MD Legislation to eliminate need for front license plate

Hmm.

No reason not to support it.

I believe CT went to a 1-plate system in the 80s or 90s, then switched back more recently. I made a front plate bracket for Bridget but would just as soon run her with just the rear plate.

Ed,

Yes Connecticut briefly issued but one plate (rear) in the early 80's with a curious result when reverting back to two plates,... in that technically although the plate is 'registered' to the vehicle, in reality it's registered to the vehicles owner! The plate stays with the owner and is transfered from old vehicle to replacement vehicle.

Those with the originally issued single plate can drive legally without a front plate, and since the only visual difference is a small difficult to see graphic outline of the State (about the size of a nickle!) those who should display front plates, but don't, can also drive hassle-free...as I've been doing for decades.  

It would be a good thing to change the law, it cost me a $50 ticket a few years ago.  None of my cars have a front plate but when I was stopped the kind officer said that if I carried the plate in the car it was okay (I hope they all feeel that way).  As a result, the front plates are in a large envelope under the front floor mats.     

Roger that: I do carry the front plate inside, but it is not applied.  So far so good.  Will join the fray and offer my support to the cause.

I received an email from my Maryland Delegate yesterday letting me know that 2 Bills have been put forward regarding front license plates and there will be a hearing on Jan 19th at 1pm.  The 2 Bills are:

House Bill 562 - Requiring the Motor Vehicle Administration to issue a single registration plate to all classes of vehicles; and requiring that the single registration plate be attached on the front of tractors and on the rear of all other vehicles.

House Bill 577 -Providing, for a vehicle required to display two registration plates, that the front registration plate may be stored inside the vehicle in a specified manner if the vehicle was manufactured without a means to secure and display a front plate; etc.

So again, if you would no longer like to be driving around 'at risk' as I am without my front plate, send an email to your delegates and senator.  They can be found here:

http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual...ml/gacoan.html

Make that February 19th

South Carolina has only a rear plate, along with NO emissions or safety inspections on anything, anytime.  Contrary to my initial expectation, you really don't see a lot of junkers or cars emitting excessive smoke on the road.  You DO see a number of cracked windshields, but that's about it - a VERY classic/replica/hot rod-friendly state.  IMO front license plates are way over-rated and next to useless (although back here in Massachusetts I now have to put up with all of the above).

The Maryland House of Delegates held a hearing on the proposed one license plate Bill yesterday and since I live in Annapolis I decided to go over and testify in support of the Bill.  The Maryland State Police usually testify against making changes to the 2 plate requirement and there was a State Trooper there ready to testify.  Before the hearing I went over and introduced myself to the Trooper and asked he could support amending the law to allow a rear license plate only for 2 Classes of cars: Historic and Street Rod.  He said he thought the State Police could support that and I asked him he would so state in his testimony and he did!  Then there was quite a bit of discussion amongst the Delegates as to why this had not previously been allowed. 

I got this email this morning from one of the delegates on the Committee.

"Rob,

Thanks for taking the time to speak on HB 562 and 577 this afternoon.  The proposals to address Class L and N make such perfect sense that it makes me wonder why it has not been addressed in this matter initially. It was, I have to admit, Delegate McMillian who was the driving idea behind this.   In any event, we look forward to finally assisting with a resolution."

So there is hope for us Maryland owners.

Rob,

   I applaud your efforts on behalf of all residents of Maryland. While I live in Pennsylvania (and we are a one plate state), your taking the time to testify should inspire all of us to get involved in our governmental process.

Chuck

Excellent effort, Rob!

thanks guys

Rob

And thanks to Ed "edsnova" for spreading the word further

http://citypaper.com/news/lice...-tectonics-1.1450378

Rob and Ed,

Super work!  Thanks for your efforts.  Rob, especially cool idea talking to the trooper beforehand.  I have three cars without front plates and cringe everytime I'm near a patrol car.

Hope this can be passed.       

Thanks Bruce, I hope it works.  Send an email to your Delegates and Senator. 

I have been working with MD State delegates again this year to try and pass a law only requiring 1 license plate on the rear of the car for cars registered as Historics or Street Rods.  A bill was put together and submitted in October and urge MD folks to contact their delegate and senator in support of House Bill 77.  

I belong to the SEMA Action Network and I sent them an email several weeks ago telling them of the single license plate House Bill and as you can see from this email they have sent a blast to their entire network.  I would imagine it will go to a number of media outlets such as Autoweek, etc. so hopefully it gets a bit more coverage than it did last year.  Here is their post:

http://echo.bluehornet.com/hostedemail/email.htm?CID=2958828822&ch=F6D6B27CCEF1B10443DB1AC003AF89AD&h=af0388dfb140cc162e52885399798c33&ei=NArDAGNNz

Please send you delegate and senator an email stating your support and print this SEMA page and hand out to other car owners.

Hmmm......I was kind of missing the point on why you could get away with just storing the front plate in the car, but I think I figured it out:  It prevents scammers from putting the "same" plate on two cars, doesn't it?

We used to have emissions checks every two years in Kentucky.  It was finally defeated by an effort to place the issue on the ballot, then having it voted out of existence by the voters.  Anyway it was real waste!  Statistically only something like 5% of the cars ever failed the test, and of those 5% that failed, if the owner spent $50.00 on "repairs" and came back and showed the receipt, he was passed anyway!  So the way it worked, if you knew you were driving a junker that wouldn't pass, you got it tested, then took it in for a tune-up, which it needed probably anyway, then came back and got your sticker.  So in reality it was a total waste in so far as doing something for the environment!

There's always this option....retractable front license plate (common hot rod item).

http://www.summitracing.com/se...cense%20Plate%20Kits

More options under Google search. 

Rob, 

Email sent to all delegates.

Jim, 

I have one of these under the rear of my '37 Ford but they're a tight squeeze under the low front ends.  

I understand the logic of wanting to do away with the front plate for esthetic reasons and agree with the idea that it could save the State some $$ to eliminate it and hell ya, but very thin....it could save fuel costs too. However, I'm thinking that the first purpose of having one attached front and rear was likely so the cops can identify the bad guys a bit easier. I don't see any reference to that part. What am I missing about that part ? The law has no input to the proposition? I'm sure ok if they don't.

As a matter of record, when we bought our Speedster in Boise, Idaho and drove it across the country to Syracuse, NY before heading North to Canada we had a paper temp permit but elected to stuff it under the front seat rather than display it on the windshield as required. ( In my line of sight too much for the long distance ).

Not one cop gave us a second glance and more than a few checked us out. Best memory of that was coming down a large freeway heading East out of Denver when a big lad on a Harley pulled up behind us, looked for a rear plate...saw none, pulled up beside for a look at us, then pulled up ahead to look for a front plate and again saw nothing. We had the roof down in not so good weather and were doing a blistering 60 mph. He laughed, gave us the thumbs up and buggered off. The BOTB was a looker too. Nice smile and a killer rack. That put the icing on the cake just after visiting Buffalo Bill's grave site. We felt like we were doing the right thing.

Sorry for the drivel but it is slightly on topic. Gotta get out more often....I'm seriously itching for a road trip.

NY has two plates unless it is really old, I forget the year but before 1955. YOM plates can be used in NY if they are"clean"(read that unused). So for a Spyder it doesn't matter in NY. I put two rivnuts in the front of my car for the occasion that I display the front plate. Haven't had it on for YEARS, but keep it behind my seat with bolts in it and O-rings keeping the bolts attached to the plate.

I do think it is a noble gesture to get a state's law changed to one plate, but I can't see that happening in NY or CA.....

Good luck to you Rob!

I'm guessing the stopper on this is gonna be speed cameras, turn-on-red cameras, and toll shooters. Just a guess though, and if the exemption is limited to Historic and Street Rod vehicles it might get there.

Danny, You are right, Hell would freeze over before the CA. legislature did anything that makes sense. Right now they are trying to figure out how to spend $10 billion +  to pump water out of the Central Valley delta and pipe it to LA.

The MD State Delegate who drafted the Bill has also been working with the State Hwy Admin (bridge tolls) and the State Troopers and he believes he has worked out a deal with the $25 one time charge to alleviate any lost revenue.  And it is only for Historics and Street Rods. 

Come on, guys, let's give the California legislature a tiny bit of credit.  They did pass SB100, which gives our cars smog exemption for life.

Isn't that ONLY after getting it registered for the first time? Doesn't it have to pass smog the first time?

I've been trying to research this, however since DMV's website has been down for 7 days straight - I can't figure it out.

Throw me a bone here!  Feel free to ping me via dialog, Jim.

Ted

Ted

Well, the SOC site is up, Ted.  There are hundreds of posts on the California registration procedure.  Just use the SEARCH button.  No, you don't have to register the car first.  You do have to take it to a smog referee, but it's not pass/fail.  Everyone passes, it just establishes a base line for reference.

Does that mean I don't have to drill holes in the front of my AMG ?