Front Plates in IL Options

[Kazz5]

Got pulled over in my dd yesterday just east of Morton by a State cop. Asked me about the missing front plate right off. Ended up writing me a warning.

He actually was really nice. He was giving me crap about the exhaust not being stock and that if it's any louder than stock it was illegal. I told him it wasn't and that I'd purposefully selected it because it wasn't - that's all horseshit, but screw him.

He had me start the car and blip the throttle a couple of times. "That's no louder than stock?" "Nope."

Actually, I don't think it is louder than stock to be honest. It's not a loud, raspy, booming, fart-can thing at all. Hell, the intake when it rolls to the second cam profile's louder.

Anyway, when he came back to my window with the warning I asked him, "Did you really just pull me over for no front plate? You weren't looking for anything else?" He said, "No, I pull over 8 to 10 a day when I'm working traffic."

So, there ya go. Personally, I absolutely HATE being pulled over for ANY reason and didn't put the plate on yet because of the aftermarket front with no mounting point. I found something that'd work at Autozone last night and mounted it up.

Some of you will remember the story about being pulled over going through Springfield in the Evo with tinted front plate cover. The trooper really was turning back around to check the cars that were speeding but he couldn't prove it with his gun because they all backed off. Took me as a target of opportunity out of frustration.

Anyway, just a rant. Put 'em on. It'll keep you from getting harrassed and letting them pick the car over for any little violation.

[AWD DSM 1]

Very similar to when I got pulled over for my tinted windows in my truck... went home and ripped it off, not worth it. Front plates are stupid, but it's not worth getting harrassed for not putting it on.

[turbohcar]

I absolutely hate the front plate bracket they put on the Camaros from the factory. When I got mine home, it was falling apart so bad it almost fell off. So, in order to comply with the law, I remounted it on the air dam below the front bumper. You know, the one that directs air into the radiator. I'll post a pic later to show you but, it's supposedly within the legal limits of the law even though you can't see it unless you're 10+ feet away.

[Zmann42087]

I've actually been thinking about this lately. I was involved in an accident in my GST a couple months ago, and subsequently have a brand new 2gb front bumper that I dont want to drill holes into and all just for a dumb front license plate. So I guess what I'm wondering is would sticking the front license plate on the dash qualify as having a front plate?

[turbohcar]

I've actually been thinking about this lately. I was involved in an accident in my GST a couple months ago, and subsequently have a brand new 2gb front bumper that I dont want to drill holes into and all just for a dumb front license plate. So I guess what I'm wondering is would sticking the front license plate on the dash qualify as having a front plate?

Nope, it sure doesn't qualify. Crappy laws...

[Zmann42087]

I've actually been thinking about this lately.  I was involved in an accident in my GST a couple months ago, and subsequently have a brand new 2gb front bumper that I dont want to drill holes into and all just for a dumb front license plate.  So I guess what I'm wondering is would sticking the front license plate on the dash qualify as having a front plate?

Nope, it sure doesn't qualify. Crappy laws...

Damn it. I guess its going back on after all...

[99Spyder]

Mine is back in the dash again but I did get a warning in EP a couple of years ago for it. I also have a warning for my truck in Morton, and a TA that I had in Creve Coeur. I am thinking of rigging somethng up that will mount the plate but still allow for airflow. Perhaps something spring loaded tripped with a door lock actuator

[JBone]

One day after washing the truck, I conviently just "forgot" to remount my front license plate. This was probably around October last year or so.

In April, I nailed a freakin' motorcyle and got a ticket, and the cop said nothing about the lack of a front plate.

Within a month of being back home from school this summer, I got pulled over by a State Trooper for it, and got a warning. My sister was with me, we laughed the whole time. He came up to the door asking if I knew I didn't have my plate on. To which I replied, "Yes." He stood there waiting for an excuse. "You know you have to have one on, right?" "Yes, sir, it's actually right behind my seat right now. Do you want to see it?" I bullshitted a little about the mark on the bumper and meaning to get it back on. I actually asked the officer if he was bored, or something, though.

Three to four weeks later, pulled over again, this time by a Wasington cop. This was great... "I pulled you over because your front license plate is not on." "Yes, sir, I am actually on my way right now to get screws to put it back on. See, it's right here, and my drill is in my seat." "Oh, really? Ok, I'll just write you a warning." HA HA HA HA. Oh, how I love dicking with the popo. I finally put it on that night. Almost a whole year, and never pulled over, including a wreck. Then up there, two times in a month. We apparently need more crime to occupy the police's time.

[Turbo Tension]

State troopers eat, beathe, and sleep IVC. They will pull people over simply to give a no front plate ticket.

[BudmannG]

You cannot have a liscense cover of any kind in Springfield anymore. They will pull you over and give you a $500.00 ticket. No warnings at all! A guy at the gas station told my girlfriend this and she procceeded to kick the car until the covers front/back were broke off and not visible. LOL!
I think the popo is just bored or they hired way to many extras with nothing to do but harrass people!

[Turbo Tension]

You cannot have a liscense cover of any kind in Springfield anymore. They will pull you over and give you a $500.00 ticket. No warnings at all! A guy at the gas station told my girlfriend this and she procceeded to kick the car until the covers front/back were broke off and not visible. LOL!
I think the popo is just bored or they hired way to many extras with nothing to do but harrass people!

Actually the main reason is Chicago.

[Kazz5]

You cannot have a liscense cover of any kind in Springfield anymore. They will pull you over and give you a $500.00 ticket. No warnings at all! A guy at the gas station told my girlfriend this and she procceeded to kick the car until the covers front/back were broke off and not visible. LOL!
I think the popo is just bored or they hired way to many extras with nothing to do but harrass people!

Actually the main reason is Chicago.

BINGO!

It would be nice if there was any kind of activist group about this in our state. I guess there may be one, actually, but I've never heard about it. I understand there is alot of buzz in CA over their silly laws.

I think what's ultimately stupid is that these supposed laws aren't communicated actively. You don't learn about them in Driver's Ed. nor in that wonderful "Rules of the Road" handbook they publish.

They want excuses to pull people over and see if there's anything else going on.

Again, I reiterate, I will go to lengths to avoid being pulled over - the Evo being an exception, heh. So I like to know what the damned law is.

Welcome to Illinois ...

[Shaun@AMS]

**** a front plate, i refuse.

[TSG59_Steve]

Thats nothing compared to me driving 3ft. with my friends on the front &back of a van in Taco Bells parking lot, after telling them to get off, and getting a wreckless driving ticket. Even worse is that I wasn't the one originally driving, my friend had gotten out of the van while waiting in the drive thru line and I pulled forward. I hate f***ing cops. It was Midnight too. I could have gone to jail... If I get ANY kind of ticket now, even for a front license plate, I go to jail. And I have to pay the $1600 fine.

[kapoosh]

Thats nothing compared to me driving 3ft. with my friends on the front &back of a van in Taco Bells parking lot, after telling them to get off, and getting a wreckless driving ticket. Even worse is that I wasn't the one originally driving, my friend had gotten out of the van while waiting in the drive thru line and I pulled forward. I hate f***ing cops. It was Midnight too. I could have gone to jail... If I get ANY kind of ticket now, even for a front license plate, I go to jail. And I have to pay the $1600 fine.

Your not fighting this why??

[JBone]

I'll say it... You deserved to get a ticket for doing that stupid ass shit. You have some stupid friends, too. Have them pay the ticket. They caused you to get it. But in the end, it was dangerous. Taco Bell has cops include their property on patrol, so they are authorized to write a ticket. You operated a vehicle in a manner that could have caused harm to others (the dumbasses on your hood and bumper). If they got hurt, you think you WOULD have paid? I doubt your parents would. So who does that leave? Taco Bell. They'll be damned if they pay for your stupidity.

But it was only 3 feet!
You moved your van... 1 foot or 1 mile, you moved. That was wreckless and careless. And now, hopefully, you'll learn your lesson.

I have to side with the authorities on a situation like this.
The front plates, not so much, especially since there is no federal concensus on the matter for ALL the states.

Another thing, to get this back on topic, the "Rules of the Road" is an opinionated book that in no way shape or form is the traffic law.

This is a website that should help with the laws.
Illinois Traffic Laws

It always helps to know

[haunter]

one reason they require a front plate for easier identification, esp for hit and runs and the like, its easier for people to see TWO plates

[TSG59_Steve]

Thats nothing compared to me driving 3ft. with my friends on the front &back of a van in Taco Bells parking lot, after telling them to get off, and getting a wreckless driving ticket. Even worse is that I wasn't the one originally driving, my friend had gotten out of the van while waiting in the drive thru line and I pulled forward. I hate f***ing cops. It was Midnight too. I could have gone to jail... If I get ANY kind of ticket now, even for a front license plate, I go to jail. And I have to pay the $1600 fine.

Your not fighting this why??

I don't have the money for a lawyer.

[turbohcar]

$1600 fine vs. $250 Max for a lawyer? Lawyers don't cost that much. The cost of a lawyer these days is very much overrated.

[TSG59_Steve]

I'll say it... You deserved to get a ticket for doing that stupid ass shit. You have some stupid friends, too. Have them pay the ticket. They caused you to get it. But in the end, it was dangerous. Taco Bell has cops include their property on patrol, so they are authorized to write a ticket. You operated a vehicle in a manner that could have caused harm to others (the dumbasses on your hood and bumper). If they got hurt, you think you WOULD have paid? I doubt your parents would. So who does that leave? Taco Bell. They'll be damned if they pay for your stupidity.

But it was only 3 feet!
You moved your van... 1 foot or 1 mile, you moved. That was wreckless and careless. And now, hopefully, you'll learn your lesson.

I have to side with the authorities on a situation like this.
The front plates, not so much, especially since there is no federal concensus on the matter for ALL the states.

Another thing, to get this back on topic, the "Rules of the Road" is an opinionated book that in no way shape or form is the traffic law.

This is a website that should help with the laws.
Illinois Traffic Laws

It always helps to know

A couple things in response to that...

It was a conversion van full of band equipment, I had no idea one of them was on the back (hence me driving even 3 ft). I'm not a fucking idiot. I already knew that cars are dangerous, which is why I STOPPED in the first place. So go screw yourself because you don't know what you're talking about. I didn't NEED to learn a lesson, my two buddies did. Yeah they are dumbasses, but we all can be sometimes- example: YOU by opening your big mouth and calling me the Stupid one because two other people were acting like morons.

And if you, by chance, try to say "Well, you should have been more specific"... IT HELPS TO KNOW.

(The following is directed to our schools)
And if the "Rules of the Road" is opinionated, then why do they use it in drivers ed class instead of telling us the REAL rules of the road? Someone want to explain that?