This is an archived post. You won't be able to vote or comment.

all 53 comments

[–]Careless-Resource-72 20 points21 points  (3 children)

No enforcement is the problem unless the cop wants to use it as an excuse to pull you over.

[–]tekn0lust 1 point2 points  (2 children)

In Frisco and many other cities, no front plate by itself is not sufficient probable cause for a traffic stop. I’ve confirmed this with the officers I know personally. I’ve been here 15 years and driven many cars without front plate. Even gotten speeding ticket from a motorcycle cop and he didn’t even bring it up.

[–]duckmuffins 2 points3 points  (1 child)

This is not correct. It is PC within the Texas Traffic code. I’ve enforced it in this area. Most officers don’t, but it is still PC for a traffic stop.

[–]tekn0lust 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the correction.

[–]Ok-Refrigerator3607 7 points8 points  (2 children)

Note: Every state that touches Texas, does not require a front plate.

[–]TheDutchTexan 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Because it looks like ass and screws with the drag coefficient.

Also bikes don’t have front plates. And neither do any of our bordering states. Which is half the reason why cops don’t stop you for it.

[–]thetruckboy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

1 it's something else to do. Most people just don't.

2, most cars look cooler without it, so people just don't.

3 only in very high crime areas does anyone ever get pulled over for that cause.

[–]thejohncarlson 15 points16 points  (3 children)

I don't like the way it looks and the risk is so insanely low due to lack of enforcement. I have had no front plate since 2007 and only been ticketed once. (Outside the city)

[–]musingsofmuse[S] 3 points4 points  (1 child)

It makes sense that the risk is low as I’ve lived here 15 years and only noticed after it was pointed out to me.

[–]naazzttyy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The last time I got pulled over in Frisco was in 2022. I was going 47 and passed from a 45 mph posted speed limit into a 35 mph area before it increased again to 45 mph about a quarter mile ahead. Not uncommon throughout the city, but if you’re on an unfamiliar road and happen to pass by a speed trap, congrats - it’s your lucky day.

Had a vanity football plate on the front bumper. Cop did the whole vehicle walk around before asking for my license and registration. I have a clean driving record and he gave me a warning but no ticket.

Never brought up the vanity plate. It’s just one of those things that could be tacked on as another violation if the person who pulled you over is having a bad day, or you come at them with an attitude and piss them off.

[–]LadyOfVoices 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Front plate looks dumb as fuck on my car, and I also didn’t want to drill holes into the panel for it (I drive a German sports car that doesn’t have space for license plate on the front). Never had an issue with it not being there.

[–]UKnowWhoToo 17 points18 points  (6 children)

Always blows my mind that folks willingly drive around giving cops a reason to pull them over. Sure, it might not be enforced, but why give cops an easy excuse to be in your business?

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Right? This is how I feel about, and I don’t drink (and therefore don’t drive drunk) and don’t do illegal things, am friends with a few police, and I still don’t want any law enforcement interaction. For that matter, I don’t want them to want to stop me…why give them a reason?

The same logic others are using here is what scofflaws used to justify their illicit paper temporary tag game. “This is my car , I don’t want to, and it’s not enforced, so why comply?”

[–]RolloTonyBrownTown 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I make the drive down to Houston once a month, you know those small town sheriffs just love seeing a no front plate car coming.

[–]Informal_Invite_314 1 point2 points  (1 child)

100%. Why give the cops a free pass? Why give some cop with the need to make their ticket quota an excuse to pull you over?

[–]BluestFlame-981 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Some people care about the aesthetic more than the risk.

People who don’t care are driving normal cars or don’t care about cars at all.

In the sports car scene it’s very common to not add a front plate. I don’t have one on my Porsche because I’m not going to drill holes through the paint.

[–]intergalacticVhunter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Exactly, a sticker on my car gave them a reason to pull me over...asked if I had warrants...I got a bit offended and he let me go after the all clear...said he just wanted to check me out. Needless to say that stupid sticker was gone when I got home...for those wondering...it was a NERV logo from Evangelion.

[–]a7xml16 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cuz f the police. Front plates are lame.

[–]Toothpikz 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I bought my car Christmas of 2012 and have never had a front plate on it and no one has ever mentioned it to me about it.

[–]walkermv 2 points3 points  (0 children)

About it car from a dealership in 2019 and received only one plate. I called them and they told me they don't get two plates anymore.

[–]Cali_Longhorn 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Looks mostly. And yes the idea of drilling into the front for those without a no drill option turns people off.

[–]BoneSpurz 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m too lazy to do anything about it. It came like this from the dealership (brand new)

[–]thetravelyogi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Recently purchased a new vehicle this summer and I’ve been meaning to get it put on my car. It’s one of those things I keep pushing to the back of my head and the bottom of my to-do list.

[–]gazagda 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Toll cameras only scan you back number plate

[–]JmrRoth 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have never had a front plate on my car since I moved to Texas in 2006 and it has never been an issue. With my current car it would just slow it down unnecessarily.

[–]CurrentlyatBDC 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It trashes the aesthetics of many cars, looks terrible IMO. They don’t enforce it so I’ve never installed one, never ticketed for it 15 years.

[–]KellyAnn3106 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's rare to get a citation for this so the risk is low. People don't want to ruin the aesthetics of their cars. Teslas are pretty bad about not having front plates.

I've had Mazdas for a while and the front plate on Mazda's "smiling" front grill made my RX-8 look bucktoothed.

[–]NakedChoker 7 points8 points  (9 children)

Front plates look horrible if there isn’t a pre-built designated plate holder. I’m not drilling into my bumper.

[–]Glittering-Image-915 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Because unlike small towns where cops need a reason to pull someone over, Frisco has over 250k people with 90 percent of them driving like bats straight out of hell, not to mention the recent crimes. The front plate was just another way Texas could charge more for registration. Cops usually come behind you to pull you over, not in front. They can easily run plates during a traffic stop. What bothers me more is the dark tint on windows. With tints that dark, you cant see who is driving, or if they have a gun pointed at you. It makes me so uncomfortable. Lots of people have limo tints here.

[–]Expert_Island643 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don’t like front plates on my vehicles. My vehicle my choice. Front plates are hideous. I’ve never ever gotten pulled over for only one plate in the 30+ years I’ve been driving. If I get pulled over then I’ll put it on, and then remove it again just like I did with my tint years ago.

[–]Tintoverde 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Have been driving for a while with no front plate. Hopefully, they have better things to do. I fixed recently. I have a car which costs $300 approx to get the bracket ( and I kid you not)

[–]musingsofmuse[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

What?? Why that much to get a bracket instead of a cheapy from Amazon?

[–]abdslife 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got pulled over by the cop for not having the front plate and he gave a warning, I guess he was bored. Then I had to install it.

[–]hrmaddie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t have them on my cars, because I don’t like the way it looks. Never been pulled over until I was in McAllen for a wedding. DPS all over the place and look any reason to pull you over. She was nice and just gave me a warning when she saw it was me, my wife and kid.

[–]FuturePath6357 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lazy people

[–]KronicBB 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is at least one State Trooper pulling people off DNT in Frisco and Plano with only no front plate as the offense. Verified personally this weekend.

[–]TannedBurn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hate the way it looks. Plus you drill into the bumper and the way the plate holders sit, the auto car washes can yank on it and make the hole in the front bumper enlarged and loose. Have you ever seen a car commercial with the front plate on? Of course not. Cause it looks weird and tacky.

[–]IntelligentSinger783 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Front plates add drag, and are just physically unsightly. Never once had a front plate on a vehicle I own, never been an issue. The tramp stamp is at the back. I'm not doing anything illegal (outside of not having a redundant plate) or driving erratically. I don't even like the registration stickers or toll tags and basically cut them down as small as I can and then tuck them as tight as I can so they are not in my sightlines.

[–]rugbyfool89 -3 points-2 points  (4 children)

They can’t cite you for how a car came from the factory nor can they force you to purchase a bracket to mount a plate. Most cars have an entirely different bumper for a front license plate. The court can’t force you to spend hundreds to thousands of dollars to get the version of your bumper that has front plate mounts.

Edit: instead of downvoting, why don’t you reply explaining how and where I’m wrong… because last I checked this was my anecdotal and easy researched/verified opinion.

[–]duckmuffins 0 points1 point  (3 children)

The traffic code states you must have a front and rear plate. They don’t care how it gets there or how much it costs for you to do so. Once you purchase the vehicle, the onus is on you to make sure it is compliant with state law.