When I ordered my L, the dealer specified front plate from the factory. They said its illegal for a new vehicle to leave their lot with our a front plate. I haven't had mine on for a year, but we live close to Pa where no front is required, so its not that unusual to see cars and trucks without front plates. This is a small village and every one knows every one else, but there's always the possibility of a ticket. It just looks so much better w/o the plate

 

i got a $44 fine and a mandatory court apperance in nj

 

Depends on the cop.

Most probably don't care

But some really like to bust stones over trivial things

 

VINNIE - How did you patch the holes on the front? I have to have that done on my new truck, and wondered exactly what they do to fix it. Yes... it is a stupid law here in Ohio... and yes, I will pay the fine for it... just as long as I don't have to have that God awful ugly bracket hanging off the front of my truck.

Anyone else have any experiences with filling these holes... plugs are not an option.

 

I used to be a Cop in NY and at that time we really pushed the enforcement of front plates. But, even if your local Police don't enforce it, it is an offense and if a cop wanted a reason (any reason) to stop you, not having a front plate is perfect to justify probable cause.....just my $ .2 ..

 

meter maids might get u if its parked
they wrote me a parking ticket for a tinted plate
cover once.
as far as driving i doubt they will bother u
i had no frt plate on my old vette for awhile
but then again it depends on the cop.
my plate bracket was on already when i picked
mine up otherwise i woulda left it off.

 

Appreciate the replies, but now I'm even more torn about what to do than before heh

I originally intended to toggle bolt the ugly bugger to the lower grill through the billet bars, kinda how brap said, but when I got down there to do it I noticed the radiator right behind it dead center and thought blocking the airflow might be detrimental. Am I insane?

I've been trying to design a bracket that would clamp to the lower grill's top cross bar and come out and up but I'm no machinist and most of my ideas so far I think would look crappy. I found my 01 out of state and there's no way that virgin bumper is gonna get popped heh. Guess I'm gonna risk it

Sorry to hear about the trouble ryanrt59. What happened at the court appearence? Did some judge just scold you and send you home?

Anyway, thanks again for the replies. I need to get away from this forum for a while now. I honestly think I read it begining to end.

/me wanders off mumbling "chip, filter, pulley, chip, filter, pulley, $300 fuel door, billet this that and...... "

 

You got to Love all the Performance Cars at Mcarville Ford, hu Kidd. Plus an in house speed shop with lots of goodies
I bought my 96 Lazer Red Cobra Convert from them and I had a oppurtunity to buy the 02 Rousch SERIAL NUMBER 1" Stage III Convert for $55,000 from them. I decided against it and wen't for the L but bought it from Sayville Ford cause the SVT SPECIALIST at Mcarville was useless and knew nothing about Cobra's and Lightning's, or the Rousch for that matter. He probably got caned by now, that was over a yr ago. The old Specialist (Dave) was great, I got the Cobra from him at Mcarville and then ended up buying the L from him over at Sayville. Now's he's in Port Jeff Ford I think ?

Next time I see him I'm gonna tell him he owes me $50 Million for the suffering those holes in the bumper caused me.

 

i will take my chances with my truck as i think a plate looks stupid on the fronf of these. i will wait till its a problom and then look for other options.
Don

 

Blocking airflow is bad. Your performance will suffer.

 

Rob, your right, MCarville has great cars/trucks on their lot all the time And yes, their mechanic's still don't know squat.

 

I guess I was lucky The dealer mounted the front bracket before I took delivery, so I had no choice. But I believe I would have put it on anyway

 

I never had a front plate on my Vette or Saleen in Westchester, and I never had a problem.

 

I would think, if your driving like an ***, 5 0 will use it as an excuse. Usually if you drive normal, you get left alone. BTW, I NEVER drive normal .

 

I don't like front plates on vehicles that they don't look right on. Here in NY, you do have to have one. And no, it can't be zip tied on (I'm a NYS inspector too).

On my 99, I didn't want the plate on there, so the SVT salesman (personal friend of mine) actually gave the plate mount to me out of the truck before they prepped it. We did the same thing on my 01, however this time, the new car prep guy just ordered another and installed it . I have my PSP banner across the bumper so that covers the holes.

I have gotten tickets for no front plate, but I never got pulled over for JUST that reason. Keep in mind that cops use the front plate as a target for laser guns, so they sometimes take exception to not having a plate on there as it makes it harder to nail you.

Rob, I don't know who you dealt with at McCarville that you say they didn't know anything about the Lightning, but I think you must have been dealing with just a regular salesman. The SVT/Saleen/Roush guy there was Phil Morin, since like 94-95, and he knew his stuff. He recently left there a few months back, and Rob Jenner took his place, who also knows his stuff.