Then why do BMW's only have one licnese plate in the back side. So then if it is a law, why would the car dealer ship sell cars without a front end license plate?...
2006-11-26 15:56:31 · 8 answers · asked by Edie Bear 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Interesting question. Here's an answer to confuse the situation even more.
The obligation to be compliant with certain laws - such as the two license plates laws - falls on the operator of a vehicle or possessor of an item. The BMV does not have to have any plates until it is operated on a roadway. Once it is out on the roadway, it has to be CVC 5200 compliant. The law makes no exceptions for vehicles that are not equipped to have two plates (such as some sports cars that have no front plate mount at all).
To confuse the situation further, companies in California can legally sell items that become illegal at the time of their installation. For example, it is illegal to have the front windows of your car tinted in California but it is legal for companies to sell and install window tint and to tint your front windows. It is also illegal to have colored marker lights or turn signals, yet you can go to most speed shops and buy the lenses to change your marker lights and make them illegal. It is illegal to modify your exhaust in California but.... you see how this goes.
How about this one. It is illegal to sell paraphernalia used to smoke marijuana in California but it is not illegal to possess it (unless you are under 18). Stores get around this by calling the marijuana pipes tobacco pipes.
I suppose the moral of the story is that some laws are stupid but you should try the best you can to obey them anyway.
2006-11-26 16:24:27 · answer #1 · answered by James P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wondered this because when I owned a Miata I could not imaging messing it up with a front plate. So I did not install it for the 3 years I had the car. While I hear you are supposed to put a plate on the front, I did several surveys of 100 cars at a time. I find that about 14% of all cars here in LA do not have the front plate installed. Especially Mercedes Benz and sporty cars. Thus I feel they ar elikely not enforcing this rule. However, you leave off the front plate at your own risk. Lip off a cop and they will use it as an excuse to give you a ticket.
2016-05-23 07:43:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are several cars made which do not immediately have a space for the front plate, but most all have holes that can be punched for screws to be attached for the plates. They do not sell them with ANY plates, those come from the state.
If you are asking why they sell cars in CA without a front license plate holder already attached, then: Remember, that these cars are manufactured not just for CA or the US, but for all over.
2006-11-26 16:06:28 · answer #3 · answered by grim reaper 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they are telling their dealer not to put the front plate mount on. It is not a law to have a front plate in many states so many cars have the option of having a front plate mount. Since it looks like crap to have a front plate on a nice car, they dont put it on. It is against the law, and you probably will get a ticket for it some day, but so is tint and window stickers and people do that too.
2006-11-26 16:05:56 · answer #4 · answered by michael p 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
which BMW doesn't have turn signals?
VC 11713.17. Front License Plate Bracket Required [Added Stats. 2004]
(a) Following the retail sale or lease of a motor vehicle for which the department issues two license plates, a dealer may not deliver the motor vehicle unless either of the following occurs:
(1) The motor vehicle is equipped with a bracket or other means of securing a front license plate.
(2) The dealer obtains a signed written acknowledgment from the person taking delivery of the motor vehicle acknowledging both of the following:
(A) The person expressly refused installation of a bracket or other means of securing the front license plate.
(B) The person understands that California law requires a license plate to be displayed from and securely fastened to the front of the motor vehicle and that the hardware necessary to securely fasten the front plate is available from the dealer.
(b) A manufacturer or distributor may not sell or distribute in this state a new motor vehicle for which the department issues two license plates, unless that motor vehicle is equipped or provided with a bracket or other means of securing the license plates.
This is the penal code, from reviewing this ultimately it's YOUR responsibility to have one there! My friends Lambo doesn't have a front plate!
2006-11-26 16:03:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I live in Washington State but I drive a BMW 320i and it has a license plate on the front and the rear. I bought it that way.
2006-11-26 17:43:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lots of makers don't mount the front plate for you.
Knowing the law, it is your responsibility to make sure it gets put on.
If you own a BMW, then I'm sure you can afford to have someone mount the front plate for you.
2006-11-26 16:05:40 · answer #7 · answered by BigTip$ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
BMW's also don't come equipped with turn signals in CA i've noticed
2006-11-26 15:58:23 · answer #8 · answered by Nick F 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋