Originally Posted by
Mike-in-Orange
CA vehicle code 5200 reads as follows:
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.
That is the same thing I read. When only one is issued you put it on the back.
I was also talking original sale... You seem pretty determined to prove me wrong, come over to my house and show me any difference between the front bumper and the fenders.... If it were painted you could tell. It's in the exact same condition as every other body piece. No record in carfax for being changed (still could've) but was owned by older people who wouldn't. There were no holes... There was no bracket.... There was no front plate.
Maybe it was bought out of state with no front plate, brought over here, finally sold again therefor is exempt... Either way, original purchase was without. I have fought with two cops over this, I'll argue online all day.
That beginning of your paragraph you posted is almost exactly what the cop spout at my dad and then me. Almost word for word... and it's not true. My bike is a passenger vehicle. Same applies. I have been to dealerships in Beverly hills... Know which ones I'm talking about? Ferrari's, Mclaren's, Lambo's etc... No front plates... I have been to Chevy dealerships and seen the (new at the time) corvette's, no plates...
This is what I told the cop, along with the CA Vehicle section code.