Front Plates in VA??

[Negtvions]

I'm moving from CA to VA in a few months and I was wondering about the laws and enforcement of front license plates in the state?

Any other important laws I should know about? (I know radar detectors are illegal.)

TIA.

[M_Swee]

YMMV, but I have not had a front plate for 2+ years now. No problem.

I'm in the NOVA area, and we head into DC frequently. Have gotten parking tickets due to not having front plates though. $50 per ticket, and when street parked. Normally, go for the garage as they're fairly inexpensive in DC.

In general, speeding can get you in trouble around here (compounded by not having a detector). Anything 20+ mph over the limit, or anything over 80 mph period, is reckless driving in this state.

[alex2364]

It depends on where in VA. It's a big state. If you're going to be in the Northern VA area, don't do street parking in Arlington without a front plate. Anywhere in the suburbs should be fine. DC will ticket you for missing front plate as well.

[Negtvions]

Thanks for the replies.

I'll be in the VA beach area.

Plan is to keep that front plate off the car then based on the responses so far.

I'll also try to avoid the reckless driving.

Any thing over 80 huh? That will require lots of attention to speed. This car does 80 for breakfast...

[alex2364]

Anything over 80 or 20 above the limit. So 45 in a 25 is reckless as well.

[Negtvions]

That 20+ makes it even more tricky...

[Vanc2408]

I live in DC and agree to keep the plate off the front and PARK IN GARAGES! Street parking in the city is a surefire way to get tickets, bumps and scratches...

[M_Swee]

Originally Posted by Negtvions

Thanks for the replies.

I'll be in the VA beach area.

Plan is to keep that front plate off the car then based on the responses so far.

I'll also try to avoid the reckless driving.

Any thing over 80 huh? That will require lots of attention to speed. This car does 80 for breakfast...

VA Beach... are you in the military? Big Navy base there. I go down 6-7 times a year to visit family.

WIDE roads there, which are nice. All fairly new or repaved, too as you go closer to Sandbridge. If you're a golfer, I recommend hitting up Hells Point for a quick round of 9 or 18.

Be wary of I-64 and I-264; a lot of highway patrol. 5-6 lane highway with a limit of 55mph. Definitely not California.

[1fastR1]

Originally Posted by Negtvions

Thanks for the replies.

I'll be in the VA beach area.

Plan is to keep that front plate off the car then based on the responses so far.

I'll also try to avoid the reckless driving.

Any thing over 80 huh? That will require lots of attention to speed. This car does 80 for breakfast...

Good luck with no plates without getting a ticket. It's a hit or miss. Depends on who's pulling you over. I'm in the Hampton roads area and got pulled over 4 times with no plates.

[Negtvions]

Originally Posted by 1fastR1

Good luck with no plates without getting a ticket. It's a hit or miss. Depends on who's pulling you over. I'm in the Hampton roads area and got pulled over 4 times with no plates.

How much is the ticket for no front plates?

[PSI Power]

In Virginia, 90+ is considered jail time unless you have a good lawyer. Even with a good lawyer you may have to reschedule a few times. Some judges really hate speeders.

[Shadow2]

So I'm assuming most have some kind of tow hook plate mount. Which one works best on these cars? With park sensors BTW.

[PSI Power]

I have the US Millworks one. Haven't put it on yet. Very popular option. The front of my SO F80 is so pretty without the front plate. Been holding off until I have to.

[idrg2016]

I was pulled over because of this.

[FAKE__NEWS]

Originally Posted by idrg2016

I was pulled over because of this.

I've only had the car since late spring last year, but prior to that I didn't have a front plate on my last car and never got stopped once.

I got snagged by Fairfax City for 44/25 and he didn't give me a ticket for the front plate...didn't even mention it.

[Negtvions]

This looks like a viable front plate system that doesn't harm the bumper.

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1233892

[FAKE__NEWS]

Originally Posted by Negtvions

This looks like a viable front plate system that doesn't harm the bumper.

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1233892

https://carbonio.com/collections/bmw...se-plate-mount

Heard great things about these too

[.paul]

i was just about to remove my plates that were horrifically mounted and get the bumper plugs.

[espressoo]

Originally Posted by Negtvions

This looks like a viable front plate system that doesn't harm the bumper.

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1233892

Sto N Sho IMO is the best. Your plates are centered once attached and once detached no one will notice the mounting plate. It takes 5 seconds to attach/detach your plates during a car wash. My mount is only attached via double sided tape (no screws) and has held on fine.

[dheanswer]

Originally Posted by espressoo

Sto N Sho IMO is the best. Your plates are centered once attached and once detached no one will notice the mounting plate. It takes 5 seconds to attach/detach your plates during a car wash. My mount is only attached via double sided tape (no screws) and has held on fine.

+1. I have this and it's so easy to detach/reattach the plate with no tools required once the mount is installed.

[k9lovr]

Originally Posted by Negtvions

This looks like a viable front plate system that doesn't harm the bumper.

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1233892

This is also what I have....easy to install and doesn't require any cutting...nice solution to the plate issue

[ellipsis212]

VA has the most draconian speeding laws in the country as other commenters have stated specifics. It's truly a racket. Read Patrick George's article about doing jail time after a press car outing.

YMMV without front plate. You'll probably get popped after you've forgotten about it for a few months.