~ we have a proposed bill in OHIO to allow only a rear plate (elimination of current required front tag). the problem is... the bill has been introduced but hasn't yet past. 
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Bill Analysis
Legislative Service Commission
H.B. 192
126th General Assembly
(As Introduced)
Reps. DeGeeter, Cassell, T. Patton, Seitz, McGregor, Hood, Raussen, Schneider, D. Evans
BILL SUMMARY:
· Replaces the requirement that most motor vehicles display two license plates, one on the front and one on the rear, with a requirement that they display one plate on the rear.
CONTENT AND OPERATION:
Current law requires owners and operators of most kinds of motor vehicles to display on the front and rear of their vehicles license plates and validation stickers issued by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles and deputy registrars (secs. 4503.19 and 4503.21). The plates are issued for a multi-year period determined by the Director of Public Safety. In years that plates are not issued, the Registrar issues a validation sticker that must be attached to the plate located on the rear of the vehicle. Motor vehicle manufacturers and dealers, motorcycles, motorized bicycles, trailers, manufactured homes, mobile homes, trailers, and semitrailers are issued only one plate, which must be displayed on the rear of the vehicle (secs. 4503.21 and 4503.22).* A commercial tractor that does not receive an apportioned license plate under the International Registration Plan (IRP) is issued two license plates but must display the validation sticker on the front license plate. An apportioned vehicle receiving an apportioned license plate under the IRP must display the license plate on its front if it is a commercial tractor and on its rear if it is any other type of vehicle. (Sec. 4503.19.) School buses are not issued license plates but must display identifying numbers issued by the Superintendent of the State Highway Patrol (sec. 4503.17, not in the bill).
The bill replaces the requirements for two license plates and the display of the plates on the front and rear of motor vehicles with a requirement that a single license plate be displayed on the rear of each vehicle (sec. 4503.21). In years that license plates are not issued, the Registrar must continue to issue a validation sticker for the single plate.
The bill permits historical motor vehicles to display just one model year license plate or two model year license plates, one on the front of the vehicle and one on the rear (sec. 4503.181).
The bill provides that the display of a single current license plate and validation sticker on the rear of a motor vehicle sufficiently indicates that a vehicle is registered within this state. Any reference in state law to license plates, a set of license plates, registration plates, or validation stickers is deemed to be a reference to the single license plate and validation sticker that the bill specifies. (Sec. 4503.192.)
The bill removes references to the set of county identification stickers that currently are issued for passenger cars and replaces them with references to one sticker. The bill also removes language that specifies that the manufacturers, dealers, and in-transit permit holders of trailers, manufactured homes, and semitrailers be issued only one license plate and validation sticker as well as language that requires the display of only a single plate on the rear for vehicles of motor vehicle manufacturers, dealers, and in-transit permit holders, and motorcycles, motorized bicycles, manufactured homes, mobile homes, trailers, and semitrailers; this language is no longer necessary since the bill requires the display of a single license plate on the rear of all motor vehicles. (Secs. 4503.19 and 4503.21.) The bill specifies that a commercial tractor, irrespective of its IRP status, must display its license plate and validation sticker on its front (sec. 4503.19).
A provision of current law prohibits a motor vehicle that is owned or leased by the state and that is designed to carry passengers from being operated or driven". . . unless it has displayed, in a prominent position on both the front and rear of the vehicle, identification plates . . . ."The bill amends this phrase to read". . . unless it has displayed, in a prominent position on the rear of the vehicle, a license plate . . . ." The bill also changes references to "plates" and "tags" in this provision to "plate." (Sec. 4503.23.)
In the provision of current law that prohibits a person from operating or causing to be operated a motor vehicle of a manufacturer or dealer unless the vehicle carries and displays "two placards", the bill replaces that phrase with "a placard". (Sec. 4549.10.)
HISTORY:
ACTION DATE JOURNAL ENTRY
Introduced 04-12-05 p. 386
H0192-I-126.doc/jc