The DREADED...Question?"Where do I mount my Front Plate?" -- Don't drill my front bumper solution!

Hey everyone...

So after my first $30 fine for having my plate sitting in my window... on a Sunday no less/ Parked!!!!

I got to thinking extra hard after multiple failed attempts and poor solutions on YouTube.


Attached you'll see some of the steps I did to make this happen!













Final Product



Edit* Here is with the black screw cover pieces that come with the weather tech plate cover.

Aren't you blocking your horn though?

kalvin126 said:

Aren't you blocking your horn though?

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Yes, but sounds fine. Better than blocking the intercooler for me or drilling my front bumper

that would be totally illegal in both the countries i drive in....and the fine will be hundreds and hundreds, not 35$

Holtz said:

Yes, but sounds fine. Better than blocking the intercooler for me or drilling my front bumper

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Arn't You're blocking your charge pipe though(i know its pretty insignifical but why not let it get exposed to the air)and just mount bottom where top screws are and do this.

Edit: Just found out it is illegal to modify your license plate here in WA.(pretty sure rolling it counts as just that)

Here in Quebec we don't have front plate. Only at rear.
Same in North Carolina

We talk about front plate in USA here;

http://www.civicx.com/threads/front-license-plate.2032/

Did you double check that it's legal to have the license plate off to the side, especially on a non-commercial vehicle? As a native NYer, I know how much of a PITA these things are.

verbalj said:

Did you double check that it's legal to have the license plate off to the side, especially on a non-commercial vehicle? As a native NYer, I know how much of a PITA these things are.

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I don't see it as any different than someone driving with the tow-hook plate adapters.

Holtz said:

I don't see it as any different than someone driving with the tow-hook plate adapters.

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Tow hook. License plate. Two different things you're talking about. Can't be compared to each other. One is required to have by the law, the other isn't. Hope you can see what the difference is.

Slick562 said:

Tow hook. License plate. Two different things you're talking about. Can't be compared to each other. One is required to have by the law, the other isn't. Hope you can see what the difference is.

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This is mounted with a tow hook. Please tell me the difference?

Are you not blocking part of you fog light too?

Holtz said:

This is mounted with a tow hook. Please tell me the difference?

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The location of the plate there is really no difference, they are basically in the same spot. But what @verbalj was asking is if it was if he checked to see if it was legal to have the plate off to the side like that.

Slick562 said:

The location of the plate there is really no difference, they are basically in the same spot. But what @verbalj was asking is if it was if he checked to see if it was legal to have the plate off to the side like that.

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1. (a) No person shall operate, drive or park a motor vehicle on the public highways of this state unless such vehicle shall have a distinctive number assigned to it by the commissioner and a set of number plates issued by the commissioner with a number and other identification matter if any, corresponding to that of the certificate of registration conspicuously displayed, one on the front and one on the rear of such vehicle, each securely fastened so as to prevent the same from swinging and placed, whenever reasonably possible, not higher than forty-eight inches and not lower than twelve inches from the ground;  provided, however, that in any registration year for which only one number plate is issued, such number plate shall constitute a set of number plates for the time in which such use is authorized, shall be displayed on the rear of the vehicle and none shall be displayed on its front, except in case of a tractor, when such number plate shall be displayed on the front of the vehicle and none shall be displayed on its rear.

(b) Number plates shall be kept clean and in a condition so as to be easily readable and shall not be covered by glass or any plastic material, and shall not be knowingly covered or coated with any artificial or synthetic material or substance that conceals or obscures such number plates or that distorts a recorded or photographic image of such number plates, and the view of such number plates shall not be obstructed by any part of the vehicle or by anything carried thereon, except for a receiver-transmitter issued by a publicly owned tolling facility in connection with electronic toll collection when such receiver-transmitter is affixed to the exterior of a vehicle in accordance with mounting instructions provided by the tolling facility.

2. Such number plates shall be of such material, form, design and dimensions and contain or set forth such distinguishing number or other identification marks as the commissioner shall prescribe, provided, however, that there shall be at all times a marked contrast between the color of the number plates and that of the numerals or letters thereon, and provided further that no vehicle shall display the number plates of more than one state at a time except where the vehicle is required to be registered in more than one state, and provided further that the number plates of a rental vehicle shall not display any indication of the rental status of such vehicle nor shall any plate be used other than those issued by the commissioner.



Well, in NY... your not even supposed to have any frame/plate cover. Even the advertisements the dealerships put on new cars. Off to the side is not a problem according to the wording of the state law - it would be my weathertech cover. However... you damned if you do, damned if you don't when it comes to LEO writing you for something like this. My plate is "securely fastened" - no longer just "placed" in a front window or "dangling" being held on by one screw. The 12 inches above the ground... whose to say "whats reasonably possible" as I am not in compliance by 1/2 an inch only on one side of the plate because of the curvature of the cars body.

My plate is 11 1/2 - 12 inches from the bottom of it... off the ground - depending on what side you measure.

I bought the Password JDM license plate relocator which looks really good and only had to cut the black piece (no plates yet unfortunately). But it was a b**** to install! I finally got it but there might be an easier way than using the hardware that comes with it.

Holtz said:

1. (a) No person shall operate, drive or park a motor vehicle on the public highways of this state unless such vehicle shall have a distinctive number assigned to it by the commissioner and a set of number plates issued by the commissioner with a number and other identification matter if any, corresponding to that of the certificate of registration conspicuously displayed, one on the front and one on the rear of such vehicle, each securely fastened so as to prevent the same from swinging and placed, whenever reasonably possible, not higher than forty-eight inches and not lower than twelve inches from the ground;  provided, however, that in any registration year for which only one number plate is issued, such number plate shall constitute a set of number plates for the time in which such use is authorized, shall be displayed on the rear of the vehicle and none shall be displayed on its front, except in case of a tractor, when such number plate shall be displayed on the front of the vehicle and none shall be displayed on its rear.

(b) Number plates shall be kept clean and in a condition so as to be easily readable and shall not be covered by glass or any plastic material, and shall not be knowingly covered or coated with any artificial or synthetic material or substance that conceals or obscures such number plates or that distorts a recorded or photographic image of such number plates, and the view of such number plates shall not be obstructed by any part of the vehicle or by anything carried thereon, except for a receiver-transmitter issued by a publicly owned tolling facility in connection with electronic toll collection when such receiver-transmitter is affixed to the exterior of a vehicle in accordance with mounting instructions provided by the tolling facility.

2. Such number plates shall be of such material, form, design and dimensions and contain or set forth such distinguishing number or other identification marks as the commissioner shall prescribe, provided, however, that there shall be at all times a marked contrast between the color of the number plates and that of the numerals or letters thereon, and provided further that no vehicle shall display the number plates of more than one state at a time except where the vehicle is required to be registered in more than one state, and provided further that the number plates of a rental vehicle shall not display any indication of the rental status of such vehicle nor shall any plate be used other than those issued by the commissioner.

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It's great that you actually read the law of the violation you're charged with. If it were me, I'd fight the ticket. I'd argue that my plate on the dash (?) complies with the provisions of the law. First, measure the height of the plate on your dash. You may find that it's within the 48" height requirement. Even if it's not within 48" inches, the law says it has to be not higher than 48" when reasonably possible. Argue that it's as low as reasonably possible and still fit on the dash. Make it clear to the judge that attaching any plate to the bumper of your nice looking car is unreasonable. Point out that there is no provision that prohibits placement of your plate on the dash which is the front of your vehicle.

You may get some flack that your windshield constitutes a glass covering. Simply call bullshit to that. Say there was no glass or plastic covering and hold up your plate with a plastic covering directly over the plate. Then take it away. See? No plastic or glass covering. That's what the law means anyway.

Fight your ticket. Always. Especially a bullshit ticket like this. Even if you lose, it takes the profit away from the system. Most states require that the officer that issued the ticket must be present in court to prosecute your case. If the officer doesn't show, you win. Case dismissed. If the officer shows, you've taken a taxman off the streets and that costs them even more money. Fight your ticket. Oh, and that front plate looks like ass the way you've mounted it. There's no way to mount a front plate on a Civic and make it look like it belongs there.