Well, luck ran out today. Mr. blastoff was out and about, and within two blocks of our house crossed paths with a very cranky WWU cop. The cop made a U-turn and pulled him over in a bus zone.

After the usual (un)pleasantries, the cop proceeded to give Mr. blastoff a scolding about the plate and the tint. A ticket would have been next ($237!) but a bus came by, and the combination of a Z, a Crown Vic, and a bus pretty much clogged the street. The WWU cop let Mr. blastoff go with a stern verbal warning and a promise to write a ticket if the car has no front plate the next time he sees it. Given that the Z is a highly visible orange, and we have to go through campus in order to leave our house, it's just a matter of time.

Mr. blastoff feels confident that the only thing that saved him from a ticket today was the necessity to move so the bus could disgorge impatient passengers.

We do have the factory bracket, but it is missing some pieces and the instructions. I am not excited about drilling holes in the bumper, so am exploring other options. The "fix" for today was six zipties. Pretty pathetic.

So, for all you Bellinghamsters and those contemplating a trip up here, beware... and bolt 'em up!

 

I went to the local court to pay for my fix it ticket for tint. Went in, 20 minutes later I came out and had another ticket on my window for front plate lol. 1st one in my 5 years of ownership, and I was parked.

 

geeeeez. I've been pulled over twice, but never given a ticket, that would've seriously sucked if you had to actually pay it!

 

note to self, pull over @ bus stops whenever possible. : D

sorry.

 

I have recieved two tickets for no front plate. The first, when driving THROUGH bellingham. The second while parked on the street in seattle. Bellingham cops and seattle parking enforcement seem to be about on the same level. To much time on there hands, focused on increasing revenue for their appearently unneeded jobs to pay their own salary.

 

i got a no front plate ticket about a month and a half or so ago... and got it dropped because my car was bought new in minnesota.. in 03 there was no front plate law... soo i just said its never had one on it

 

Mr. Blastoff-

Where do you live man? I can't say I've ever seen your Z around.

I also live by WWU on South Campus.

When I first bought my car last april i had my car for a week and a half before I got pulled over by a cranky motorcycle cop out in front of the rec center, also gave me a 214 dollar ticket!

Again got pulled over by another bored cop sitting on exit 250, this time however no ticket and just gave me a warning.

Still haven't fixed it, really should get around to it.

 

Hello, RocketCoffin. blastoff here.

We live south of the Ridgeway dorms. The Z is not a DD, which likely explains why you haven't seen it. It's Mr. blastoff's baby, and he doesn't take it out often in snotty weather.

I've probably seen you around, but I don't generally wave at Zs when I'm in the DD or on a bike. Maybe I'll start.

 

No front plate was the only thing I ever got pulled over for in the Z, and I dreaded having to mess up the bumper as well. I believe there's a bracket for sale by one of the guys on here that doesn't require drilling, or in the meantime you can do what I did.

Buy:
A license plate bracket from any auto parts store, flat on the back
A section of aluminum angle and cut to the width of your plate bracket or smaller
One large bolt the same size and pitch as the front tow hook
Two or more sheet metal screws to attach the plate bracket to the angle
Two to four nuts and bolts or screws to secure the plate to the plate bracket

The plate bracket I bought had a large hole in the top center of it that worked out perfectly to match the tow hook so I used it, measured to get the position proper to rest the aluminum angle on one of the ribs in the grill and attached it to the plate bracket. I secured everything, in my case the thickness on the bracket was slightly narrower than the bolt I used, so the plate bows out slightly. It's been around two years and never had a problem with it.

Only thing to remember is to keep a wrench with you if you may need the tow hook, but, no mess no holes in the bumper.

 

@Blastoff: Lucky man. I got a ticket the first time I was pulled over for no front plate. The cop wrote $124 on it which I thought sucked until two days later when the court sent me a letter letting me know it was the wrong amount. I thought that was cool and it'd be a bit less. Then I kept reading: now it was $216.

Not wanting to drill into my fascia or get another ticket, I opted for the Stillen license plate adapter/frame. It screws into your towhook on the front. Works great. Think it was about $120 or so.

Anyway, here's hoping you don't eventually get a ticket for it..

 

I got pulled over 3x (no ticket) Im thinking about the retractible license plate holder they have on here.

 

Hide away license plate dude.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tA7RkmtdiQ

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1zIG...eature=related

 

Hide a way plates, haha awesome! I got pulled over twice for not having a plate, both times the cops told me that they just wanted to look at my car. One asked if its faster than a Porsche, the other told me that he wouldnt put a plate on either. I guess it really depends on where you live and how money hungry the cops are in the area.

 

I haven't had a front plate since 1999 on any of my vehicles. This past Nov I got stopped by Judge Dred who tags me for the plate, tint and was looking for anything else to write me up for. Needless to say I now have a front plate. Sucks but it gives them a reason to stop you in the first place.

 

I have no front plate either. My car is registered in Iowa ( thanks US Navy) so I don't catch crap knock on wood. I love the tow hook idea mentioned, but as far as zip ties go I've seen plates zip tied to passengers visor then the visor put down. It's actually REEEEALLY noticeable up there. Just some thoughts

 

Oh btw front plates ARE required in Iowa but idk if Cali cops r up on the Midwest laws

 

lol @ front plates. Haven't ran one in like 5 years. Never got a ticket for it, been pulled over 5 or 6 times for it though o_O

 

i never ran one, i went all through high school and 2 years later, 4 years of driving around west seattle, kent/auburn, and bellevue, before a cop pulled me over randomly one sunny summer day just cruising with the windows down, going speed limit. pulled me over, wrote me a ticket, and away he went. he was obviously just being a dick, he didn't even ask me for my registration or insurance!

i've had one ever since, which is ALWAYS a giant eyesore on a clean car!

from what i've been told if your car did not come with a spot from the factory, you are not required too, but i've also heard the law has been changed to where it's required whether or not the factory made a place for it. lame!

 

That's exactly where the plate was.