There's no doubt about it - many cars just look better without one of those license plates hanging in the front of the car. And many people really like to drive without one. But what's the real story? Do I really need to install my front license plate?
Unfortunately, the California Vehicle Code is pretty clear when it says:
Display of License Plates
5200. (a) When two license plates are issued by the department for use upon a vehicle, they shall be attached to the vehicle for which they were issued, one in the front and the other in the rear.
Now I'm no lawyer, but if someone from the DMV, the Highway Patrol or your local police department wanted to make an issue of it, if you don't have a front plate on your car, and you were issued one, you would be in violation of the code.
But being the nosy guy I am, I took it a step further. I called the San Francisco office of the California Highway Patrol to understand the situation a bit more. According to the officer I spoke with, there are no exceptions to this code, and a ticket or citation may be issued for the missing plate, even if no other violation is being committed.
It's also important to be aware of who the issuing agency is. If it's the Highway Patrol or local police department, or another law enforcement agency, then the ticket may, or may not, be a "fix-it" ticket. If it is, then you would be required to install the plate, take the car to a local law enforcement office to show them the installed plate, and have them sign off on the violation being corrected. In addition, there may be an administrative fee from the court.
If the ticket is not a "fix-it" ticket, or if it's issued a Department of Traffic and Parking, rather than a law enforcement agency, then there citation is not "correctable", and any fines must be paid. Apparently, a number of jurisdictions here in the Bay Area are actively cracking down on missing plates because it helps with the enforcement of their red light camera programs.
This probably isn't what you wanted to hear, but it is the straight scoop as best as I'm able to determine it for you.
Best wishes for safe driving!
Nick
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