Originally Posted by
sk8erjosh09
I talked about this before in another thread but CA vehicle code 5200(b) states that if the vehicle was originally purchased in CA without a front plate the owner is not required to attach one. I've been pulled over for it twice, and did my homework after the first time. The second time I was prepared and really ticked off the officer, but no ticket.
CA vehicle code 5200 reads as follows:
5200. (a) When two license plates are issued by the department for
use upon a vehicle, they shall be attached to the vehicle for which
they were issued, one in the front and the other in the rear.
(b) When only one license plate is issued for use upon a vehicle,
it shall be attached to the rear thereof, unless the license plate is
issued for use upon a truck tractor, in which case the license plate
shall be displayed in accordance with Section 4850.5.
The State of California issues two plates for all passenger vehicles. Whether or not the car only had one on it when you bought it is immaterial. It would have been issued two plates and therefore should have two. I think you were lucky that a cop let you off so quickly, but then again it's not a big deal as it's a $25 fix it ticket. I know. I've gotten two of them, both times cited when pulled over for speeding (though in neither case was a speeding ticket issued - I just got warnings for those, lucky me). I just put the plate back on, go to our local cop shop and get the ticket signed off, pay the small fee (fine, tax, levy, whatever) and then to home and take the plate off again. I have two small plugs that are painted Aero Blue that I use to cover the mounting holes for the plate bracket.