Front License

Anybody else need to worry about mounting a front license plate? Washington State troopers use most any reason to pull you over.
Looking for some ideas for how to mount a front plate! - sigh!!

Colin
 
You're right about the WA police. I think it's a revenue thing personally.

In any case, four of the five cars I have don't have front license plates....and I've never been pulled over for not having one on the front. However, I tend not to drive behind police cars for miles on end tempting fate.

If you have your front plate with you and claim you're "just not sure how it attaches" you might just get a warning....
 

Ian Anderson

Lifetime Supporter
On hinges along the top of the number plate, inside the radiator opening.
When driving the air pressure pushes it up so air flows to radiator.

Stop and it swings back down so in place when you stop and for the cop to see.


Probably work some of the time!

Ian
 

Larry L.

Lifetime Supporter
Colin:

Did your SL-C come from the factory WITH some sort of provision for a front plate? If it DIDN'T, you might want to contact the WSP and inquire about a front plate exemption. There's an actual application form for that...or at least there was back in 2006.

I looked into getting an exemption for my Ford GT...but 'was turned down BECAUSE Ford had included a front plate bracket and license plate 'frame' with the car. 'Had to DRILL HOLES in the car to install it...but, the stinkin' thing was provided...and the "rules" say if the factory made a provision (even a CRAPPY one) for a front plate - no front plate exemption will be granted. Needless to say, I never did drill those holes. (Anyone who'd drill holes in a $200K car to mount a stupid license plate IMHO ought to be taken out, stood up against a brick wall and and shot by firing squad just on general principles.)

Good luck, sir. ;)




(Edit: Please advise regarding the outcome...)
 
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PeteB

GT40s Supporter
Vinyl plate

19598975_338251776595250_926864748882686579_n.jpg
 
Colin

If you haven’t looked at the Corvette aftermarket world, owners in states that require the front plate have the same problem and there are several Vette solutions that could work for the SLC as well.
 
We have to run a front plate in Australia. Mine has been mounted on rear licence plate hinged fuel cap cover. This allows the plate to be hinged upwards, giving access, to allow the front clam retaining pins to be pulled out.
 

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Thanks for all the suggestions; I think I will first try the exemption waiver route; thanks to Larry, I have discovered the little known regulation in WA state:

RCW 46.16.240 , a special front license plate exception.

If the body of the car is built in a way that it is impossible for a plate to be mounted to the front of the car (like a Ferrari) then no front plate is required. If you fall into this category then you can write the Washington State Patrol and request a waiver. If approved, no front plate is required. "Law enforcement will oppose doing away with all front plates on all cars. He said they need them mainly for vehicle identification. The law, RCW 46.16.240 requires the front plate. It is a $124 fine and first/primary offense if you do not have one. About 9 states do not require a front plate. There are about 6 million registered cars in WA..
Vehicles issued front license plate waivers are listed below.
1972 Italian DeTomaso Pantera
1974 Jaguaricon E-Type
2000 Panoz
1971 DeTomaso Pantera
2000 Plymouth Prowler
2000 Jaguar XK8
Caterham/Lotus Super 7
1984 Ferrari 512 BBI
1967 Ford Cobra

Vehicles denied waivers for attaching a front license plate include:
Toyota MR 2
Porsche 928
Corvette
Mini Cooper
Ford SVT Cobra
Lotus Elise
Ford escorticon
Nissan 30ZX
BMW Z8
Dodge Viper
Mercedes-Benz
Mazda Miata
Maserati."

Every vehicle is required to have a front license plate if it is
possible to affix one to a vehicle. Therefore if there is a license
plate bracket which may be affixed to the vehicle allowing for the font
license plate to be displayed, you will be required to install it on
your vehicle whether or not it requires you to drill holes.

If after researching you cannot find a license plate bracket that will
work for your vehicle, you can apply for a front license plate waiver
for your vehicle. These waivers are looked at on a case by case basis
based on the original manufactured version of the vehicle and its
ability to affix a front license plate. To request a front license
plate waiver please write a letter articulating why you feel you should
be exempt from the law, include a picture of the front of the vehicle
and any additional information you feel would outline your case and send
to:

Washington State Patrol
Equipment & Standards
PO Box 42600
Olympia WA 98504-2600

I believe the SL-C qualifies as being like a Ferrari! I will let you all know how I get on - it may be a while as my car is not road worthy yet but I will pursue.
 

Larry L.

Lifetime Supporter
Thanks for all the suggestions; I think I will first try the exemption waiver route; thanks to Larry, I have discovered the little known regulation in WA state:

RCW 46.16.240 , a special front license plate exception.

If the body of the car is built in a way that it is impossible for a plate to be mounted to the front of the car (like a Ferrari) then no front plate is required. If you fall into this category then you can write the Washington State Patrol and request a waiver. If approved, no front plate is required. "Law enforcement will oppose doing away with all front plates on all cars. He said they need them mainly for vehicle identification. The law, RCW 46.16.240 requires the front plate. It is a $124 fine and first/primary offense if you do not have one. About 9 states do not require a front plate. There are about 6 million registered cars in WA..
Vehicles issued front license plate waivers are listed below.
1972 Italian DeTomaso Pantera
1974 Jaguaricon E-Type
2000 Panoz
1971 DeTomaso Pantera
2000 Plymouth Prowler
2000 Jaguar XK8
Caterham/Lotus Super 7
1984 Ferrari 512 BBI
1967 Ford Cobra

Vehicles denied waivers for attaching a front license plate include:
Toyota MR 2
Porsche 928
Corvette
Mini Cooper
Ford SVT Cobra
Lotus Elise
Ford escorticon
Nissan 30ZX
BMW Z8
Dodge Viper
Mercedes-Benz
Mazda Miata
Maserati."

Every vehicle is required to have a front license plate if it is
possible to affix one to a vehicle. Therefore if there is a license
plate bracket which may be affixed to the vehicle allowing for the font
license plate to be displayed, you will be required to install it on
your vehicle whether or not it requires you to drill holes.

If after researching you cannot find a license plate bracket that will
work for your vehicle, you can apply for a front license plate waiver
for your vehicle. These waivers are looked at on a case by case basis
based on the original manufactured version of the vehicle and its
ability to affix a front license plate. To request a front license
plate waiver please write a letter articulating why you feel you should
be exempt from the law, include a picture of the front of the vehicle
and any additional information you feel would outline your case and send
to:

Washington State Patrol
Equipment & Standards
PO Box 42600
Olympia WA 98504-2600

I believe the SL-C qualifies as being like a Ferrari! I will let you all know how I get on - it may be a while as my car is not road worthy yet but I will pursue.


Here's what really irritates the stuffings out of me regarding the whole "front plate" thing: Given the "equal protection clause" in the U.S. Constitution, how is it possible that ATVs, certain classic cars, >MOTORCYCLES<, farm vehicles, cars displaying "trip permits", and auto dealership cars out on 'test drives' (referring to my state here) AREN'T REQUIRED TO HAVE FRONT PLATES...but all others MUST???

In fact, cars displaying "trip permits" don't need front OR rear plates at all...just that paper "permit" in the rear window. Why is that? Superman couldn't read one of those permits unless he were standing within 10 feet of it. (I seem to recall certain farm vehicles don't need to have either plate as well.)

If I were a gadzillionaire, I'd launch a legal challenge against that whole mess just out of pure cussedness! :evil:
 
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Just take the ticket. $124 once a year is worth it. Not a moving violation so insurance not effected.
That said, I have been pulled over quite a few times for not having one in other cars, and I just say "I am on it, just havn't had time" and it usually ends in a warning. They typically just use it as an excuse to pull you over for something else, even if it is just to talk about the car your driving.
 

Larry L.

Lifetime Supporter
..I have been pulled over quite a few times for not having one in other cars, and I just say "I am on it, just havn't had time" and it usually ends in a warning.


I've been stopped twice. BOTH TIMES I 'leveled' with the Troopers involved right off the bat and told them both I had no intention of drilling holes in my car to mount a stupid front license plate when MOTORCYCLES by the millions drive around all day long w/o 'em. THEN I asked 'em both, "If this car were YOURS - would YOU drill holes in it because some bureaucrats in Birkenstalks sporting bad comb overs decreed they're mandatory?" Neither one one even bothered to write me a warning ticket. They both just wished me a "good day" and that was that.



They typically just use it as an excuse to pull you over for something else, even if it is just to talk about the car your driving.

Precisely why I was pulled over. 'Spent about 10 minutes talking cars with each of them. 'Turned out BOTH were gearheads!
 
My biggest problem is that I live in a border town and cross over into Canada and back quite a lot; even the border guards chime in on a missing front license plate - happened a number of times with my AC Cobra and I finally decided to put a plate on the front.
 

Larry L.

Lifetime Supporter
My biggest problem is that I live in a border town and cross over into Canada and back quite a lot; even the border guards chime in on a missing front license plate - happened a number of times with my AC Cobra and I finally decided to put a plate on the front.


'Border shouldn't be a problem once you get the waiver. Just stick that puppy out th' window when you pull up to the Canadian Customs 'booth' and that OUGHT to be the end of it. Ditto on the U.S. side... ;)


('Same sort of 'issue' when crossing with a 'new car' temp permit on one's vehicle. I got a BIT of the 3rd degree when I entered CANADA with a temp permit on my new pickup a couple weeks after I bought it...but it wasn't really any big deal. There was much less of a hassle on the U.S. side when I returned though.)
 
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Mark B.

Supporter
Colin, I'm rooting for your success since I'm in Redmond WA and will have the same problem (eventually since my build is very slow). Please keep us posted!

By the way, my family loves Blaine -- we hang out in Semiahmoo Marina just across the bay once a month or so. Beautiful area!
 
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