what's the deal with having a front license plate?

[daNattyFatty]

the authorities around here make a big deal of it. i just wanna know the reasons behind it.

[Zohar]

In Connecticut it's illegal not to have a front liscence plate (unless you have a 60-day temporary plate if you just bought a car). I think the reason is fairly obvious, if I observed someone driving around with a baseball bat smashing mailboxes, not only would I have a chance to get his plates as he drove toward me, but also behind me (although it would be backwards =P)

[greenlead]

Thankfully, we only use the rear plate here, although the legislature was talking about changing it not too long back.

[DltUNH]

DC, so here's a question and actually anyone else who wants to take a stab at it. Say I'm from state h that requires that I only display the rear license plate, and I drive through state i that requires a front and a rear. Can I be ticketed in that state for not complying to their laws or what.

DLT

[AnthonyM83]

Yeah, I think there's federal case law on not stopping cars without a front plate if their home state doesn't require it.

Both are required in California, but I've never heard of anyone getting a citation for it, unless they were being jerks about it (where voluntary compliance wasn't going to happen).

[Newbie31]

Rear plates that have dead bugs on them are always good ones to stop as well. It is a good indication that someone stole the front plate off of another car thinking it wouldnt be noticed. Then they place it on their recently stolen car. Sooooo sneaky

[mcsap]

Front plates are great because I can run the tag as they approach me instead of trying to catch it in my rear view. PA is a rear only tag state except for big trucks ( and I like to run their tags anyway).

DC, if you see our latest version of "temp" tags, they are the real metal plate with a "official" sheet of paper in the rear window with an expiration date written on to it. They are only good for a max of 90 days. Pickups, big trucks, convertibles and motorcycles are not required to display the temp "receipt" but all passenger/SUV/vans are.

[HiTechCj]

In some jurisdictions, the increase in enforcement of front plate requirements is a result of the increased use of photo-red-light, and e-toll both violations. Depending on the camera set-up - without a front plate it is impossible to issue a citation.

Raymond
www.hitechcj.com

[Scruit]

I understand there are major issues with cameras snapping the back of a car - you can't ID the driver, can't force the registered owner to identify the driver (5th amendment) and can't ticket the registered owner (cannot prove he was driving).

The answer is snapping the front of the car to show the driver.

So, is it illegal to wear a hockey mask while driving? :D

[mcsap]

Our littering laws state that if we get a credible complaint about litter coming from a vehicle, the owner is responsible to ID who was driving at the time. If the owner can't or won't , they get cited. Max $300 fine.


Similar deal with parking tickets. I hand out $10 tickets like candy. If they dont get paid within 5 days, I file a traffic cite on the registered owner ( unless I happen to get the driver's info at the time of the first ticket). Never had a problem.

[Scruit]

Does the owner have 5th amendment priviledges in the cases you mentioned? I know that some jurisditions will limit the rights of the accused by classifying the crimes in such way that the max punishment is not high enough to require full protections.

Same reason you often can't get a public defender or demand a jury trial for a speeding ticket. Some interpretations I had heard were that unless jail time is a possibility the defendant is not in 'jeapordy' and therefore does not have some of his rights.

But I thought the 5th was universal.

So what do you think would happen if the vehicle owner refuses to identify the drive, pleading the 5th, and you cite him. Can he plead not guilty and deman you show evidence that is was him, and plead the 5th on the stand when asked who the driver was? If this was a felony case and the only evidence of the criminal's identity was from the suspect and he pleads the 5th then he shoudl not be found guilty - so why is it different for a lesser offence?

[mcsap]

No right to a lawyer here unless the sentence would include jail time. Most traffic cites don't. Failure to pay will land you in jail but it is not part of the original sentence.

The evidence is the vehicle, you are responsible for it if you don't or won't ID the driver. Works great with kids who have moms car !! Mom does NOT want a ticket for junior.

[Norm357]

So, is it illegal to wear a hockey mask while driving? :D

In Ga, it is illegal to conceal your identity. So I guess here, it would be illegal to wear a hockey mask while driving.

[mcsap]

I think that would fall under Criminally Negligent Stupidity.

[Scruit]

I'd better cancel that internet order for fake beard and moustache, then... :D