Anyone in California getting grief from police/highway patrol for not posting their license plate in the front of their speedster? I did see Bruce's removable front bracket mechanism he is selling.
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No hassles in five years.
I was stopped once for covering too much distance in an elapsed time interval, but no mention was made of the absent front plate.
I do carry the second plate in the trunk, along with an explanation of how the front bracket is due in the mail any day now.
California law requires display of both front & rear license plate (we all already know that). Getting stopped for no front plate is basically a roll-of-the-dice (kinda like being stopped for front windows tinted). FWIW, in 15 years of driving Speedster with no front plate, I've been stopped once. @Newbie Danny
Your mileage may vary! 
I have been stopped twice for no front plate. Sure, it's a "fix it" ticket but after paying all the fees and the time to get it signed off and inspected it was nearly $60.00. I really like the way my car looked without the front plate on so I didn't hang it on. Hence, tickets. So I started making a front bracket that allows you to easily remove and reinstall the front plate. This gives me what I want (no front plate) when I'm parked and legal when I drive (front plate back on). It's simple, works, and gives me what I want. It has magnetic retention, "O" Ring sealed, and water drain holes if the "O" Rings don't do their job. I can't see any reason not to have one unless your state doesn't require a front plate. You can take a look at my product in a post on here dated Aug 5 2018. Plus some other things I make and sell as well..........................Bruce
20+ years with speedsters, never had a plate, never been stopped for it. But lots of officers have admired the cars.
@Sacto Mitch "covering too much distance in an elapsed time interval" is illegal in CA.
CVC 40801:
No peace officer or other person shall use a speed trap in arresting, or participating or assisting in the arrest of, any person for any alleged violation of this code nor shall any speed trap be used in securing evidence as to the speed of any vehicle for the purpose of an arrest or prosecution under this code.
CVC 40802 A "speed trap" is
(a) A particular section of a highway measured as to distance and with boundaries marked, designated, or otherwise determined in order that the speed of a vehicle may be calculated by securing the time it takes the vehicle to travel the known distance.
I wanted to contribute a comment in reference to the front license plate. I retired from the Sheriff's Office a year ago after a 30 year career. Police across the country are catching hell for corruption, excessive force and other serious issues. I agree that these problems need to be corrected and bad cops fired or jailed for abuses. Citizens criticize law enforcement for enforcing seemingly minor violations. I want everyone to understand how police work......works. Law enforcement doesn't catch bad guys crawly out of your bedroom window with your jewelry box; they find your stolen valuables in the bad guy's vehicle after stopping it for having one tail light or no front license plate. When I started we stopped cars for not having the rear license plate light. Using this same method they find stolen cars, felony warrants etc. Our little cars don't fit the profile for most criminal activity. Yes, I used the dreaded word "profile." Again, its how legitimate police work is conducted.
Bruce's license plate devise looks like the cure, in California at least. Try to remember folks if and when you are stopped, the officer is trying to do his job. Arguing with the officer is a sure way to be cited.
PaulEllis posted:I wanted to contribute a comment in reference to the front license plate. I retired from the Sheriff's Office a year ago after a 30 year career. Police across the country are catching hell for corruption, excessive force and other serious issues. I agree that these problems need to be corrected and bad cops fired or jailed for abuses. Citizens criticize law enforcement for enforcing seemingly minor violations. I want everyone to understand how police work......works. Law enforcement doesn't catch bad guys crawly out of your bedroom window with your jewelry box; they find your stolen valuables in the bad guy's vehicle after stopping it for having one tail light or no front license plate. When I started we stopped cars for not having the rear license plate light. Using this same method they find stolen cars, felony warrants etc. Our little cars don't fit the profile for most criminal activity. Yes, I used the dreaded word "profile." Again, its how legitimate police work is conducted.
Bruce's license plate devise looks like the cure, in California at least. Try to remember folks if and when you are stopped, the officer is trying to do his job. Arguing with the officer is a sure way to be cited.
The same for me. I've never stopped someone because they didn't have a front license plate. I conducted a criminal profile based on my training and experience and used the lack of a front plate as a lawful reason to stop the vehicle. The lack of a plate is the method for making the stop but not the real reason for the stop. Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806 (1996)
p.s. - Paul and I were/are deputy sheriffs and we were responsible for preventing and/or reacting to crimes. Traffic officers however are responsible for one thing....enforcing traffic laws. They're the ones most likely to cite you for no front plate.
Back in the stone age, I was leaving law enforcement in California about the time Paul was starting, I don't recall stopping anybody for a missing front plate. If my gut and my training told me that I needed to stop a vehicle, there was often probable cause to do so. On several occasions letting it be obvious that I was following somebody would trigger an episode of stupid driving and a car stop would ensue.
Robert's comment on traffic cops working just that is accurate. Beat officers on patrol were expected to respond to calls, be highly visible, look for trouble and conduct traffic stops for a variety of reasons, but always with probable cause.
Most common mechanical probable cause for stopping a car = burned out license plate light. Back then, they seemed to burn out a good deal. I routinely check mine on all my cars.
Here is a link to an electric retractible front license placte bracket. Activated by remote.
no problems in N. Ca.
In 12 years of driving my speedster, I've never been stopped for any reason. In Ma. a front plat is required for your annual safety inspection . It gets installed , and comes right off after that. I keep the front plate in the trunk mounted on a bracket that I could put on in 2 min. if needed. I always smile and wave to the cops and they usually wave right back.
If they ever ask me about it , I would apologize profusely and explain that it was removed for a car show.
I think the police have bigger fish to fry and my red speedster doesn't look like the type of car that a criminal would use to sneak around in.
Police here in Houston are not so generous. They stopped my son 3 times and ticketed him. forced us to put a plate on the front of our dodge challenger. Looks like crap but what ya gonna do?
Rayspang I'd love to be able to hit a button. Would really make the officer scratch his head!