Hey Mates,
A few of you Jag mates may recall I reported receiving a $70 fine for not having a front tag on my XK-R. This occurred 28th Sept. I chose to go to court to plead my case. Today, I appeared before the judge and pleaded for "PBJ" (probation before verdict). I argued (very contritely), my Jag was, originally, a Florida car where a front tag is not required, therefore no provision was made to attach it. I explained, that I showed the officer my front tag (carried on the backseat) and that I had already ordered an OEM tag mounting bracket from the dealer, but, it had not yet arrived. The officer did not "buy it", explaining the dealer who inspected it should not have "passed" the inspection without a front tag. There is no "pass/fail" check box on the inspection form.
The judge, granted me a "PBJ", fined me $24.50 and placed me on a one day of unsupervised probation. LOL!
The judge had bigger fish to fry, so, wasn't interested in seeing my pics. Ha, ha...

 

I agree! I'll pay the fines before putting on front tags which tend to ruin the front end beauty of most sports cars.

 

Same here which has been twice in 15 years. As long as I don't get points on my insurance or the fines are monthly; I will not mount a front plate.

 

No luck here in Ontario, Canada.. the provincial police are fanatics and fines are steep, we live in a 'nanny state'.. I was stopped numerous times in my XKR before I traded to the FtypeR.
Now I have a front plate, held on magnetically so when we visit relatives in the USA, I just take it off.
Lawrence.

 

...I'll add, me tag is on a "disappearing" bracket. I pull down on the top of the tag and it folds down (flat) on hinges and slides beneath the body. I mounted in the center as behind the grill is a space between the oil coolers, so, the tag, when upright, does not impede airflow to the coolers, or, is minimal.

 

I'm just impressed that you have a 1966 Orioles tag. Who did you have to bribe or kill to get that. Yes, I'm jealous...

 

[QUOTE=crebri;1113442]I'm just impressed that you have a 1966 Orioles tag. Who did you have to bribe or kill to get that. Yes, I'm jealous...[/QUOTE

Hi,
Yeah, they were "dear", as we say in these parts. It just so happens, '66 was my final HS year too.
Happy Trails...

 

What happens next? Do you have a set period to fit a front tag or is the fine the end of it?

Unfortunately we don't have the option in Europe. Ruins the front of the car!

Graham

 

Hi Graham,
I had already fixed a mounting bracket and my tag when I went to court. Here, it's more of a nuisance for the court than anything else. Yes, the "fine" is the end all. Happy Motoring....

 

We need them in Virginia too. I attached mine in the center over the lower grill with a mounting bracket held in place with a bunch of zip ties so I didn't have to drill holes. I like your approach of the disappearing plate, but I'm not a very sophisticated technician.

 

HI,
Attaching that bracket was very easy. Only needed to drill two small holes in the flat bracket and matching holes in the under belly pan. .Could do this with the car on the ground. I was able to use an existing forward bolt holding the belly pan, to mount the front of the bracket.
Happy Trails....

 

I find it infuriating that just down the road from us in Quebec, they saw no need for a front plate and did away with them decades ago. Why not here?

 

I always thought the front plate was where the cops liked to aim their radar guns....harder to get a fix on the car without one...but maybe that's just another myth....

 

Agree.. between the ticketing mentality, very low speed limits and front plate fanatics it really puts a dent in the fun of having these cars.
Our current government would love to put photo radar back up I'm sure and will if they think they can get away with it this time.. and they need a front plate to make it work.
Lawrence

 

Radar is no problem regardless if you have a front plate or not. It is laser that they like to aim at a flat surface. Also almost all of our easypass have both front plate cameras as well as the window reader. Here in NY they just had an article about how much the state is losing from people running the toll booths without front plates or with plate covers and even the electric plate hiding unit. Some where in the 10's of million dollars a year. I know there are laws for plate covers and I think either there is one our they are making one to outlaw the hidden plate units. It used to be a fix it ticket but now it can run around $100 for 1st ticket and if you get another one it gets expensive.

 

I just saw a new Vette at the Chevy dealer with a body-colored plate mounting bracket that affixed to the underside of the moulding, so no visible holes. It looked great! Why doesn't every car manufacturer understand the simple idea that owners of sports cars don't want holes in their front bumper?

 

LOL. I was in for service at the dealer and asked them what this "plastic" piece was I found in the trunk. It was the front license plate bracket. They refuse to install unless forced. So...I guess I didn't get a bracket
It ruins the looks of any sports car. -- I'll take the ticket