I was a 17th generation Marylander that permanently left the state after graduating from USNA, in Annapolis.
I rarely return to visit relatives or to attend reunions (only once in the past 35 years).
I was happy to remove the front tag and replace the rear tag of my shiny new Vette with a rear-only Mississippi tag when stationed at NAS Meridian for Navy jet training.
Have driven coast to coast and from Florida to Maine with rear-only tags ever since with nary a question.

The "Free State" ain't so free, Shipmate.
Come on down South and you'll be able to show those USA/German plates up front.