Front plate

On Long Island, not so much. But it can happen.

Usually, the NYPD will be bothersome as cars go through the midtown tunnel. It's always a risk. Trick is to choose a toll booth that isn't manned at that particular moment.

 

I'm jersey - and I wear a plate for this very reason. But the crowds I drive with:

At every toll....somebody gets nailed. And if your familiar with the area - you cant enter or leave NY without running into at least 1 toll plaza. Watch. You'll always see police in uniform standing at the front of the toll booths. Their wicked smiles upon sighting you dont help one little bit.

 

Check the current NY Vehicle laws as I heard once that a front plate was not required if the bottom of the plate was less than 1 foot from the ground or more than 3 feet. I don't know what car you drive, nor do I know what the current law says.

As a side note, I've noticed a few NYS Troopers at exit ramps checking for plates and registration stickers as you enter or exit the ramp. New Rochelle area is big for that. They never stop me as I have CT plates but all the NY cars get stopped as they roll by.

 

from NY DMV site
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Question
Can I use one vehicle plate instead of two vehicle plates on my NYS registered vehicle? What if there is only one location on my vehicle to attach a vehicle plate?

Answer
If the DMV issues two vehicle plates for your vehicle, you must use both vehicle plates. Put one vehicle plate on the front of the vehicle and one vehicle plate on the back of the vehicle. There are no exemptions to this requirement.

The State Police and other law enforcement agencies recommend that vehicles display two vehicle plates. The two vehicle plates help the police to identify vehicles. In addition, NYS vehicle plates are reflective and the two vehicle plates improve the visibility of your vehicle at night.

If you use one vehicle plate instead of two vehicle plates, you can receive a traffic ticket and pay a fine and surcharge.

If there is only one location on your vehicle to attach a vehicle plate, contact a auto parts store for a device to attach the other vehicle plate.

The DMV issues one vehicle plate for some vehicles. These vehicles include trailers, motorcycles, and the tractor unit of a tractor-trailer.

 

NY = TWO Plates. If you want one, just get ready to pay a fine now and then as part of the price.

 

I haven't had any issues on LI. In fact last summer i was stopped at a State Trooper check point and he spent a few minutes checking out the car, he couldn't care less about the plate. I do keep the plate on the dash so that may have helped me out too.

 

Periodically the State police will ticket cars coming out of the Sunday Captree gathering for not having front plates. The exiting cars are a “captured” audience.

 

Got pulled over in Pt. Washington on LI the first time I drove through without a front plate. It was pretty embarassing to be pulled over for the first time in my new Ferrari for no front plate.

 

I live in Port Washington. We have our own cops and they don't let much slide.

 

Man up. Pay the fine. Move on to the next crime...

 

Not exactly sure of the location you mean by "NY". If you mean Manhattan, you really need to know your spots. Like others have mentioned, bridges and tunnels are the most risky. Toll bridges and all the tunnels are the worst as there are ALWAYS LEOs somewhere along the run of booths. Much depends on whether you're alone or in a group. More attention equals a greater likelihood that you'll have to answer some questions. I tend to use the 59th Street Bridge upper level. On summer weekends theres about a 10% chance a police car will be set up on the 63rd street sidewalk just short of 2nd avenue to check registrations and the like while you are stuck in traffic. Got caught once there 7 years ago and since bought a removable plate holder that I snap in place just over the bridge in Queens.

Other than at bridges and tunnels, you're pretty good to go, unless you act like a complete ass to a cop.

 

they can stop you, but it's not very likely. i've been running w no front plate on both my cars for many years. only got stopped once and the cop let me off with a warning.

 

Haven't run a front plate for years. Every so often I have to pay a no front plate tax. High taxes are part of life here in NY.

Ed

 

I generally keep it on for just normal every day driving but for going to car meets and things like that I'll take it off and with B7 Audis you can put a filler plate in that shows no evidence that a plate was ever there.

 

+1. Midtown Tunnel is the worst. Lincoln and Holland Tunnels are no issue. HH bridge is 50/50.

 

Got a ticket on the Palisades Interstate Parkway from a Parkway Officer at the Alpine Entrance ramp.

 

At the Holland Tunnel last year, I actually got pulled over in heavy morning rush hour traffic (going in to NYC) because I had no front plate on my Porsche GT3. They made me move across 5 lanes of traffic to get over to the side. I had the plate in the car with me and told them it had fallen off. They let me go with a verbal warning. I was just surprised they would cause so much traffic disruption at rush hour for lack of a front license plate.

 

We've had this discussion many times -- In NJ, if you have "historic" plates (sometimes called "QQ" plates, as the numbers always start with QQ), you are only required to display a rear plate, particularly if the car does not have a mounting location for a front plate. And no inspection sticker is required, as you are not required to take an historic registered car through inspection. Technically, you must limit usage to car shows and "educational" activities, but I've never been stopped and asked where I'm going with an historic registered car.

If you have a regular car registration (not QQ or "collector car"), then you must display a plate front and rear plate, even if your car doesn't have a location for a front plate to be mounted. Plus, you must have a current inspection sticker on the windshield.

If you have a "collector car" registration (for cars less than 25 years old that are considered "collectible" and are driven less than 3000 per year -- if your car is more than 25 years old, you can no longer do collector car, you must switch to historic or normal registration), the regulations are ambiguous, but suggest that two plates are required. My 328 is registered as a collector car, and I have a front plate mounting bracket that attaches to the grill... got it from an F-chatter here. Collector cars do not have to be inspected, but every two years you must take the car to an inspection station so they can check the odometer reading, and they issue a triangular inspection sticker confirming collector car status and that your odometer has been checked.

NY is different. You need to check the DMV regulations and laws in the state where you register your car. The state laws in your home state control whether you are required to display a front plate or not.

 

We have front plates on all our cars. For me, its easier to deal with then look over my shoulder everytime I see a cop.

I had a car while back that did not have a front plate. I got 2 warnings and then one day I got a ticket. At this stage, with so many lunatics on the road - its just simpler to get a plate on an move on. (For me)

 

Had a client that had heavy duty velcro holding the plate. I thought that was a good solution.

Regards, Jim

 

39:3-33. Markers; requirements concerning; display of fictitious or wrong numbers, etc.; punishment
39:3-33. The owner of an automobile which is driven on the public highways of this State shall display not less than 12 inches nor more than 48 inches from the ground in a horizontal position, and in such a way as not to swing, an identification mark or marks to be furnished by the division; provided, that if two marks are issued they shall be displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle; and provided, further, that if only one mark is issued it shall be displayed on the rear of the vehicle; and provided, further, that the rear identification mark may be displayed more than 48 inches from the ground on tank trucks, trailers and other commercial vehicles carrying inflammable liquids and on sanitation vehicles which are used to collect, transport and dispose of garbage, solid wastes and refuse. Motorcycles shall also display an identification mark or marks; provided, that if two marks are issued they shall be displayed on the front and rear of the motorcycle; and provided, further, that if only one mark is issued it shall be displayed on the rear of the motorcycle.

The identification mark or marks shall contain the number of the registration certificate of the vehicle and shall be of such design and material as prescribed pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1989, c.202 (C.39:3-33.9). All identification marks shall be kept clear and distinct and free from grease, dust or other blurring matter, so as to be plainly visible at all times of the day and night.

No person shall drive a motor vehicle which has a license plate frame or identification marker holder that conceals or otherwise obscures any part of any marking imprinted upon the vehicle's registration plate or any part of any insert which the director, as hereinafter provided, issues to be inserted in and attached to that registration plate or marker.

The director is authorized and empowered to issue registration plate inserts, to be inserted in and attached to the registration plates or markers described herein. They may be issued in the place of new registration plates or markers; and inscribed thereon, in numerals, shall be the year in which registration of the vehicle has been granted.

No person shall drive a motor vehicle the owner of which has not complied with the provisions of this subtitle concerning the proper registration and identification thereof, nor drive a motor vehicle which displays a fictitious number, or a number other than that designated for the motor vehicle in its registration certificate. During the period of time between the application for motor vehicle registration and the receipt of registration plates from the division, no person shall affix a plate or marker for the purpose of advertisement in the position on a motor vehicle normally reserved for the display of the registration plates required by this section if the plate or marker is designed with a combination of letters, numbers, colors, or words to resemble the registration plates required by this section.

A person convicted of displaying a fictitious number, as prohibited herein, shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $500.00 or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 60 days.

A person violating any other provision of this section shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $100.00. In default of the payment thereof, there shall be imposed an imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding 10 days. A person convicted of a second offense of the same violation may be fined in double the amount herein prescribed for the first offense and may, in default of the payment thereof, be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding 20 days. These penalties shall not apply to the display of a fictitious number.