Vehicle Registration Plates of The United States - Front/rear Mounting

Front/rear Mounting

Many American states are now strictly enforcing laws that require vehicles to display two license plates (on the rear and front of the vehicle). One possible benefit of front license plates is to increase the effectiveness of red-light cameras, which only work if a vehicle can be linked back to its registered owner. Another benefit is to aid in laser speed enforcement activity, whereby a police officer aims a laser speed measuring device at the highly reflective surface of a front license plate. Also, in crowded cities like New York, there may be police officers directing traffic at the intersections, a front plate allows the officer on foot to easily see the license plate number of the vehicle who had the violation. Opponents of two license plates usually do not like front plates on certain sports cars and historic cars because of their visual obtrusiveness from the vehicle.

California is one of an increasing number of states whose law requiring a front license plate on all vehicles is being petitioned. The petitions are traditionally the result of effort put forth by motorists and car auto enthusiasts who prefer the clean, unobstructed viewing of the front fascia and grille of their vehicle and see little or no practicality in having a front plate on display. Variations on placement include displaying the front plate inside the vehicle between the dashboard and front windshield, having both a state-issued and vanity plate insert on display, and having only a vanity plate insert on display. Police officers frequently cite motorists whose vehicles do not comply with California Vehicle Code section 5200, giving the offender the opportunity to correct the offense.

The petition originally drafted by William Shaw argues that not having a front plate on display does not interfere with law enforcement and states:

• "Law enforcement officials might be opposed to a measure abolishing the front license plate requirement, because they might believe that losing the extra plate will make it more difficult for them to do their jobs in the best possible manner. However, in the 20 or more states that have abolished the front license plate requirement, there is no evidence of a decline in public safety as a result of the plate removal."

In the U.S., the states of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia require license plates only on the rear of the vehicle. Some vanity and specialty plates in Arizona are issued in pairs, but only the rear plate is required to be displayed; the optional front plate is something of a bonus for paying an extra fee for the plate.

Kansas used to issue just personalized plates in pairs with the front being optional (K.S.A. 8-132), but as of the 2011-2015 series, only the rear plate will be issued. Further, Kansas has long prohibited front plates, including old/expired personalized plates, except for model year plates on antiques, tractor-trucks (semis), and until recently current and matching personalized plates per K.S.A. 8-133 and the KDOR.

Nevada's policy on front license plate display is dependent on the design of the car. The DMV should issues two plates for cars, but the display of the front plate is optional only if the vehicle was not designed for a front plate and the manufacturer did not provide an add-on bracket or other means of displaying the front plate.