Long time lurker but first time poster .

Just picked up my SGM IS250 w/nav last Thursday and told the dealer not to put on the front licence plate on . I made sure I got all the mounting hardware and the dealer said I could go back at anytime to get it put on for free.

Just wanted to see what you CA people think about leaving it off. Anyone ever get pulled over for it? Was it just a fix it ticket?

Thanks for all the great info!

 

I told my salesman to leave it off as well. But I have the car just less than a week. Plates are off of my other car for a year now and haven't been issued a ticket for it yet (knock on wood). I'm sure if a cop really wants to stick it to you, he will issue you a ticket for it. Yes, I believe it's a fix it ticket.

 

Welcome and congrats!

It is required by law in CA to have a front plate but if you get pulled over, it is indeed a fix it ticket. You will need to put the plate back on, go get it signed off by an officer and pay a $12 ticket fine.

I received a fix it ticket for no front plate only once in my old car. Here's the kicker...I got the ticket while sitting in traffic school (for speeding ticket)!! I had attended traffic school at the local courthouse and they had an officer patrol the parking lot while class was in session. Everyone who didn't have a front plate all got no front plate tickets! Man...I was soo pissed! Anyway, all I did after that was used double sided tape to put my plate back on and as soon as it was signed off, I took the plate off.

I currently don't have a front plate now. I figured I'll take the risk since it's only a fix it ticket anyhow.

 

I dont have the front plate, but I do have the ugly holes. A CHP pulled me over for my passenger not having his seatbelt on and gave me a fix-it for the front plate. I put it on and went and got it signed off. It also costs $10. Then I simply took it back off. If I get another fix-it ticket for it...well its only $10.

 

I got a front license plate fix it ticket on my Accord few years ago, then a few months after I got my first ticket ($14 fine), I got another ticket and the fine went up ($35 fine)...ticket was from the same city (Irvine) so they probably have it on record...after I put on my front plate have been yet to be pulled over in Irvine...also inbetween those two tickets I got another one in the LA area for no front plate $26 fine...

yeah it definitely looks better w/o it...but I don't want to deal with the law especially if fines keep going up and I'm already in their system with my old car and I seem to have really bad luck with the front plates...I already have the two holes on the lexus for the front plate, so we'll see if I take a chance again in the future...just an FYI for those who have only had one ticket...not sure if other counties/cities increase fines...

 

yeah, it's all about luck. i went almost 3 years on my last GS with no ticket, then i got one and it was $10 and put the thing on. as of now:

RX has front plates
SC has holes w/ plugs (see bumplerplugs.com if you are interested)
GS has no holes or front plates

i am sure it's possible to get caught again, but if you do, it's just bad luck. i will definitely try the double sided tape thing next time. on my last GS i actually put the bracket on; it was ugly. now i absolutely demand that no holes are drilled, but sometimes it's already done if the car was not pre-ordered and the PDI techs are not notified of it.

 

Got a tickect and it was 100$. Thankfully it was a fix it ticket. So i stick the number plate up with some double sided 3M tape and went to the officer.