I just got my car registered here in CA and I just realized that my car doesn't have a designated front mounting area for the plate other than two small holes in the front. In CA, you need to have both plates I believe. Is there some way that you can have only the back one on without getting a ticket?


Also, are under body LED and/or NEON light kits legal in CA?

The most they'll do is give you a "Fix-It" ticket. Just some how strape the front plate on when they clear ur ticket >>

I donno about the second/third question :\

you can always do a quick zip tie for the front licence plate, and remove it when you want to go to a meet or something. Other then that, you will need a front plate to be safe.

Underbody lights are illegal.

I dont know if you could put it on the inside dash possibly or not? (sorry, I'm not used to dealing with that kind of stuff), but I do remember seeing a picture with a CA guy having his like that...

that was your celica mark taht had that lol however it was tx plates... in cali you have to hav it in front, not on the dash... i once had a cop try and give me **** about it and gave me a fixit ticket for it... however i brought in the tx law into court and pissed off the cop that gave me the ticket cause i got off lmao...

-DMC

I live in California and have NO front license plate. I have not been pulled over ever for having it off (I have it off cause of the damn traffic cams) though I am sure if a cop was looking to give you a ticket that would be a reason. If you dont want to put it on the front bumper, you can put it on the dash so it is visible through the windshield, and you can just remove it when you go to a meet or what not.

The issue about lights however. They are NOT illegal, though you are not allowed to have them on while driving. If the car is parked and not moving, they are fine. But the cops argue if the vehicle is moving and they are on, the glowing lights (if red or blue) can be mistaken for police or emergency vehicles (what a lame excuse that is huh) and they also view underbody neons as a trade symbol of street racers and they will keep an eye out for your car.

I had a friend that had his lights on while parked - which is legal - but a cop drove by and saw him. After he was done doing what he was doing, my friend turned off his lights and began to drive away. Apparently the cop had been waiting for him and pulled him over. He looked over the car and found some illegal aftermarket parts and gave him a fix it ticket. So be wary of ANY neon lights.

The light rule also applys to neons INSIDE the car if the light can be viewed from the outside.

EDIT

Maybe the dash isnt legal...hmm..

This post has been edited by celicaboy04: Mar 30, 2005 - 5:34 PM

-tomazws+Mar 30, 2005 - 9:33 AM

Im in CA, got a 110 dolar ticket for no front plate. jackass cops. >>

Oh yea? I thought it's just a fix-it.. hmmm... maybe I should put it back on...

-CheesyLobster+Mar 30, 2005 - 6:46 PM


Crap, looks like I better find my stash of black wire-ties....

its just a fix it ticket. my friend just got one like last week no front plate and then one for window tint. ends up costing like 10 bux tho still.

-celicaboy04+Mar 30, 2005 - 10:32 PM

Like DMC said, the dash isn't legal. it's just as bad as not having it on at all

I'm also from california, and I don't have my front license plate mounted. I have no trouble whatsoever for the past two years. I drive around cops everyday and they don't seem to mind. I guess i'm just lucky >> . Anyway, I've seen a lot of cars without front license plates especially the newer cars. But if you fell that you'd rather be safe, follow celicaboy's advice.

ok all of you who drive around with no front plates give me your names and addresses. i will make sure you all get ticketed lol. And to settle the issue,

1- Front plate must be on vehicle in CA no other place is permitted not the dash
or anything.

2- underbody lights are illegal in CA if youre on a public road ie. freeway, or public streets, roads. But are not illegal to be on the car.

The reason most of you who dont have front plates havent been pulled over is because it is not a major offense. but trust me cops will use that as "probable cause" to pull you over if need be. but if its the only illegal offense youve got on your vehicle they wont bother with it, maybe only to piss u off....lol

Well i broke down and mounted my front plate. But i'm still getting the body lights, I'm going to hook them up to a sound switch that flashes them on and off (since they are LED's, not NEON that can't be flashed easily) so when ever my sub hits hard, the lights will light up with the sound (kinda like what DJ's and clubs have with strobe lights). However, I'll still have a master control switch that kills them entirely for the drives.

California DMV code 25400 states that any vehicle lighting cannot glare, or mimic a traffic safety vehicle

I forgot to get the code but the plates have to be mounted to the front bumber if mileage is less than 7700 miles.

Edit: These are of course to the discretion of the officer but you us these as a defense if you get busted.

Even though i'm from NC I called the San Diego DMV and got the facts.

This post has been edited by darksecret: Apr 1, 2005 - 12:08 PM

ive got the freakin CVC book...i use it for uh "work"