Does anyone here have any information on California driving laws, specifically relating to the license tags?
What is the fine for not having a front tag on the car?
Is this only a secondary violation, or can it be a primary violation?
Is it as “fix-it” fine, where-in only a small fee (10-15 dollars) has to be paid?
Do you have to display a front plate? Yes.
Can you be stopped for it? Yes
Can it be a primary stop? Yes
How much does the ticket cost? Dunno, it will vary from county to county. In LA it is probably way more than $15. Ask a cop.
The fine in L.A. for a missing front plate is $25; as they become more critical when red-light cameras are installed, I expect both enforcement and fines to go up. http://www.ci.la.ca.us/COUNCIL/cd10/news.htm
Do you mean the whole front plate, or just the actual registration tags? If it’s the whole plate, then the guys above answered everything, but if you just mean the registration stickers, no they aren’t required. In fact, you only get one sticker when you register, and that has to go on the back.
Yes, it’s just a fixit ticket. I had replaced the bumper and left it off, and got a ticket. Then I had it wired on and they said it had to be screwed on.
Fixed both tickets by going to the Pol Dept. when I had it permanently fixed.
As others have said, you are required to have one, and it is a fix-it ticket.
I drove around Nothern CA (mostly Sacramento, but also San Jose and San Francisco) from '90 to '00 without a front license plate and was never issued a ticket. I was pulled over multiple times for other violations, but the front plate was never mentioned. Several of the stops the cop had every opportunity to see that the plate was missing, and once the cop even asked about it…
I now drive around VA with no front plate, and have never been hassled. Although I did get a parking ticket for no front plate while in DC. I remedy this now by placing the plate in the front window while parked.
I realize I just contradicted myself… I guess I should proof read.
Should of said something ‘front plate was never a problem…’
Also this is 3 different cars. 1st was a '75 Volvo that I didn’t have a front plate for, the other two I have plates but no place to put it ('93 firbird) and the most recent car I didn’t bother because it doesn’t look good.