Can anyone tell me the law in Massachusetts on whether a vehicle would have a front license plate. This would help with a case I'm working on. Thanks so much.

 

Don't forget Massachusetts Inspection Regulations and the front plate:
Quote:
(2) Inspection of the vehicle. All inspections must be performed in accordance with the applicable provisions of 540 CMR 4.00 and 310 CMR 60.02 by licensed inspectors in the approved inspection bay only.

(a) Inspectors must first collect the proper fee for the inspection.

(b) License plate(s), shall be undamaged, securely mounted, clean and clearly visible. No bumper, trailer hitch or other accessory may interfere with a clear view of the license plates. The license plate must be mounted in the proper location on the rear of the vehicle if the vehicle has been issued one plate. Both license plates must be mounted in the proper location on the rear and front of the vehicle, if the vehicle has been issued two plates. Any decorative license plate or license plate replica not issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles on which the word "Massachusetts" appears must be removed from the vehicle.

(c) General Registration Holders, every motor vehicle in possession of a general registration shall be checked for the proper display of the compliance decal issued pursuant to 540 CMR 18.03. The Vehicle Identification Number (V.I.N.) and Registration Number indicated on the decal shall correspond with such numbers as observed by the inspector on the vehicle inspected. This requirement does not apply to motor vehicles owned and registered by a dealer.

(d) Upon the successful completion of the inspection and a determination by the inspector that the vehicle meets all inspection requirements, the inspector shall remove the old Certificate of Inspection from the windshield, trailer, semi-trailer or converter dolly and affix the new Certificate of Inspection.

(e) A vehicle which is determined not to meet all inspection requirements shall be issued a Certificate of Rejection.

 

Both front and rear plates are required if you are issued 2 plates per info on the Mass.gov website.

http://www.mass.gov/rmv/dmanual/chapter6.pdf

 

BUT you may have only one plate...

Massachusetts is a unique case for license plate mounting. Before the introduction of the current "Spirit of America" base starting in 1986 for commercial vehicles and vanity plates and 1988 for all other vehicles, the state issued only a single green-on-white plate to be mounted on the rear of the vehicle. With the current-issue base, two plates are issued, to be mounted on both the front and rear. Since all license plates issued since 1978 are currently valid, most passenger vehicles registered in Massachusetts display two plates, and those with the older green-on-white plates display only one.

From Wiki

 

that is a weird law....I don't have any family left in MA now, or I would call them....they moved to FL to retire...but that is weird to say the least...

 

Thank you all for the response. Not the response I was hoping for, but it is what it is. (Was looking for a definitive 1 plate rule).

 

my grandmother was from Boston....dang liberals, throw the book at them, unless you are defending, then roll over....lol

 

Read your registration. On my registration from Washington, it says that the tabs is required on the rear plate only but the front plate is still required. So I'm guessing if it doesn't say that the front is required on the registration, then it isn't.

I got one ticket $124 for no front plate in Washington and like 3 warnings. I still dont have the plate on the front.

 

I'm from MA and GDC-SRT and Tighed1 have it exactly right. All new registrations for the past dozen (or so) years have required two plates. When I got my Crossfire in 07 the dealer had to get a kit to attach the front plate; drill a couple of holes, attach the bracket and you are legal. So, unless the client has an old green on white plate it takes two. Also interestingly, they are taking a lot of the older green/white plates off because they won't pass inspection because the reflective paint is dulling becoming non reflective and thus more difficult to read at night. (personal experience on my wifes car)