Your Legal Status

Been dreaming again about that low racing plexi-glass windshield I

We have the speedster windshield on the car so I'm unable to coment on the plexi windscreen. But no license plate on the front has never been an issue. Further, we have not put the wipers on and again, to date, no issues.

I honestly think that most police officers look at the car and decide that it would not be worth the time/effort to try and figure out which laws do apply and which the car is exempt from.

angela

hi karl, i am going back to town court for the third time the end of this month to continue my defense of the single plate. i am in new york state. i was going to use a 1955 tag that i got on ebay, didn't want to wait for the dmv to ok the use of the old tag so i got the modern set of two plates. mounted one on the back and was all good to go. most officers will look the other way about the front no plate, however there might be the occasional stickler for details, i found one. anyway , the judge seems to be a real good egg and is giving me every chance to prove my claim, that in 1955 only one plate was required. now when the foot dragging of the dmv is done and i get my ok i go back, this time to convince the da. the dmv cashed my check for the transfer last month, but still no letter to prove it yet. will let you know how it all goes down end of the month.
david

Just do it! I will place a yellow plate on the back of the Spyder this week. The number/letters will match the legal one now on the car. I do not plan to place a front plate on this car....ever. What's the worst that could happen? A stop, with a warning to replace the plate? Life's too short to be worrying about stuff like that. Go for the plastic and have a nice paper cup full of red.

Legal or not here is my experience, copied from an old post:

I always thought a plexi windscreen would be nice, until I took a rock in the windshield of my speedster at forehead height. The rock came up from a trucks tire and majorily fractured the windshield. I would have been in serious trouble if I had the small windscreen.

I think the danger is far worse in a spyder than a speedster, because your even lower to the ground.

-=theron

Theron you make a good point since I've seen Jon Lutz's windshield with a rock ding in the chrome frame of his windshield, yes that lower plexi-windshield is more dangerous no doubt about it. One of the reasons anyone in my car with that plastic-lexan windshield would have to wear a helmet and goggles. Thanks for your time, Karl Dempwolf

Karl -- Some spyder drivers might be overhanging the "letter of the law" a little. No front license plate, loud exhaust, shakey registration, plexi windscreens, no wipers, etc.. These are harmless infractions, and generally overlooked by the squad car crowd, until you start calling attention to yourself. For example, wearing a helmet and goggles might be one of those attention-getters.

Officer: "Why are you wearing a helmet and goggles?"
You: "Well you see officer, I removed my DOT safety glass windshield so I can have this sporty illegal plexiglass number. Now the car is so dangerous to drive, I must wear a helmet. Do you have a problem with that?"

How long do you think it will take the officer to finish writing the mother-of-all fix-it tickets?

Personally, I like the plexi too. But if I felt it was so dangerous that I had to wear a helmet, I'd stick with the full height glass windscreen.

Mark

Mark, I might just wear my motorcycle helmet just because it cuts down the cold on my pointy head, plus it keeps the wind out of my eyes. I found that driving the Spyder any long distance really dries my eyes out. The Shoei might look weird, so I was thinking about buying a Davida helmet; you may remember that it is the English version, worn by motorcycle riders in the fifties and before. It consists of nothing more than a pot with a leather thing covering the neck and cheeks. Unusual today, but more functional and protective than the stocking cap I'm stuck with.

Mark the helmet and goggles are part of the retro-life in the Spyder, just part of the uniform that goes along with the noisy muffler. Do you really think the helmet will draw more attention than all the other goodies on the car. I'm 6'4" and taking a ride with someone who has that lower windshield will be one of the pre-requisites to do this conversion. Thanks for your comments.

But Barry, you look so cute in your stocking cap!

Of course I'm only jesting with you, and Karl too. My point was that we seem to get a free-pass with our "little" transgressions by not being too overly conspicuous or flagrant.

Mark