No front plate in Ontario?

[MonzaA5]

Saw a black A5 parked just off Adelaide in downtown Toronto. E-codes, black wheels, some sort of exhaust, and no front plate. Looked really clean (anyone here, by the way?) and made we want to take off my plate too. I wonder how often you'd get tickets for this? Would the cops pull you over for having no front plate or would they only ticket you if they are already stopping you for speeding?

[Axel-]

Saw a black A5 parked just off Adelaide in downtown Toronto. E-codes, black wheels, some sort of exhaust, and no front plate. Looked really clean (anyone here, by the way?) and made we want to take off my plate too. I wonder how often you'd get tickets for this? Would the cops pull you over for having no front plate or would they only ticket you if they are already stopping you for speeding?

Depends where you live and how lucky you are. One guy I know in Oakville says he's gotten pulled over once in years. Others in downtown say they get pulled over more often. On a trip to Cayuga two months ago (6 audis), a cop pulled one of us over for no front plate (he actually saw the first guy in our audi train but ended up pulling the 4th guy over because he also didn't have front plates).
In other words, it happens, some locations more often than others. So you have to assess where you live (high density locations like downtown Toronto or the suburbs) and how much you're willing to pay if you happen to get pulled over numerous times.

[orangelmo]

I got pulled over out in Markham this past summer. I was making a left turn going northbound and there was a cop facing southbound in the left turn lane. I passed him and after a little bit I saw him U-turn. Eventually pulled me over for no plate. Cop told me he ususually gives out warnings but after finding people never fixed it he started giving tickets. Lucky me. Told me to go fight it though.

[Axel-]

I don't like giving cops valid reasons to pull me over so I don't bother and leave it on.

[qwks4]

I have no front plate on my e36. I had 2 tickets for it. One was on an offramp of the 401 in Durham where they were spot checking for various things. The other was in the Beach randomly. It was a price I was willing to pay. Now the car is stored and driven 1 week a year, so my chances of having issues are very low.

I say try it. If you start to get tickets at a rate that makes ybou uncomfortable, put it back on.

[MonzaA5]

I have no front plate on my e36. I had 2 tickets for it. One was on an offramp of the 401 in Durham where they were spot checking for various things. The other was in the Beach randomly. It was a price I was willing to pay. Now the car is stored and driven 1 week a year, so my chances of having issues are very low.

I say try it. If you start to get tickets at a rate that makes ybou uncomfortable, put it back on.

How much is the ticket for no front plate nowadays?

[ETFS4]

i wanted to do this to put a europlate on the front but i dont exactly drive slow so i dont need a cop tacking it onto a ticket

[guod]

In my opinion it just gives the cops another reason to notice you... I was close to going without a plate on my car but in the end decided to keep it :D It's a vanity plate too, so I felt like I was getting ripped off if I didn't display it on the front too lol

[qwks4]

How much is the ticket for no front plate nowadays?

It's been a few years, but think it was $110.

[bangoman]

It's been a few years, but think it was $110.

That $110 = 2 tanks of gas. Really worth it for something you look at occasionally? Only you can decide. For me, keep it on, I like staying under the radar of law enforcement, especially if you have a modded car.

[RippleChip]

And from my understanding a no front plate ticket falls under the moving offense so it will show up on your record and affect insurance. That will cost you a lot more in the long run.

[Ryan_T]

Not worth the trouble and anxiety.

[qwks4]

And from my understanding a no front plate ticket falls under the moving offense so it will show up on your record and affect insurance. That will cost you a lot more in the long run.

Never had an issue.

[tomh009]

That $110 = 2 tanks of gas. Really worth it for something you look at occasionally? Only you can decide. For me, keep it on, I like staying under the radar of law enforcement, especially if you have a modded car.

What he said ...

[Siggiepop]

let the OP do what he wants, usually they learn the hard way...that is what always happens.

[Ruski]

I bought my A4 in Quebec back in July (no holes drilled in front bumber). So far, been pulled over twice for it but managed to talk my way out of it both times, showing the cop that there is no holes in the bumper. Finally, i pulled the trigger on a tow-hook license plate mount from gominigo.com (~$100). It looks cleaner without a plate but definitely not worth getting 2-3 tickets a year for this IMO.

[bunnn]

When I had my A4, I ran without a plate for a while then eventually put it back on because I got a warning. Since then I haven't removed it till someone damaged my front bumper and cracked the plate filler. Coming back from the bodyshop the night I picked up my car, I just had to make a 25 minute trip home to put back my plate because I forgot to drop off the new plate holder. About 10 minutes from my house, an officer pulled me over, and I tried to explain my situation and wanted to show him the papers as proof. He comes back, literally 25 minutes later with 2 tickets - no front plate, rear license cover. He tells me he knows all about Audi's etc and that I'm purposely running no plate, but told me to fight it once I get it "fixed." Low and behold, I find out a couple months later that he has a modified GTI, frequents VW forums, and is actually "friend" with 2 of my good friends. Siggiepop I remember you pm'ing about the tickets the same night, I believe he might be your friend as well.

With my M3, I ran front plate for the most part until I got my quick release plate holder. I usually take it off for washing my car, and snap it back on right after. Sometimes I get tempted to run it for a couple of days without it, but the anxiety I get near officers is totally not worth the trouble. I actually did get a ticket one day for taking the risk, the cop saw me from the other side of the road, made a U-turn in rush hour traffic and caught up with me 2 lights later. Honestly, it's not worth the hassle ..it's such a waste of time.

[Siggiepop]

^ yeah. He is a bit of a dick like that... "friend" maybe... I havent talk to that guy in years.
What ben said, not worth the hassle.

[405Z]

My 2 cents: There are many cars that look terrible with a front plate. Audis are not in that group IMHO. Keep it on as it's not worth the hassle.

[tomh009]

(...) About 10 minutes from my house, an officer pulled me over, and I tried to explain my situation and wanted to show him the papers as proof. He comes back, literally 25 minutes later with 2 tickets - no front plate, rear license cover.

A licence plate cover is illegal in Ontario?!?

[qwks4]

A licence plate cover is illegal in Ontario?!?

Yup. Even though they sell them at the ministry licensing offices!

[bunnn]

Yup. Even though they sell them at the ministry licensing offices!

That's what I said to the cop that gave me the ticket, he didn't care.

[tomh009]

Hmmm. So went and read the HTA. I think this is the key section:

(2) Every number plate shall be kept free from dirt and obstruction and shall be affixed so that the entire number plate, including the numbers, is plainly visible at all times, and the view of the number plate shall not be obscured or obstructed by spare tires, bumper bars, any part of the vehicle, any attachments to the vehicle or the load carried. 1994, c. 27, s. 138 (7).

Based on this, a fully clear plate cover should not prevent a licence plate from being "plainly visible." On the other hand, basically any licence plate frame is illegal.

That said, it doesn't prevent a cop from giving you a ticket for it, and forcing you to take time off work to fight it in court.

[audifirst]

was there a petition to eliminate front plates in Ontario ?
so premier Mcf gunity can save few $$$$$ ?

[JackalS4]

Based on this, a fully clear plate cover should not prevent a licence plate from being "plainly visible." On the other hand, basically any licence plate frame is illegal.

I don't think license plate "frames" are illegal at all because they just "surround" the license plate. This would include something like Independent Tuning's plate surround, or a dealer surround etc.

The actual license plate covers/shields are not allowed anymore from what I know...it used to be just the blue/smoked/yellow ones back in the day but now I believe includes the clear ones too.

However, the clear shields limitation likely mostly applies to the rear plates (the officer's headlights may reflect awkwardly when trying to see your rear plates)...I doubt you'd get pulled over for running a front clear plate shield.

I myself like to keep my plates as clean as possible as well to avoid making things any worse than they have to be!

[MonzaA5]

A licence plate cover is illegal in Ontario?!?

It's illegal if it covers any part of the license plate, including the stupid "your's to discover" print. Got a ticket for the cover that the dealer put on my car Actually, this sounds like a good opportunity for a class action suit against Ontario car dealers!

[tomh009]

I don't think license plate "frames" are illegal at all because they just "surround" the license plate. This would include something like Independent Tuning's plate surround, or a dealer surround etc.

If you read the text of the HTA section (see above) that's not the case: "entire plate ... is visible at all times". Not just the numbers.

The actual license plate covers/shields are not allowed anymore from what I know...it used to be just the blue/smoked/yellow ones back in the day but now I believe includes the clear ones too.

A clear cover should be legal based on the text but sounds like people are getting tickets for those.

[adam_a4]

If you read the text of the HTA section (see above) that's not the case: "entire plate ... is visible at all times". Not just the numbers.



A clear cover should be legal based on the text but sounds like people are getting tickets for those.

You can get a ticket for a clear cover since they will get dirty and fade therefore no longer be clear.....

[Pr0n]

And from my understanding a no front plate ticket falls under the moving offense so it will show up on your record and affect insurance. That will cost you a lot more in the long run.

I asked 2 prosecutors (Toronto & York region) about that and they said it wouldn't.

[JackalS4]

It turns out Wheels.ca did a brief article on this 1.5 months ago...sounds like we're all on the right track...

http://www.wheels.ca/columns/article/800672

[Beast]

just put it on the dash, they wont care, what do u think lambos do here

[Toronto5.5]

just put it on the dash, they wont care, what do u think lambos do here

Plates on the dash are against the law. The law states the plate must be affixed to the most front portion of the vehicle, something along those lines I'm not going to look it up, but I know people who have gotten tickets for plates on the dash.

[Ruski]

just put it on the dash, they wont care, what do u think lambos do here

Those lambos just pay the fines hehe! I have had my plate on the dash and both times they pulled me over for it, i was lucky enough to talk my way out of it, but both cops clearly stated that its against the law and my only excuse was that it was a Quebec car with not mounting holes on the front bumber and i was waiting for the "tow-hook" mount to come in. On that note my gominigo mount should be here anyday now!

[Axel-]

This is what galls me the most from that wheels.ca article:

"All ServiceOntario centres that sell plate covers are required to prominently display a poster stating that the Ministry of Transportation does not endorse or promote the sale, purchase or use of clear or tinted licence plate covers. The poster also references section 13 HTA and provides a contact number for further information (416-235-2999 in the GTA)."

What total BS. Of course they're endorsing and promoting the sale of these licence plate covers by simply having them available for purchase! And no where on this poster do they actually say "This is against the HTA! You could get a ticket for using these!". That would obviously reduce all sales. Such hypocrites.

[qwks4]

just put it on the dash, they wont care, what do u think lambos do here

I wouldn't want a license plate flying at my head if I was in a hard accident.

[Lugnuts]

Got a ticket today for having a lightly tinted (i.e. grey) front license plate cover! Pain in the ass...had to set a date to see the prosecutor to prove that I have removed the plate cover. I've used these covers since I had my GTi in 1990!!!

Of course, the cop didn't seem to notice the Civic in front of me that had way too dark tint on all windows (including the windshield), or the speeders that passed by. He actually pulled a u-turn at the stoplight to get me! Gotta love the fact that the police are looking after important offences....

[Tanner]

Here's what happened, obviously the S5 looks better than any other car that was around you so he was admiring your car then he noticed the tinted plate and pulled you over :p

[Axel-]

Cops get very focus minded in those situations. I guess I can somewhat understand that. Distractions can be dangerous. Once they set their eye on someone, they stick to them (unless something HUGE happens). I find it quite lame he decided to go all out on your ass but what can you do. They're so subjective. I've seen cops actually honk at bad drivers doing stupid and illegal stuff but too lazy to do anything about it and then you have your cop that does a complete U-turn just for smoked plate covers.

[Mistro]

I believe the reason that clear covers are also not allowed is because it masks the indented lettering (ie: makes it fully flat) or something like that. There's also the light reflection I guess.

[tomh009]

And yet my dealer had installed (clear) plate covers/frames on both plates when I picked up my new car ... clearly this is not enforced with any sort of consistency.