ES - 7th Gen (2019-present) Discussion topics related to 2019+ ES models

Front Plates

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Old 03-29-21, 11:25 AM
  #16  
bc6152
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Originally Posted by E46CT
FWIW, going on I'd say 12-15 years w/o front plate in California. I find if you drive reasonably and don't have obnoxious mufflers, obnoxious limo tint, cops generally will ignore your no-front-plate. In my younger days, my cars were loud, so I'd get no front plate tickets all the time. But since I started "Adulting" with nice tasteful cars, I haven't been bothered once. Knock on wood!
As a Philly cop a violation such as "no front plate" wouldn't even make the top 10... Too busy with other "stuff"...
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Old 03-29-21, 01:10 PM
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Originally Posted by mikemu30
Front plates here in NJ are required and don't bother me one bit even on my FSport grill😁
Allow me to disagree, after two Chrysler 300 Hemis down here in Florida, I can safely say, they'd have looked fugly with a front plate right in the middle of a very distinctive grille. I feel the same goes for the F Sport's grille.
Old 03-29-21, 03:03 PM
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Originally Posted by LeeSoFL
Allow me to disagree, after two Chrysler 300 Hemis down here in Florida, I can safely say, they'd have looked fugly with a front plate right in the middle of a very distinctive grille. I feel the same goes for the F Sport's grille.
I totally agree with you and think that manufacturers, when designing grilles for cars, don't design the front end to accept a front license tag. Seems that the addition of a tag on the front is an after thought. Furthermore, I don't understand why states don't all have a one plate law and save some money... I can testify that my year Corvette looks terrible with a plate jammed into the front opening where the "Corvette" logo is...
Old 03-29-21, 03:31 PM
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oy vey


Old 03-29-21, 04:29 PM
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HA! What a perfect example...
Old 03-29-21, 05:22 PM
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Originally Posted by bc6152
... I don't understand why states don't all have a one plate law and save some money... ...
I've gone without a front plate on my cars since the mid '80's. I've been pulled over 4x for it in that span. 2x were within a month by State Troopers near a college town on the highway. Both times I was given warnings, but the 2nd cop told me the reasoning. He said if I were to get into a hit-and-run, there would be a better chance someone would be able to read my plate, or it would fall off and be left as evidence. I didn't laugh in his face, as I know better. I wanted to ask what they did when cars from the rogue state of Indiana drove through without one, but again, I refrained. I did, however, put the plate on until I finished the semester for the year.
Old 03-29-21, 05:43 PM
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Well sometimes you do sling a little BS and hope the car you stopped buys it... At least he gave you a break.
Old 03-29-21, 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by LeeSoFL
oy vey

OCD. I don't have it😀
Old 03-29-21, 10:08 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by E46CT
FWIW, going on I'd say 12-15 years w/o front plate in California. I find if you drive reasonably and don't have obnoxious mufflers, obnoxious limo tint, cops generally will ignore your no-front-plate. In my younger days, my cars were loud, so I'd get no front plate tickets all the time. But since I started "Adulting" with nice tasteful cars, I haven't been bothered once. Knock on wood!
No front plate on my cars since a 1969 Olds 442. Got stopped by the CHP while driving my 1999 GS400 because of the medium tint on 4 windows and rear window. Fortunately, the officer didn't walk around to the front of the car. Paid the fine but didn't need to remove the tint.
Old 03-31-21, 09:58 AM
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perfctreig
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First off, I LOVE Sanibel Island. Been there a few times. My beautiful young bride is half-Cuban and has relatives in and around Miami.

I also love that you don't need a front plate bracket. I'm dreading having to put one on my SC400. Oddly enough, no one has bothered me in the past few months. As it is, I work for a County office and often park adjacent to or across from Sheriff vehicles.

Your solution looks good.
Old 03-31-21, 10:59 AM
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I've driven Lexus models here in Texas since I leased a '14 ES 350. Couldn't bring myself to have those holes drilled and the plate installed on the front grille. And when I bought a '17 ES I told the dealer again to forego that installation. Fingers crossed as LEO has never stopped or ticketed me for the violation....hopefully, like the Philly cop mentioned, they have bigger fish to fry.
Old 03-31-21, 11:06 AM
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Originally Posted by perfctreig
First off, I LOVE Sanibel Island. Been there a few times. My beautiful young bride is half-Cuban and has relatives in and around Miami.

I also love that you don't need a front plate bracket. I'm dreading having to put one on my SC400. Oddly enough, no one has bothered me in the past few months. As it is, I work for a County office and often park adjacent to or across from Sheriff vehicles.

Your solution looks good.
Congrats on your marriage. I worked in Miami for about 18 months a few years back. Sanibel is a different world
Old 04-12-21, 12:56 PM
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lol, been married 27 years now. I just call her "my beautiful young bride" by habit. Yes, Miami and Sanibel are like night and day.

So, here's what I'm thinking. I want to mount a plate in the area where the foglight normally would be. There are two holes in that location. I expect I'd need some 3" or so L bracket. Is that what y'all did?



Old 04-23-21, 01:36 PM
  #29  
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So, I still haven't installed front plates. As I work at a County building, I often park near or next to law enforcement. One LA County Sheriff I know was parking at the same time as me. I thought of this thread and asked him about front plates.

He said that in the 20 years he's been an LA County Sheriff deputy, he's not once pulled anyone over for a front plate violation. He also has a C4 Vette and wouldn't dare drill holes in the front bumper, but that's just him. He did go on to say that the most likely LE officer to pull someone over is highway patrol. Though even then, they'd probably not cite you for the plates, but would look for something else first.

I'll keep my plate in the trunk.

Thanks, all!
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Old 04-23-21, 02:29 PM
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Great post. That definitely gives perspective and reinforces what I said about not drawing attention to your plate by doing something else stupid... like racing, speeding, revving your loud muFfFlerZ etc etc.


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