my direction :dunno:

The grand state of Missouri has not been kind to me, so I'll be happy to move on after I get done with grad school. Admittedly most of the pullovers (which happen quite often, though usually without any take home slips of paper) are by University Police, not city or state representatives.

Again, I'd feel different if I was getting stopped for a moving violation, and the front plate ticket was just tacked onto that... but again, I have the cleanest of clean records.

There are also non-motorized hide-away front plate mounts. That might be a better idea when dealing with police, because it shows you can't just hide the plate from inside the car, you have to get out to put it up.

Obviously not as cool, but it might buy you a little more leeway with hard-ass cops.

I think I'll probably try the manual one first, to make sure it's general construction can hold up. You might be right about the hard-ass cops... but I tend to think they decide beforehand if they are giving to give you a ticket. If I have to pay a $50 dollar ticket every 2 years (which is what I've averaged here since moving to Missouri) then I'm fine paying that. But if they ever threaten to impound/tow my car, then I'll raise a pretty large fuss.

 

[Ataru]

I guess you can't have the front plate behind the windshield either? Attaching it to the passenger visor and flipping it down so it's visible from outside while you are driving might work if there is no specific law against that.

 

[slipster17]

I understand completely. When I still lived in NY I had a State Police Officer pull me over on the highway one day because I was, in his own words, 'an attention grabbing vehicle'. He seemed to be having a pretty bad day so I don't think he meant that in a good way. Anyway, I was as nice as I could be do him (and I was sure I hadn't been speeding), but he still held me for a good 10 minutes while he circled my car looking for something to write a slip for. Didn't seem too pleased after not being able to find anything either....

But that just ticked me off afterwards in the way I'm sure your current ordeal does to you. He was just fishing for cars on the highway and decided that he could probably get the little yellow Focus for something. The cops handing you the tickets for the front plate may be thinking the same thing when they see your car, regardless of how spotless you know your record is. Then, when nothing else worth their time shows up, they slap you for the front plate.

 

[Johnny_P]

I'm not selling this car, probably ever... and for some strange reason I just don't feel like drilling holes into an OEM Ford Focus RS front bumper just to install some trivial piece of metal the gov't thinks it needs to I.D. my car... Like the custom paint and widebody isn't a dead giveaway anyway?

I can't see the pic at work. That said,
A cop doesn't care if you have the most exotic one of a kind body kit ever. All he cares about is its a blue 2 door, a red 4 door, a green truck. Hell half the time they don't know or care what the car make and model is. The license plate tells him all the information he needs to know about the car. And I don't know why your state requires a front plate, mine doesn't, but everyone in your state is going to have to follow the same rules. So even the people buying the brand new Benz or BMW will need a front plate. If you do the motorized thing and you have the front plate down, and for whatever reason a cop is trying to pull you over, you could be in a world of ****.

And I don't understand why drilling into a bumper is such a big deal, especially if you're never selling the car. I'd rather do that than drill into the single most important crash protection piece of the car's frame. Somehow having two big spikes sticking out of the crash bar sounds like a bad idea to me.

 

[SVT2RS]

I can't see the pic at work. That said,
A cop doesn't care if you have the most exotic one of a kind body kit ever. All he cares about is its a blue 2 door, a red 4 door, a green truck. Hell half the time they don't know or care what the car make and model is. The license plate tells him all the information he needs to know about the car. And I don't know why your state requires a front plate, mine doesn't, but everyone in your state is going to have to follow the same rules. So even the people buying the brand new Benz or BMW will need a front plate. If you do the motorized thing and you have the front plate down, and for whatever reason a cop is trying to pull you over, you could be in a world of ****.

And I don't understand why drilling into a bumper is such a big deal, especially if you're never selling the car. I'd rather do that than drill into the single most important crash protection piece of the car's frame. Somehow having two big spikes sticking out of the crash bar sounds like a bad idea to me.

First, I'd be willing to argue that a cop most likely doesn't read and memorize everyone's front plate when you pass in opposite directions, even at relatively low residential speeds, let alone on moderate city roadways where the speed limit is 45+. Studies have shown states without front plate laws have no escalating issues resulting from police being unable to ID a car. Plus, as I stated, large pickups in this state are not required to bear ANY plate, front or rear.

Second, if you really want to go the route of "law is law: we must all obey", then should campus students be serving hard time for crossing a street in a location other than mandated by crosswalks?

Lastly, even new ALPR technology works in states not required to display front plates. (edit: Automatic License Plate Recognition)

Scratch all of that. I think I'll simply reply as saying, let's agree to disagree when it comes to drilling holes. We might be very different people when it comes to our cars.

Ataru, my second ticket was with the front plate displayed in the front window.
Slipster, I feel your pain, and this will blow over, I'm just a little steamed this morning.

 

[BowDown]

I too have been there. Cops are dicks in NY. I had my plate behind the windshield...warnings/tickets. So I moved it up front and cable tied it behind the black mesh on my WRC bumper (huge opening in the middle). You could see it clear as day... still got warnings/tickets. Finally I just gave up and cable tied it to the front of the mesh.. then started getting tickets for 50% tint where there should of been 70%. Complete bull****. I believe it was more the vanity plates drawing the attention. After getting normal plates I have yet to be harassed.

 

[o2_designs]

I can feel for you and Slipster...I actually recieved my second tint ticket last night...this is the second time in two months I've been pulled. The first time I was pulled because I had 'tinted' headlights. Which really pissed me off, so we got into an arguement about how the headlights are not tinted and he can walk two feet and look for himself(they are black housing Machs). They are factory Ford and nothing he says or does warrants any violation. So he walks up there and looks then notices no front plate so then he goes to town on that...then finally noticed the window tint so I got the warning...because he knew he looked stupid for pulling me for a reason that was wrong.

So last night I got stopped because I had a 'brake light' out. I do have euro taillights. Which I ask, is it the bottom right one? He goes, no its, the passenger side light, its out. I ask again, its the bottom one right? He says, Yes, which I reply, yes, thats the reverse light. There is no red light on that side. Its the reverse light. Which he then says, nope, its the bottom light. Which again I repeat, I understand, its the reverse on the car. You can check, which I put the car into reverse gear and wait for him to go look. Which he goes back and looks for acouple seconds. (the bottom light on the driver side is just a fog light, it does nothing, nor is it there or required because the stock lights don't have it. The upper light still works with the lights, brake and signals)

Then comes back and says, well...I'm gonna go write your name down and be back. So he comes back after 10 minutes of sitting there, and says why I have not pulled the tint off. I kindly explain I have'nt got the doctor note yet for the darkend window(which is true) then he goes to check the plate, then wants me to turn on all my lights and make sure all my signals work, he even then got down and checked the tread depth of my tires. WTF? Seriously?

After reading Slipster's post, this reminded me of that last night...he was looking for anything to bend me over with on the car... I'm just glad I stuck the plate on...or I'm sure I woulda been screwed...

 

[Egz]

The only rationalization I think they have for front plate laws are to identify a car that has been backed into a spot (mostly for the ALRS), or to give them a nice reflective surface for laser.

Either way, it takes a strong movement to change the law, and until it can be changed, either mount it in the factory location or pick an alternate location like you've mentioned in the beginning. Peace of mind > $50 tickets.

 

[rpvitiello]

WTF is the point of a front plate anyways. I hate how road laws are different between states.

Modern plates have a super reflective coating on them, so that is what cops point the laser guns at to clock your speed.

Many toll booths here and such have cameras that capture the front of the car. If you want to send a red light cam showing a pic of the driver they also like to have the plate in the shot.

First, I'd be willing to argue that a cop most likely doesn't read and memorize everyone's front plate when you pass in opposite directions, even at relatively low residential speeds, let alone on moderate city roadways where the speed limit is 45+. Studies have shown states without front plate laws have no escalating issues resulting from police being unable to ID a car. Plus, as I stated, large pickups in this state are not required to bear ANY plate, front or rear.

The cop cars here have auto license plate scanners that can read the front plate of every car driving by and it can prompt the police officer if the car was reported stolen or involved in a bank robbery or something.

In NY if it has an engine it needs a dam plate, the electric Golf carts, and fork lifts have license plates here!

This way I'm not trying to trick anyone, I'm just showing him I forgot to flip a single switch (which has worked before with stops for underglow light infractions)

Those are not legal to drive with in your state? :dunno:

Here they are legal, but ONLY if you cant see the bulb itself, you can only see the glow. (so they can only ticket you if you do it ghetto style lol)



Anyway If you have a car designed for a EU size plate, and or you plan to smooth over the plate location i can see that, but if you still have the factory indent for where a US plate should go why the hell would you not just put the plate their.

If you can CLEARLY tell a plate should be on a certain part of the bumper, i don't get why people insist on not putting it their!

I just wish the US states would start allowing the EU shaped plates from the state. They fit better on front bumpers. and hell event he US car companies that have no intention of selling a NA model car in Europe always seam to design the plate spot for EU plates now.

 

[freekwonder]

I like that idea on the golf forum, I may do that to my wifes Jetta. She's been lucky so far, but I've been pulled over in my MS6. I went a head and got the RHO plate adapter. I don't want to drill holes in the front bumper.

 

[CrUziN4L]

hideaway it badass!

i want, now




How'd your trip go man?

-chris

 

[Nliiitend1]

Too bad you don't have the Euro re-bar in the front, because something like this would be a great solution:

I'm probably gonna pick one up for my MS3 for whenever I have to go back to a state that requires a front plate...Before I moved to FL, I just had it offcenter and ziptied to the lower grille.

The one pictured above is MS3-specific, but as mentioned above, I believe the RHO plate adapter deal can be fitted to a variety of different cars...

 

[o2_designs]

/\/\/\
Thats pretty trick...