i live in texas, which is one of the states a license plate is required on the front bumper. this really screws up the looks of handsome cars like the CLS. why don't we have those short/wide plates like the europeans do? stinks.
interestingly, i've seen cars w/o the front plates, here in dallas. for those of you who live in the states like texas who choose to take the risk of not having front plates, how many time have you gotten pulled over by cops for how long an ownership period?
i haven't gotten my plates yet, so i'm wondering if it's worth the risk. thanks,
As you can see in my sig, my wife's CLS has no front plate. Oddly enough, the only government agency that has given her flack for it has been U.S. Customs at the border. We have quite a few "registration/insurance" checkpoints here in El Paso and each time we've gone through one no cop has mentioned or even batted an eyelash at the missing front plate.
I'd say the risk is low, given that the ticket would be a simple fix-it ticket anyway. Also, there was legislation in Austin to get rid of the front plate, but I'm not sure what happened to it.
__________________ "Yes, as a matter of fact, I am that dumb Ford guy!"
'04 Ford F-350 Dually (Mine)
'07 CLS550 (Wifes)
I live in Frisco and work in Plano and don't have a front plate. I didn't on the vehicle prior to this one either for a total of six years without a ticket for the "offense". I've been pulled over on a few of occasions for other reasons and not received a ticket for that item.
My girlfriend was recently pulled over by the state troopers on the North Dallas Tollway for speeding and received a ticket for the excessive speed but only a warning for her plate not being installed.
However, a friend of mine was pulled over about six months ago by a small-town cop (Celina) and written-up for that alone. So, I guess it really comes down to the mood of the cop that day.
I think the risk is worth it, in particular on the CLS.
I live in texas and have had two mercedes benzs from 1999 til today.. I never have had a plate and i dont plan to get one.. I have not gotten a ticket about.
When i lived in montana ( 6 md ago) witch also have the 2 plate system i newer got pulled over in my sl600. but when i drowe my f250 without the front plate, i got pulled over ever so offen. specially going trough culbertson. MT, the HP told me to get a plate on the truck or pay the fine. but when i drowe around the same town in my sl600 nothing. The reson not to put a plate on my truck was, that it have a deer smasher made from 1/4" steel and no holes for the plate.to much work to drill some.
And i think i would have paid a few fines before i would put a plate on the car
Now i live in Louisiana, so problem solved.
I also live in the Dallas metro and we do not keep a front plate on our CLS 550. Our previous cars had none either. My wife is a Municpal Judge and tells me that a missing plate will give an officer a right to stop you if he thinks there might be something else going on like an open container etc. When my son was in high school and college I always had him keep a front plate on his truck just for that reason. If you are out late at night it is like a missing headlight, tail light etc. Just a reason for a stop.
I think unofficially if there a place for the plate and you dont have it they will stop you but if there is not a plate holder they dont mess with you unless they have other reasons like the poster above said..
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