US owners, front license plate?

[BlackCobra08]

Hey guys, I've got about 2 days to let my dealer know if I don't want them to drill the holes for the front licence plate mount. I know this law varies from state to state and obviously I'd rather not run a front plate but it is indeed illegal here in MN not to have it on. I'm just curious who all is running w/o a front plate in states that it's illegal to do so, if so did you get tickets at all for it or on past cars? Thanks for your input.

[yosman8]

I had a tow-hook license plate mount on my e90 M3 and if I get hassled by the cops too much I plan on doing the same on the f80. What ever you do... don't drill holes. I too live in MN and I don't have a front plate on my current car and haven't been bothered once about it.

[///M ARMY]

Never had that issue in California with any of my car. (knock on wood)

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by BlackCobra08

Hey guys, I've got about 2 days to let my dealer know if I don't want them to drill the holes for the front licence plate mount. I know this law varies from state to state and obviously I'd rather not run a front plate but it is indeed illegal here in MN not to have it on. I'm just curious who all is running w/o a front plate in states that it's illegal to do so, if so did you get tickets at all for it or on past cars? Thanks for your input.

There are plenty of good brackets for the front license plate that don't require drilling. Many use the front tow hook hole. Here are a few of them.

http://www.usmillworks.com/
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/c-28...-brackets.aspx
http://www.skene.org/bmw/plate/

[accce]

I did not put mine on.

[rjc32000]

Not having a front plate in compliance with law is a bullet-proof reason to be pulled over. Equipment/safety violation gives police the right to stop and briefly detain you. This is, at best, inconvenient. But do you ever have a few drinks after work before driving home without your front plate? Ever have anything in the car (people, things, etc) you would rather not let the police see? Do you value your privacy and right to travel without being stopped and questioned by the government? If you answered yes to any of these, then I think the front plate is a pretty small compromise.

A bunch of manufacturers sell front plate holders that attach to front tow hook and don't require any holes to be drilled. Looks a little wonky to my eyes since the plate isn't centered on bumper, but it does prevent the need to drill.

Originally Posted by BlackCobra08

Hey guys, I've got about 2 days to let my dealer know if I don't want them to drill the holes for the front licence plate mount. I know this law varies from state to state and obviously I'd rather not run a front plate but it is indeed illegal here in MN not to have it on. I'm just curious who all is running w/o a front plate in states that it's illegal to do so, if so did you get tickets at all for it or on past cars? Thanks for your input.

[Reid]

Originally Posted by BlackCobra08

Hey guys, I've got about 2 days to let my dealer know if I don't want them to drill the holes for the front licence plate mount. I know this law varies from state to state and obviously I'd rather not run a front plate but it is indeed illegal here in MN not to have it on. I'm just curious who all is running w/o a front plate in states that it's illegal to do so, if so did you get tickets at all for it or on past cars? Thanks for your input.

Why not run without a front plate for now?

Then if you get ticketed, you can always opt to either use a tow hook mount or just drill the bumper.

[stressdoc]

In Missouri, no problems for four years... Knock on wood. My guess is that if you get pulled over then you will get bonked. Or worse, if it's late night and you fall into a 'profile' then it's an excuse to pull you over.

[jmar32]

I live in Ohio and it is required. There is no way I will be drilling to put the front plate on. I did not put the front plate on my X6 when I had it and was only ticketed once and pulled over a second time but not ticketed. I plan on running as long as possible without it. If it becomes an issue I will find a way or mount with one of the links from above.

[ThomasM4]

Illegal in Texas but I've never mounted one on any of my cars. It's like drawing a mustache on the Mona Lisa. Got a couple warnings but never a ticket.

[SakhirM4]

In Texas, especially in the Austin area, they have really cracked down on this. Law changed in 2013 to allow fine. They have been going through parking lots or along parked cars on the streets and issuing tickets for cars without front plates. It is a $200 fine.

[MWS55]

Im ordering this one for my M4, and the good thing about it is that you can adjust the plate perfectly so it won't block your front censors.

http://www.pedalhaus.com/quickrelease.html

[Roadkiller]

I believe required in California.

[jc05e46m3]

No front plate, regardless of the law. Do not ruin the bumper. That's senseless when there are good alternatives.

[Wah]

I ran a skene design one on my e92 for a little while, then just took it off. I am not going to put one on my F82.

http://www.skenedesign.com/FPBracket/index.shtml

[gmazet]

Originally Posted by BlackCobra08

Hey guys, I've got about 2 days to let my dealer know if I don't want them to drill the holes for the front licence plate mount. I know this law varies from state to state and obviously I'd rather not run a front plate but it is indeed illegal here in MN not to have it on. I'm just curious who all is running w/o a front plate in states that it's illegal to do so, if so did you get tickets at all for it or on past cars? Thanks for your input.

I had an e92 with no plate, never got hassled while driving but I did find a ticket on my car at the train station... and the judge was a prick and wanted proof I was putting the thing on, I told him I had a bracket on order and never parked in that town again. front plate is a bogus rule. When I get my next nice car it will have no plate on the front like all of my past nice cars.

[kinimod]

Originally Posted by MWS55

Im ordering this one for my M4, and the good thing about it is that you can adjust the plate perfectly so it won't block your front censors.

http://www.pedalhaus.com/quickrelease.html

Interesting! How do you know it fits the M4? Only F30 is listed.

[omegaSMP300]

It is required in California. However, it is a fix it ticket if caught. I do not have front license plates on any of my cars and have not got a ticket for it yet *knock on wood. I would be more worried about parking monitors noticing than highway patrol bothering to pull one over for it. I really think it breaks up the front's aesthetics and when looking to buy it is always something I look out for.

[dave885]

Lucky to live in a state that only requires a rear plate. We got my wife's car from a dealer trade from MD and it had a front plate bracket. Pissed me off but we just put my daughter's college plate on it. If it were my car we wouldn't have got it

[stressdoc]

I think it is an energy waste issue. Front plates increase aero drag by .00x% This may seem trivial to an individual owner, but multiplied by millions of drivers, this is a national economic security and ecological issue.

We own the moral high ground here. We are working to save the nation and the planet. Screw the Seven Sisters...

[ciaranob]

Originally Posted by gmcconn535

In Texas, especially in the Austin area, they have really cracked down on this. Law changed in 2013 to allow fine. They have been going through parking lots or along parked cars on the streets and issuing tickets for cars without front plates. It is a $200 fine.

Law indeed has changed however I (and no one I know) have had no issues to date in Houston (have been driving for 20 years in TX without plates). I'm sure its possible to get tagged, interesting comment re Austin, but currently do not have plans to put the from plates on permanently. There are other options (pref thread discussed them) for plates that retract etc. which I may consider when traveling through smaller towns on way to San Anton etc.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by ciaranob

Law indeed has changed however I (and no one I know) have had no issues to date in Houston (have been driving for 20 years in TX without plates). I'm sure its possible to get tagged, interesting comment re Austin, but currently do not have plans to put the from plates on permanently. There are other options (pref thread discussed them) for plates that retract etc. which I may consider when traveling through smaller towns on way to San Anton etc.

At one of our car club events a few months ago, we were all parked around the courthouse in the town square of a small town in the Hill Country and a cop stopped by and issued a ticket to every car that did not have a front plate. Probably paid his salary for the month.