Front license plate ticket.

[lacdaddy57]

What is the name of your state? CA

I just got a ticket (2:00am) for not having my front license plate attached to my car, it sitting securely on my dashboard. My friend told me his mother fought a similar ticket because a front license plate ticket cannot be given when your car is parked. Is this true?

[You Are Guilty]

Originally Posted by lacdaddy57

What is the name of your state? CA

I just got a ticket (2:00am) for not having my front license plate attached to my car, it sitting securely on my dashboard. My friend told me his mother fought a similar ticket because a front license plate ticket cannot be given when your car is parked. Is this true?

Depends - where was your car parked?

[CdwJava]

Originally Posted by lacdaddy57

What is the name of your state? CA

I just got a ticket (2:00am) for not having my front license plate attached to my car, it sitting securely on my dashboard. My friend told me his mother fought a similar ticket because a front license plate ticket cannot be given when your car is parked. Is this true?

If your car was moving on a public roadway or offstreet parking facility, you can be stopped and cited for not having a front license plate attached the your vehicle per CVC 5200. If your jurisdiction also issues parking cites for the same matter, then they can issue it in the same public places if it is not attached.

- Carl

[HomeGuru]

Originally Posted by lacdaddy57

What is the name of your state? CA

I just got a ticket (2:00am) for not having my front license plate attached to my car, it sitting securely on my dashboard. My friend told me his mother fought a similar ticket because a front license plate ticket cannot be given when your car is parked. Is this true?

**A: yes, the cops must chase you and follow you around town while one drives and the other leans out of the patrol car window long enough to place the ticket on your window while going 35mph.

[JETX]

Originally Posted by lacdaddy57

I just got a ticket (2:00am) for not having my front license plate attached to my car, it sitting securely on my dashboard.

Seems pretty clear to me!!
Here is the California Vehicle Code:
5201. License plates shall at all times be securely fastenedto the vehicle for which they are issued so as to prevent the plates from swinging, shall be mounted in a position so as to be clearly visible, and shall be maintained in a condition so as to be clearly legible.
Source: [url]http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=veh&group=05001-06000&file=5200-5206[/url]

The plate "sitting" on your dashboard is NOT fastened.

[You Are Guilty]

Originally Posted by Some chowderhead

I just got a ticket (2:00am) for not having my front license plate attached to my car, it sitting securely on my dashboard.

Originally Posted by JETX

Seems pretty clear to me!!

Not so clear to me - maybe he meant that the ticket was securely on his dash. (In which case, it would be perfectly legal, especially if placed there at 35 m.p.h.)

[tvoice]

Originally Posted by JETX

Seems pretty clear to me!!
Here is the California Vehicle Code:
5201. License plates shall at all times be securely fastenedto the vehicle for which they are issued so as to prevent the plates from swinging, shall be mounted in a position so as to be clearly visible, and shall be maintained in a condition so as to be clearly legible.
Source: [url]http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=veh&group=05001-06000&file=5200-5206[/url]

The plate "sitting" on your dashboard is NOT fastened.

What if it's taped on the inside window? There seems to be no stipulation that it's got to be on the outside. I've asked a worker at the DMV and they said it was fine. But I've gotten tickets as well. I just pay them since they're few and far between.

[CdwJava]

Originally Posted by tvoice

What if it's taped on the inside window? There seems to be no stipulation that it's got to be on the outside. I've asked a worker at the DMV and they said it was fine. But I've gotten tickets as well. I just pay them since they're few and far between.

"CVC 5201. License plates shall at all times be securely fastened to the
vehicle for which they are issued so as to prevent the plates from
swinging, shall be mounted in a position so as to be clearly visible,
and shall be maintained in a condition so as to be clearly legible.
The rear license plate shall be mounted not less than 12 inches nor
more than 60 inches from the ground, and the front license plate
shall be mounted not more than 60 inches from the ground ..."

Last time I checked, something hanging on the inside of your front windshield was not clearly visible or legible ... you have angle of the sun, headlights, etc. that prevent it from being read.

And further down on 5201 you also find bits about no covering or device that impairs the reading of the plate - and front windshields are tinted.

There are quite a few ways to tag someone for this.

And if you keep getting tagged but don't correct it, you're lucky that your local cops aren't too concerned to rip you with a cite for failure to correct the violation ... it could lead to really big fines.

It's worth that much to you not to have a front plate mounted? How odd.

- Carl

[tvoice]

Originally Posted by CdwJava

[i]
Last time I checked, something hanging on the inside of your front windshield was not clearly visible or legible ... you have angle of the sun, headlights, etc. that prevent it from being read.
And further down on 5201 you also find bits about no covering or device that impairs the reading of the plate - and front windshields are tinted.
There are quite a few ways to tag someone for this.
And if you keep getting tagged but don't correct it, you're lucky that your local cops aren't too concerned to rip you with a cite for failure to correct the violation ... it could lead to really big fines.
It's worth that much to you not to have a front plate mounted? How odd.
- Carl

Yeah...I don't see the front license as necessary. It's a complete waste of tax payers money, how many times does someone get identified by front plates? And I'm not very excited about drilling holes into my bumper.

As for your arguements...it might be what the CA cops say, but it's flimsy at best. My windows aren't tinted except at the top, the license is more easily seen since it's closer to eye level. If a cop was coming towards me and we're both going 55 mph, how easy is it for him to get the license when it's down on the bumper. He definitely can't pay attention to where he's going and try to memorize that. When the plate is next to the glass, it's whites are punched out and easy to read. In other states, it's perfectly fine to have the license in the dashboard for the front plate.

If there is any common sense to the enforcement, it's lost on this non-native. I'm going to have a hearing to have a judge explain his reasoning.

[CdwJava]

Originally Posted by tvoice

how many times does someone get identified by front plates?

A lot, actually.

And I'm not very excited about drilling holes into my bumper.

I wouldn't be either. But there are other alternatives to drilling them to the bumper. There ARE plate holders out there for most cars that will clamp or can be otherwise affixed to the front bumper.

As for your arguements...it might be what the CA cops say, but it's flimsy at best.

Actually, it's also what the courts say. So take it up with them. Oh, and the state legislature.

My windows aren't tinted except at the top

Actually, they probably are. The top has extra tinting, but there IS tint to most any windshield manufactured today. It is minimal, but it IS there. And, of course, there is still the reflective nature of the glass, the angle, and the fact that it cannot be seen at night through your front windshield.

In other states, it's perfectly fine to have the license in the dashboard for the front plate.

You're not in other states. And in some states they only issue one plate for cars as well. In CA they issue two and you are expected to affix them both properly to your vehicle.

If there is any common sense to the enforcement, it's lost on this non-native. I'm going to have a hearing to have a judge explain his reasoning.

That certainly is your right. Good luck.

- Carl

[Happy Trails]

Do you really want the license plate flying around in your vehicle if you get into a crash?