Per another forum:

Hearsay says a LEO representative has been visiting dealerships to spread the word.
Bellevue, Redmond, Snohomish, and Kirkland police departments will no longer be flexible regarding vehicles without the front license plate installed. Currently, Washington State law requires license plates to be prominently displayed on the front and rear of all vehicles.

Not to stir a pot as we all know this is a law and we take our chances, but if they are set on beefing up enforcement, I thought I would pass on the alert...

-Peace
Vince

 

We cal LEO, Barney around here ie: Andy Griffith..
They are fanatics around here with speed and front license plates,.. this Ontario, Canada.
Wish we could get rid of the front plates, however our government in this province no doubt see's them as a future cash cow.. ie: photo radar etc..
Our local provincial government is quite socialist unfortunately.
Lawrence.

 

I've run without a front plate on my customized PT Cruiser for 13 years I'd rather take my chances than destroy the looks of any of my cool cars. I'm planning on getting a magnetic mount for the front of my STR. I hate the way it looks with the dorky plate on it

 

I have an '80 MGB that has never had a front plate, haven't had a problem in 35 years.

Dave

 

Same here. Utah law mandates a front plate but I've never in 22 years of living here had one on. I've gotten a few tickets in the past but no mention of the lack of one.
I also agree with Ken that a front plate ruins the look of nearly every car. I think I'd rather pay the fixit ticket than install one.

 

The odd thing about the plate law is that those with classic / vintage plates ARENT required to have a front plate. Go fig. I got approached by a cop in downtown Seattle a couple months ago as I was loading stuff into my Z (with no plate) at a commercial loading zone. He really didn't blink at the no plate, but what I DID learn was that even attended, you can't use a loading zone.

 

I'd so love to get rid of my front plate, but my karma seems such that I'd get nailed shortly afterwards for sure.

 

One would think there's a technology answer for the front plate. My last XKR had the plate bracket screwed or bolted into the black "bumpers". This is defamation of a beautiful car. Just bought another XKR which doesn't have the plate bracket installed. Does anyone know of an alternate mount that doesn't put holes in the bumpers?

 

Does an XKR have a tow hook port in the front bumper? There are licence plate brackets that screw into the that place where the tow hook goes.

Home - GMG Motorsports-Home of the Original 'NO HOLES' License Plate Bracket

Alternatively, there are folding license holders.

- Hide The Plate.com

 

I have see people cut out the front plate so just the letters/# are showing and put in lower grill.

Is that legal?

 

I'll see if I can find the RCW for you, but I'm 95% positive it is illegal to alter a license plate.


-Found> Her ya go, subsection 7b and 7c
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.16A.200

 

Ya "Alter" Is A Good Way To Put It. Asked My Dad Who's A Lawyer/Cop And He Says You Are Not Aloud To Change/Alter Plate And Full Plate Must Be Fully Displayed on Front End Of Car, Not Up Against The Window Either.

 

Up until a few years ago, if the car didn't have a factory front license bracket, the vehicle was waived from the law. The department of motor vehicles would then issue you only one plate. It was on the registration only one plate was issued. Police knew not to ticket you. WA state patrol says:


"Is a front license plate required?

Yes, for those vehicles issued a front plate. The license plate must be affixed to the front of the vehicle and kept clean so as to be plainly seen and read at all times. (RCW 46.16A.240)"-- Passenger Vehicle FAQs - Washington State Patrol


Key word in the above is vehicles issued a front plate. Corvettes don't come factory equipped with a front plate bracket and are automatically exempted from the law. All other vehicles must get a waiver from the state patrol now.


Further state patrol info:


"Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 46.16.240 states in part, "The vehicle
license number plates shall be attached conspicuously at the front and
rear of each vehicle . . . PROVIDED HOWEVER, that in cases where the
body construction of the vehicle is such that compliance with this
section is impossible, permission to deviate there from may be granted
by the state patrol."


So you'll have to write the state patrol:


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



But even if you have to drill holes, you'll have to put a bracket on. Only car I know of with the waiver is the Corvette. I owned one and got out of a no front plate ticket because of the blanket waiver on the Corvette.


California by law is the same way, but its impossible to get the DMV to issue only one plate and get a waiver from the state patrol. WA is one of the few states its possible, but very hard to do, unless its a Corvette.

 

Appreciate everyone's feedback. And Poncho - big "thank you" here. That was very good actionable information. Tried stopping by Washington State Patrol office locally, but discovered they are only open on weekdays. So will visit again. Currently running on a 60-day temp plate to avoid having two plates issued - as noted by Poncho.

I will keep everyone here posted on the outcome of my appeal to WSP. Trying to do this in person instead of just writing to an office in Olympia where its easier to round file the request than issue a dispensation. If that turns out to be the only recourse I will submit an appeal with photos comparing the Corvette and XKR. I also think there is an argument that mounting the plate in the middle of the grill reduces the engineered airflow into the radiator and engine compartment by a significant percentage, and therefore represents a real risk to the health of the engine.

The one dealer I spoke with indicated that Jaguar did not make a mounting system for the 2000 body style, nor do they offer one now.

Any other thoughts or reasonable arguments all of you may have with regard to engineering or the fact the car was not designed for a front plate, please let me know and I will include those with merit in my appeal.

You guys & gals are great! Looking forward to meeting some of you in the Seattle area.

 

I have one if these on my F-Type. Very well made kit.

 

It is rare for WA to issue the waiver. I'm not 100% sure they still do it with the Corvette, as GM provides a kit for states requiring a front plate. My no front plate ticket, was in 07 and it was given to gain probable cause on a traffic stop. My brother lost his front plate on an Excursion and got a ticket. He had another issue, license suspended for not paying a ticket. He hired a lawyer, he said the lawyer said only the Corvette can run without front plates, this was 08.

 

Is ODOT the same way? I know Oregon is a double plate state, but I don't know about if there is a front plate exemption for cars without plate brackets?

 

Well, All I know is that I have received that ticket and payed a fine in Eugene, Oregon for not having one on the front of the car. The ticket came from a rookie cop, I think he was looking for anything he could to show he was do his job to the best of his ability in his first years as a cop.
Dano

 

A neighbor lady with a new cute BMW convertible just received a ticket here in Portland. Seems the WA law is creeping to Oregon.

 

Only one plate required in PA, I'm surprised that hasn't changed because this state can find more ways to steal, I mean make money than most others.