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  4. Do you run a front plate?

Do you run a front plate?

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  • KaiserRollsK
    KaiserRollsK
    KaiserRolls
    wrote on last edited by
    #14

    I believe WI was thinking about it for a while, to save money

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • B
      B
      B C
      wrote on last edited by
      #15

      They would probably save 11%

      1 Reply Last reply
      2
      • suspencefulS
        suspencefulS
        suspenceful
        wrote on last edited by
        #16

        I haven't ran a front plate on any of my cars since I got my license.

        I was pulled for it in my Miata once. It was on a Friday night downtown and the officer said it was a good reason to pull me over to check for drunk driving. He could tell I was sober, gave me a verbal warning and I drove off.

        I've also been pulled over for it in my 1 series - by state troopers each time. First time I just received a written warning. He also measured my tint and gave me a warning for that as well. The second time (different trooper), I was given a $200 ticket for it and got another written warning for window tint and loud exhaust. I paid the ticket and said fuck the police. Was pulled over a third time by the same previous trooper. He saw I still didn't have a front plate and this time wrote me a $300 ticket for front window tint. Gave a written warning for no front plate, rear window tint, and exhaust. I paid the tint ticket and said fuck the police again.

        I have since bought a front tow-hook mount for a plate. I never use it but if I get another ticket, I'll mount it and go to court. I recently drove all the way to Texas and back without an issue.

        My car is not loud. The tint is not that dark. 😕

        🎬 YouTube channel (60K+ subs): youtube.com/jakespence135
        📷 Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/jakespence
        🏁 Shop BMW merchandise: bimmerstreet.com

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        • JdesignJ
          JdesignJ
          Jdesign
          wrote on last edited by
          #17

          I have been pulled over 3 times for it. 2 warnings and a fix it ticket. I only have a front plate on my daily. everything else I do not now. 

          The one time that I got a ticket, I had to take a 10 min drive to the cop shop and zip tied the plate on and a they dismissed it. I cut the zip ties and drove away LOL.

          SumBunny.jpg

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          • R
            R
            REKIII
            wrote on last edited by
            #18

            The reason the state would get rid of the plate is to save funds.  It would cut the cost of plates (for them) in half.

            The police are very against getting rid of it  The reason they tell us is to more easily identify stolen cars.  If a car doesn't have a front plate, they assume it's stolen, because thieves only bother to steal a rear plate then ditch the front plate.....OK.  The REAL reason they want to keep front plates is because it is a perfect spot to bounce the radar/laser off your car.  9 times out of 10, if you get pulled over for no front plate it's because they couldn't get a decent radar of your speed and they are butthurt about it.

            1 Reply Last reply
            4
            • patsbimmer1P
              patsbimmer1P
              patsbimmer1
              wrote on last edited by
              #19

              I haven't been pulled over for no front plate since I started driving BMW's and I never put one on my wife's Volvo.  With my 240sx I was pulled over frequently but it was typically something that was tacked on to the exhaust ticket.

              REKIII said:

              The reason the state would get rid of the plate is to save funds.  It would cut the cost of plates (for them) in half.

              The police are very against getting rid of it  The reason they tell us is to more easily identify stolen cars.  If a car doesn't have a front plate, they assume it's stolen, because thieves only bother to steal a rear plate then ditch the front plate.....OK.  The REAL reason they want to keep front plates is because it is a perfect spot to bounce the radar/laser off your car.  9 times out of 10, if you get pulled over for no front plate it's because they couldn't get a decent radar of your speed and they are butthurt about it.

              Please don't tell me you actually believe that's how those systems work.

              2011 e90 M3 - DCT, Borla exhaust, BMW Performance Black Grille, ECS Painted Corners, Ziza Angel Eyes

              07 335i Stella - sport package, BMS DCI, zhp knob, TMS cf parking brake lever, VRSF downpipes, MHD tune, H&R race springs, other stuff *SOLD*

              97 328i Lola - sport package, m50 intake manifold, m50 manifold.com install kit, custom CAI, K&N filter, Borla exhaust, FK silverline coilovers, 25.5mm front sway bar, Powerflex front sway bushings, Turner Radiator, fan delete *sold*
              95 325is *sold*
              93 nissan 240sx KA-T *sold*

              BMWCCA #473306

              Instagram @patsbimmer1

              AKA- HALLWAY PAT

              "burnouts bring babes and babes dont have time for bushings" - Kaiser Rolls

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              1
              • WickedM4W
                WickedM4W
                WickedM4
                wrote on last edited by
                #20

                Thanks for all the replies, I feel a little safer that I'm not going to get dicked with for no plate .. fingers are crossed. 😛

                Instagram: WickedM4

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                0
                • R
                  R
                  REKIII
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #21

                  patsbimmer1 said:

                  I haven't been pulled over for no front plate since I started driving BMW's and I never put one on my wife's Volvo.  With my 240sx I was pulled over frequently but it was typically something that was tacked on to the exhaust ticket.

                  Please don't tell me you actually believe that's how those systems work. 

                  Do enlighten me, please share how laser and radar systems work.  You better fvcking say that it works with some technology other than sending a signal out to a moving object and getting the signal back then measuring the time difference between cycles.

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                  0
                  • suspencefulS
                    suspencefulS
                    suspenceful
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #22

                    REKIII said:

                    Do enlighten me, please share how laser and radar systems work.  You better fvcking say that it works with some technology other than sending a signal out to a moving object and getting the signal back then measuring the time difference between cycles.

                    I'm also curious because I was told the same thing about using the front plate to reflect radar.

                    🎬 YouTube channel (60K+ subs): youtube.com/jakespence135
                    📷 Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/jakespence
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                    • patsbimmer1P
                      patsbimmer1P
                      patsbimmer1
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #23

                      REKIII said:

                      Do enlighten me, please share how laser and radar systems work.  You better fvcking say that it works with some technology other than sending a signal out to a moving object and getting the signal back then measuring the time difference between cycles.

                      It's exactly that but the doppler system used has zero reliance on the material its tracking to be effective.  Whether you have a metal plate on the front of your car has zero to do with the fact that you are driving a large object.  Now, where radar does fail is if you are driving in a close group of cars.  Radar cannot "lock on" very accurately, which again makes the idea that a small metal plate has any effect on it's efficiency ridiculous.

                      LIDAR operates in a similar manner but has the ability to narrow its sight and target specific vehicles.  Again, not limited by the material its tracking.

                      2011 e90 M3 - DCT, Borla exhaust, BMW Performance Black Grille, ECS Painted Corners, Ziza Angel Eyes

                      07 335i Stella - sport package, BMS DCI, zhp knob, TMS cf parking brake lever, VRSF downpipes, MHD tune, H&R race springs, other stuff *SOLD*

                      97 328i Lola - sport package, m50 intake manifold, m50 manifold.com install kit, custom CAI, K&N filter, Borla exhaust, FK silverline coilovers, 25.5mm front sway bar, Powerflex front sway bushings, Turner Radiator, fan delete *sold*
                      95 325is *sold*
                      93 nissan 240sx KA-T *sold*

                      BMWCCA #473306

                      Instagram @patsbimmer1

                      AKA- HALLWAY PAT

                      "burnouts bring babes and babes dont have time for bushings" - Kaiser Rolls

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      1
                      • straight6pwrS
                        straight6pwrS
                        straight6pwr
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #24

                        well, I have to agree that a front plate certainly isn't the key factor for a cop getting your speed with his gun. I've never had a front plate, but the 'radar speed signs' always know exactly how fast I drive past them. pretty conclusive evidence to me.

                        Dan
                        yajsYRL.jpg.e5f350b4dfe961d76ac8b32efce2e1a6.jpg

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        1
                        • AndrewA
                          AndrewA
                          Andrew
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #25

                          I haven't been running a front plate on the 30, but I think this thread might be convincing me to run a front plate since at least half the people who've responded have been pulled over for it.  I don't need to be rolling probable cause.

                          I just want to say that Doppler does not imply RADAR or LIDAR or any particular part of the electromagnetic system.  It's just an effect.  It is an effect that can be observed with multiple types of waves light, sound ect.  Also, a nice flat metal plate on the front of your car is probably pretty good at reflecting back a RADAR signal, probably LIDAR too.

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                          0
                          • patsbimmer1P
                            patsbimmer1P
                            patsbimmer1
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #26

                            Nobody will convince me that a license plate has any effect on radar or lidar, especially radar, where the wave is as scattered as it is.  Radar guns have no issue picking up non-metallic items such as baseballs.

                            2011 e90 M3 - DCT, Borla exhaust, BMW Performance Black Grille, ECS Painted Corners, Ziza Angel Eyes

                            07 335i Stella - sport package, BMS DCI, zhp knob, TMS cf parking brake lever, VRSF downpipes, MHD tune, H&R race springs, other stuff *SOLD*

                            97 328i Lola - sport package, m50 intake manifold, m50 manifold.com install kit, custom CAI, K&N filter, Borla exhaust, FK silverline coilovers, 25.5mm front sway bar, Powerflex front sway bushings, Turner Radiator, fan delete *sold*
                            95 325is *sold*
                            93 nissan 240sx KA-T *sold*

                            BMWCCA #473306

                            Instagram @patsbimmer1

                            AKA- HALLWAY PAT

                            "burnouts bring babes and babes dont have time for bushings" - Kaiser Rolls

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • B
                              B
                              B C
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #27

                              Thats exactly why I stopped running a baseball on the front of my car. Its not worth the risk.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              5
                              • R
                                R
                                REKIII
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #28

                                patsbimmer1 said:

                                Nobody will convince me that a license plate has any effect on radar or lidar, especially radar, where the wave is as scattered as it is.  Radar guns have no issue picking up non-metallic items such as baseballs.

                                Wow.....the radar works best on a vertical surface, the more flat and vertical is, the faster and more precise the radar is.

                                WI cops look for the front plate and aim for that.

                                You are arguing a tiny technicality to disprove something that has been said by actual officers and Radar manufacturers.  Just because the radar will work without a front plate, doesn't mean that the police doesn't look for and use the front plate as a default.

                                You're fantasy land is pretty bad ass.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • D
                                  D
                                  Daggerty
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #29

                                  Just tape a $20 bill on the front bumper.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • EarlE
                                    EarlE
                                    Earl
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #30

                                    I drove 6 hours down and 6 hours home from Clarksville, Indiana and wasn't hassled once for not having a front plate. The risk of a ticket is incredibly slim and if you do get a ticket, it is because of some other reason in the first place.

                                    museum sig 2earl.jpg

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                                    1
                                    • GunMetalGreyG
                                      GunMetalGreyG
                                      GunMetalGrey
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #31

                                      What is this thing that you guys keep calling a "Front Plate"?

                                      ...

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                                      0
                                      • damnboy037D
                                        damnboy037D
                                        damnboy037
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #32

                                        I threw my front plate in a bonfire

                                        99 M3 320rwhp @ 6psi

                                        95 M3 s50b32

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                                        0
                                        • R
                                          R
                                          reckedhim
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #33

                                          I got pulled over on I-39 near Janesville on a Friday morning as I was going to pick my dad up for his chemo appointment.  I wasn't speeding so the only reason they pulled me over was the front plate.  I think one cop may have been training the other because two came to my car, which seemed unnecessary.  I was just told to put my front plate on and they let me go.  That was the only time I've ever been stopped for it.

                                          When I lived in Chicago, I got a ticket for no front plate while the car was parked on the street.  They don't seem to be that aggressive here in Madison/Wisconsin.

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