Date:         Thu, 6 Jul 2006 14:04:25 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: euro licence plates aka . . . .
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

Interesting question... as far as I know it only has to be visible from the
front (take that for what it's worth); I've seen a lot of people do the
windshield thing and I've also seen a bunch that don't have a tag at all.
In however many times I've been pulled over in the years I've lived in Cali
I've not once had the cop mention the front plate, look for it or anything.
They don't even require that you light it, so how important could it really
be? I realize that has nothing to do with the law or its enforcement, but
like I said- when's the last time anybody saw a cop walk around to look for
the thing?
I've also seen folks that have that Euro style plate and the have the state
plate under it or on the end of the bumper.
I dunno about the wisdom of leaving a substantial piece of sheet metal
laying loose on the dash but if I wanted to do what you want to do I suppose
I'd just do it and see how it fell out. I'd think if you got anything more
than a warning or a fix-it ticket for it your cop was a real ahole or
seriously pissed at you for some reason.

....so after writing all that I decided to go to the CA DMV page and look it
up:




                        Vehicle Code



                          Display of License Plates

                        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.
                        Amended Sec. 27, Ch. 594, Stats. 2003. Effective
January 1, 2004.




            There was another one that said:

            (B) The person understands that California law requires a
license plate to be displayed from and securely fastened to the front of the
motor vehicle and that the hardware necessary to securely fasten the front
plate is available from the dealer.



            So there's yer answer. I'm still inclined to think it's one of
those things you could get away with until somebody told you differently,
but that one's on you.

            Cya,

            Robert



----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark C" <obeechi@RUNBOX.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 1:22 PM
Subject: euro licence plates aka . . . .


What if you got euro licence plates for the front . . . and had them custom
made to have the same number as you California Licence . .. and then put
your california licence on the passsenger dash of the front window . . .


Think you could argue your way in court on that one? And what would the
penalty be?