[Kurtster]

I live in the Bay Area in Northern CA and just got a ticket for no front license plate and tinted windows. I'll be damned if they're going to get me to drill holes inthe front bumper of my MCS. I wasn't speeding, or doing anything wrong so this jerk had nothing better to do and since the car's an attention getter, I got nailed.

Does anyone else have experience dealing with these two situations? Can I get a sign off by double-sided taping the license plate to the bumper ?

Do I need to have the tint professionally removed or is it something I could do myself?

What about the tint...is there ANY acceptable level of tint for the front windows? There are thousands of cars in CA with tinted windows, some of them MUCH darker than mine, but apparently mine was a hazard of some kind.

For those interested, this was CHP as I entered 101 N. from McKee in San Jose.

[ALD0]

Sounds like a Fair Cop-We over here in England can get fined for both of those things.

[crazyaboutmini]

i live in the bay area too and half the minis i have seen do not have a front license plate. even my neighbor doesn't have one on his car and he had his since 95'. i can't really relate since i put mine on, but guessing by what i seen there are some cops that do not care if there is a plate in the front or not. i guess the cop that pulled you over was in a bad mood.

[Paul]

We can actually by sticky pads for the very purpose of sticking number plates to cars here, surely you can buy the same?

Good luck with the tints though.

[Shamster]

I could never work out why some states don't require front no plates while others do? What happens when if you have no front plates you cross to a state that requires them? Do you get ticketed?

[cooper_s_flyer]

... and a action "hungry" CHP officer make a bad combo.

I would velcro the plate on securely (multiple velcro points) because that is really the infraction that got you "popped".

IMHO you should also go to your local eye doctor if you have either extreme light sensitivity or vitrious floating bodies. Get a letter from said eye doc which stipulates "darker than normal" (I think "normal" is 88% light transmission in Ca. which is nothing) tint is necessary on the front windows, and take it with you to court or to the CHP office for verification and dismissal.

If you do not have any eye-related (solar connected) maladies then I believe you must remove the tint. Get a pro to do it as the glue removal can be very tedious. Get a receipt for the CHP. Also, I think the fine for improper tint is only $10 per occurence in Ca. This may be why you see so many cars with "tint darker than yours"...

I have a feeling that the CHiPpy just wanted a much closer look at your Mini.

(Note: When I lived in L.A., Ca. in '94-'97 I had an E24 M6 and an E36 M3. Both had 20% tint all around and 35% tinted windshields. I have an M.D.'s note as detailed above and the CHP's left me alone after a few stops. The note was enough for them).

[cooper_s_flyer]

Quote: Originally Posted by shamster

I could never work out why some states don't require front no plates while others do? What happens when if you have no front plates you cross to a state that requires them? Do you get ticketed?

... there is "courtesy" between the states for such occurances. The same rules apply to validating driver's licenses, inspection stickers, and registrations from other states. Unless, of course, one plans to stay... then all must be put right within 30 days of residency.

[Frogeye58]

I won't put my front plate on my Bugeye. I've had numerous police pass me by in SoCal. I once was pulled over during the restoration by a CHP on the 1 south from Encinitas. I had no lights installed, and no side view mirrors. The officer ran my plate checked out my car and said "go home" before you get hit in this thing.

That guy just wanted to see your MINI ! It is a bummer about your tint. Do the Velcro thing for your front plate. 3M makes really good Velcro tape.

[stephenjc]

I am currently facing the front plate issue with my new MINI here in Illinois. in the event I decide not to install the front plate i am working on a legal defense. Federal law being supreme over state law, and since we have federal treaties with many countires concerning honoring the rights of foreign countries in their national treasures, I would argue that federal law prohibits the intentional disfiguring of the MINI as a national treasure from the UK. Take it all the way to the Supreme Court!!!!! (Or just pay someone off).

[fs-mini]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kurtster

I live in the Bay Area in Northern CA and just got a ticket for no front license plate and tinted windows. I'll be damned if they're going to get me to drill holes inthe front bumper of my MCS. I wasn't speeding, or doing anything wrong so this jerk had nothing better to do and since the car's an attention getter, I got nailed.

Does anyone else have experience dealing with these two situations? Can I get a sign off by double-sided taping the license plate to the bumper ?

Do I need to have the tint professionally removed or is it something I could do myself?

What about the tint...is there ANY acceptable level of tint for the front windows? There are thousands of cars in CA with tinted windows, some of them MUCH darker than mine, but apparently mine was a hazard of some kind.

For those interested, this was CHP as I entered 101 N. from McKee in San Jose.

I think the cop pulled you over mainly due to your tint, then at the same time, he found you have no lic. plate, so give you that one as well on the same ticket. Actually, I got a correction for having a rear lic. plate cover on, when the cop pulled me for speeding. The cover was in total transparent without any color, but still he said it's illegal. I asked the cop when I have him checked my correction about when they will give you a correction ticket for lic. plate, he said mostly when you have some other violation, like speeding, or may be in your case, the tint, they will give you all those correction at once.

[Kellzir]

O man that suxs! That is the one thing I am worried about when I get my car. Is the tine on your front indows, lighter than the rest?

Not sure if this will help, but you can check it out. http://www.iwfa.com/iwfa/Law_Chart/S...aw%20Chart.htm

[Kurtster]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kellzir

O man that suxs! That is the one thing I am worried about when I get my car. Is the tine on your front indows, lighter than the rest?

Not sure if this will help, but you can check it out. http://www.iwfa.com/iwfa/Law_Chart/S...aw%20Chart.htm

Well I can't say for certain what level it is. The number 35% comes to mind from the conversations I had with the tint guy. You can absolutely see inside the car from outside. It's not that dark at all. The front and back windows got the same exact tint, but since the factory rear windows have a slight tint to them from the factory, they came out looking darker than the front ones.

From what I understand, it really doesn't matter since the CHP consideres anthing that isn't clear/translucent to be in violation. I'm half tempted to stencil sticker this on my rear side windows for the sign-off:

<-----Look Officer, NO TINT!

What really frustrates me is counting the number of tinted front windows on cars. Thousands of cars will continue driving our highways while I'm going to go spend money to have mismatched windows on my car. I'm so peeved at this cop. He went out of his way to find something wrong with my car.

My wife's Hyundai was broken into and several household items we had in the car were stolen and/or damaged. The friggin' cops don't even bother coming out to take a report, dust for prints or anything, but my MINI is criminal...crap like this seems so unfair.

[AmRov]

Kurtster... sorry to hear of your troubles. Your MINI is really cool looking, and I hate the idea of your having to do anything to take away from its looks.

I, too, have gone without the front plate. But the cops around Austin don't seem to care. I pass by cops almost daily (usually running radar) and they don't even blink. I've even been stopped for speeding (!), and no mention of the lack of a front plate, even though Texas requires them. So, I feel good about that... No way will I put on a plate until they MAKE me!

Good luck! Let us know how you get it sorted...