I am from Ontario. Going to travel to Florida. We require Front lic plates by law in Ontario (canada). I have been the targeted victom of being pulled out of a full fast lane on a MI hwy to be given a 5 mph over limit fine. Now I know my Licence plates (or Tags as some people call them) make me stick out. So is it "OK" for me to remove my front plate once in the USA or will that just get me a ticket too? Cause at least then I will only stick out from the back end.

Any advise. Yeah, other then don't speed.

Pete

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Many states don't require a front plate. It varies from state to state. I believe you are supposed to have what your state requires, but as long as your vehicle is licensed and tagged legally in your home state or country (US and Canada accept each others registration and licensing regulations) you should be fine to take off the front plate once you arrive into the US. I wouldn't do it too close to the boarder crossing or in public eyesight, as someone may think something fishy might be a brewing and could call you in to the local authorities anyway.

I've driven all over the country and into Canada with my cars over the years and have never been pulled just due to my out of state/country tags. I've never been pulled over (lucky I guess). Just obey the speed limits and don't drive agressively and you should be fine. Remember too, if it is the end of the month and a trooper needs his or her quota or its a small po-dunk town with only Barney Fife patroling, you might want to keep it at the speed limit to be safe. Good luck either way!

I was traveling from state-to-state and while in IL the toll booth and officer was going to write me a ticket, but they realized the car had Oklahoma plates which aren't required. I'm not 100% sure they knew the laws in OK nor for that matter any other states, but I told them and they looked in the back.

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"Friends don't let their friends drive stock."

That like saying if you come to Quebec you could also remove the front TAG because here we only have one. Well if you read your Ontario laws you will see your car is required to have "front and rear tags visible at ALL times" therefore 2 tags required ... the cops will still give you a speeding ticket and maybe a NON CONFORMITY ticket if he spots it ... but thats at his dicretion ... you can fight the ticket and win ...

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States here that require both plates here are only worried on the local cars. To be honest I would be shocked if you asked 100 law officers away from a border areas that 10 would know if you were required to have two plates.

I would worry more about the speed in most states. Here in Ohio they have the death penalty for 10 over.LOL!

The good news is Ohio looks like they will move us up to 70 MPH to match the surrounding states. It was so silly not to be the same.

States have different laws regarding speeding. Massachusetts will or did allow 5 mph over for the purpose of overtaking another vehicle, but otherwise 1 mph over the posted limit is considered speeding. When running radar, they will park on the side of the highway with the trunk open so you can't tell it's a police unit. They take off after you and the trunk closes.

Georgia State Police are allowed to write a speeding ticket at 1 mph over the speed limit, whether clocked by pacing you or by radar or aircraft. City police, County Police and Sheriff's departments are allowed to write a ticket for 1 mph over only if they are pacing you. You are allowed 11 mph over if clocked by radar and if the unit is stationary, you must be able to see him clearly for 500 feet. These laws are because the State Police do not receive revenue from the traffic ticket. City and County are somewhat limited by the 11 mph factor. Makes it difficult to run a speed trap. If you're 11 over, there's no doubt you're speeding.

My experience with Connecticut is that they hide and will write you a ticket at 1 mph over. Same with Pennsylvania. I believe it was Maine that is allowed to place a foot officer with radar in the woods to radio your speed to a motor officer further down the road.

Other states have a zero tolerance however you're being clocked. You can plead your case by telling the court that in preparation for your trip, you had just replaced your tires with a larger size and didn't realize it made your speedometer read incorrectly.

But as for the front license plate--I wouldn't remove it.

I know in the states when regarding vehicle code you must adhere to your states laws regarding Vehicle codes... Not sure about out of country though.. you might get away with it.

As stated by Danyl we have only 1 plate here in Quebec, I've travelled all over the united states with my car (except for Alaska, Arkansas and North Dakota) and I've never ever been pulled over.

I doubt they know the laws for every state and province and if they see an out of state plate they probably won't bother with you.

I have been pulled over before in Texas, and in Pennsylvania for not having two plates on my car from Arkansas (which only requires one.)

I think you would "blend in" better with both plates, it would also have the bonus of making any silly things you do passed off as "he's just a tourist".

Just my .02 though.

Brad

[This message has been edited by twofatguys (edited 03-03-2012).]

quote Originally posted by twofatguys: I have been pulled over before in Texas, and in Pennsylvania for not having two plates on my car from Arkansas (which only requires one.) I think you would "blend in" better with both plates, it would also have the bonus of making any silly things you do passed off as "he's just a tourist". Just my .02 though. Brad

Funny, PA doesn't require front plates....

OP, don't worry about front plates in the U.S.

i live in sw florida and i have seen plenty people from Ontario down here with only one plate. i really don't think you have to worry as long as you don't speed. the cops here are not looking for front plates as Florida only has one. other states that have two you might have a problem with them pulling you over.

Wisconsin will stop you for only displaying one plate.

If a cop only sees no front license plate in a state that requires one he or she might pull in behind you to see what's going on. If they see Ontario plates, 99.99% of the time they are not going to know the laws of Ontario and let you go.

There is no statue in the United States that I'm aware of that says you have to modify your car to match the state that you are driving in. That would be insane as there would have to be repair shops at the boarder removing tint, adding license plates, removing license plates, etc.

Just be careful on the speed as moving violations are enforced the same regardless of where you come from. And Florida is famous for speed limits that suddenly change so that 70 mph you were doing a minute ago 100% legal will get you a hefty ticket in the 55 mph zone. Don't ask me how I know this. But I can also tell you that Florida will let you do traffic school on-line after you get home.

quote Originally posted by TrackMagicWS6: Funny, PA doesn't require front plates.... OP, don't worry about front plates in the U.S.

I was in a truck with the plate on the front. He pulled me over and made me change it to the back, where the trailer would cover it up.

Brad

quote Originally posted by PBJ: I have been the targeted victom of being pulled out of a full fast lane on a MI hwy to be given a 5 mph over limit fine. Now I know my Licence plates (or Tags as some people call them) make me stick out.

In Michigan? Perhaps you were targeted by the same cops I was a few years ago - they spotted my car with Illinois plates and decided to pull me over and waste 45 minutes of my time searching my car with the narcotics dog. No reason whatsoever to pull me over besides the fact I was from out of state.

Well, here we have a lot of Canadian visitors and they drive really bad, so stop driving badly

joking - well sort of, as it is pretty easy to pick out the Canadian drivers here, because they do some of the strangest things. BUT I don't see them get pulled over often.

Anyway, yes, you will stick out in some states, but drive the speed limit, stay out of the passing lane.... basically, blend in as best as possible.

We only have one plate in Michigan. Probably your front plate stands out and the cop in question will target you because he wants to. What area does he patrol? Go the speed limit in a 50 mile radius of his beat. Drive like the rest of us after that.

quote Originally posted by PBJ: I am from Ontario. Going to travel to Florida. We require Front lic plates by law in Ontario (canada). I have been the targeted victom of being pulled out of a full fast lane on a MI hwy to be given a 5 mph over limit fine. Now I know my Licence plates (or Tags as some people call them) make me stick out. So is it "OK" for me to remove my front plate once in the USA or will that just get me a ticket too? Cause at least then I will only stick out from the back end. Any advise. Yeah, other then don't speed. Pete

I doubt if youd get stopped for just that. Just a thought though, you already have holes in the front for a tag in the bumper so why not just leave it there with a nice frame and not have to worry about it. You going to the Daytona Fiero Show ?

Changing the Ohio speed limit to 70 is a joke, everyone already runs 80 anyway when its posted 65 so whats the point...............Im not a typical speeder and I run 70 on cruise control all the time, even passing police cars.

[This message has been edited by rogergarrison (edited 03-04-2012).]