Is it legal in California to remove your front license plate?

Question

Is it legal in California to remove your front license plate?

Answer 1

Don't do it. I have first hand experience. My car was towed because I parked in a spot that was too small for my car. In addition to getting a ticket for that (and paying towing fees) I got a $100+ ticket for not having my front license plate.



It's the kind of thing where I seriously doubt you'd ever get pulled over for it specifically, but you can get nailed on it if cops (or meter maids) have another reason to ticket you.

Answer 2

The link I found is a couple of years old, but it indicates that you can be fined if you don't have a plate in both the front and the rear.



And I'm no law student, but everything I've been told says that "shall" carries much more weight in legal documents than "will" or any other similar word. Basically it means that something *must* be done exactly as stated to comply with the law.

Answer 3

about 15 years ago I got a "fix it" ticket for not having a front plate.



I was pulled over in Pacific Beach for that reason alone.

Answer 4

You must display your plates on the front and back of your car.

Answer 5

yes it is iligal i got ticketed in 1998 for not having it which i had droped when i hit the curve and did not realise i needed it because i had the other one

Answer 6

The absolutely free reverse vin check sites generally provide fake information. To get real information, money will have to be paid. The free searches provide fake information so they can get your email address to send spam.



Stay away from shady reverse vin check sites, most likely you won't get any information after you make the payment. Not to mention you won't get a report and you won't get an answer if you try to call for a refund. Stick with a reputable reverse vin check site like http://www.reversevincheck.net that has been around since 1995.

Answer 7

Well, this "law" is never enforced in Murrieta CA. Cops could care less. I called in 2 homes having 5 vehicles, none with front license plates and the cop told me they don't bother with that. It is a stupid law that no one can explain. Silly.

Answer 8

In California if your vehicle has a place to mount a front license plate it MUST be mounted. I got a fix-it ticket for not having a front plate years ago. On the other hand l now have a vehicle that does not have a place to mount a front plate so none is required in this case.



As for the word "shall", shall is instructive and not a recommendation or suggestion.

Answer 9

it;s for trucks, 25000 gross or higher

Answer 10

Shall means shall. How odd, eh. I represent lots of people who have gotten stopped because of no front plate (even some who did not have to have 2 plates because only 1 plate was issued for their type of registration), usually because they were then found to be DUI or otherwise breaking the law. Standard passenger vehicle plates are issued in pairs, and BOTH must be on the vehicle. Enforcement of this has stepped up in recent years with the advent of red light cameras, which picture the front of the car and the plate is needed for identification.



BTW, the previous poster is wrong. Your duty to have a front plate is not eliminated by the vehicle manufacturer not providing a mount for one. If there is no mount there, you will have to get one, or figure out some other way to comply with the law.