Front License Plate--Chicago - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

erossen · 03-17-2007, 08:28 PM

I was downtown on a Friday night a few weeks ago, parked legally at about 3400 north on Halsted. It was pouring rain and when I came out I noticed a ticket. Low and behold, it was for no front license plate and no other infraction--$50. I've had the car for a year and this is the first time I've "been stopped". I live in the suburbs and had heard that Chicago was much more attentive to this. Next time I'll leave it in the front window.

Ascension · 03-17-2007, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erossen

I was downtown on a Friday night a few weeks ago, parked legally at about 3400 north on Halsted. It was pouring rain and when I came out I noticed a ticket. Low and behold, it was for no front license plate and no other infraction--$50. I've had the car for a year and this is the first time I've "been stopped". I live in the suburbs and had heard that Chicago was much more attentive to this. Next time I'll leave it in the front window.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. Is it a fix-it-ticket, or do you just have the pay the fine?

mrahp23 · 03-18-2007, 10:24 AM

Sorry to hear this. I live in the City and I park my Jeep on the street. I've incurred about 5 tickets for no front plate - then I decided to put the plate on my front windshield - doesn't work bud. They still gave me tickets. :mad:

erossen · 03-18-2007, 12:23 PM

Not a warning but a real ticket. Paid on-line today. I can afford a ticket or two each year but 5 might motivate me to put the plate on. Vanity gets the best of us. So I guess it's not just the suburban folks they like to nail!

ihsanshaik · 03-18-2007, 12:53 PM

same thing happened to me 3 months back on clark. When i park in the city i have this velcro strip i jus connect 2 da front when i park.

iKON · 03-18-2007, 08:28 PM

Yea it seems like they notice it alot more in the city than in the burbs... Over the summer my friend and I parked on Lincoln for about 10 min and he got a ticket for no front plate. Its kind of ridiculous.

drkeng · 03-19-2007, 01:01 AM

Didn't have my front plate on. We drove my wife's car into the city and I saw a meter maid walk around the back of a car with no front plate. She didn't ticket it, but I went and saw it was from out of state. I immediately had my front plate put on, because I take my car into the city often, too. Apparently the suburbs don't care; at least that's what the dealer said. Chicago clearly does--it's easy money and they're probably told to look for it. As much as I hate the front plate look, it's not worth it.

The velcro thing is interesting; I wonder if anyone ever gets stopped for just no front plate.

Too bad they can't offer a sticker type plate for the front.

kevkaz · 03-25-2007, 08:41 PM

Chicago cops will also troll the lots at ORD and ticket you there as well. I've had no front plate for about 5 years across my two bimmers and only once got a ticket at ORD. So now I make sure to take my other car when I park there since it does have a front plate.

sblument · 03-26-2007, 12:39 PM

I've lived in the city now for 2 months, no front plate, no issues. I'll post if I ever get nabbed.

toolfan · 03-26-2007, 01:10 PM

When I had my wrangler, I got pulled over at 1am for no reason coming home from college going through winnetka. The cop did say something about no front plate, but I told him because it is a custom bumper I havent had time to drill it on. I guess a Jeep with 37" tires screams 'pull me over'.
But I will risk the ticket for the better look on my e90.

Railgun · 03-27-2007, 12:31 PM

Yeah...they're relentless. I had parked there over a weekend and got TWO for no plate. One on a saturday and one on a sunday. Ok...ummm...you tell me where a DMV is in Chicago that's open at reasonable times and when I could have gotten a front plate. The car was registered from Carbondale (so technically out of town) and now I'm going back and forth with the law office/collectors. This is 18 mo ago. Geniuses I tell ya.

Emil@RENN-ART · 04-28-2007, 02:19 AM

i try to just park in my deeded parking spot at home and in parking lots... on the street i park very briefly ... partly because in the city you get the "rear city bumper effect" (read: people f up the paint on your bumpers by mashing into them over and over while parking)...

purplewidow · 04-28-2007, 02:28 AM

actually Chicago police are not allowed to stop you just for no front plate....if the car is parked though like you were the meter maids or s CPD can give you a ticket but it is always a meter made cpd don't care ...even my cpd friend told me that tonight cause i have no front plate and we were joking cause i showed him my radar detector cause ther are iligal now in illinois!!! mine is hidden i have a k40...he loved it and i have the laser diffuser he says they all use the lidar(laser) in the city now cause it is instant and accurate in traffic..the ones with the guns are laser the ones with the thing sticking out of the side of the car attatched to the window or door are radar!!!

Daya · 04-28-2007, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purplewidow

actually Chicago police are not allowed to stop you just for no front plate....if the car is parked though like you were the meter maids or s CPD can give you a ticket but it is always a meter made cpd don't care ...even my cpd friend told me that tonight cause i have no front plate and we were joking cause i showed him my radar detector cause ther are iligal now in illinois!!! mine is hidden i have a k40...he loved it and i have the laser diffuser he says they all use the lidar(laser) in the city now cause it is instant and accurate in traffic..the ones with the guns are laser the ones with the thing sticking out of the side of the car attatched to the window or door are radar!!!

A couple of months ago my sister was pulled over on 290 just for not having a front license plate

She had just gotten into an accident and the bumper was still messed up hence the reason there was no front plate. Cop still give her a ticket but she fought it in court and won that battle.

Don't the police have better things to do than issue tickets for automotive cosmetic violations, like say, fight crime?

horatiub · 04-29-2007, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevkaz

Chicago cops will also troll the lots at ORD and ticket you there as well. I've had no front plate for about 5 years across my two bimmers and only once got a ticket at ORD. So now I make sure to take my other car when I park there since it does have a front plate.

so true

I park my car there pretty often and it's true, they do go around looking for a reason to ticket the car.

And this is Chicago Police, they gotta meet their quotas which I'm assuming they're pretty high.

Railgun · 04-30-2007, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purplewidow

ther are iligal now in illinois!!!

According to whom?

mrahp23 · 05-01-2007, 10:24 AM

I've gotten 3 tickets for my e92 in the City so far for not having front plates and guess what; I wasn't parked anywhere nor was I pulled over. These nothing better to-do CPDs will write you a "parking" ticket when they see you driving. Couple days later, you'll get a bill for the tickets. They need to find something better to do.

penwan · 05-01-2007, 11:03 AM

Why do they need to find something better to do? It's a quick $50 or so for the city to help them pay for law enforcement.

Thank you for doing your part to keep me and others safe when we venture in to the city!

mrahp23 · 05-01-2007, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penwan

Thank you for doing your part to keep me and others safe when we venture in to the city!

How does a front license plate keep anyone safe?

fnu02 · 05-10-2007, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erossen

I was downtown on a Friday night a few weeks ago, parked legally at about 3400 north on Halsted. It was pouring rain and when I came out I noticed a ticket. Low and behold, it was for no front license plate and no other infraction--$50. I've had the car for a year and this is the first time I've "been stopped". I live in the suburbs and had heard that Chicago was much more attentive to this. Next time I'll leave it in the front window.

you hang in that area alot??

850CSi · 05-10-2007, 06:24 PM

I haven't had one since I bought my car... But I rarely drive downtown.

ksfrogman · 05-10-2007, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrahp23

How does a front license plate keep anyone safe?

He was just humoring you in that your fine will help pay for the city's law enforcement.

03-17-2007, 08:28 PM	#1
erossen Blue Mystic Magnificence Drives: 2006 325i, Mystic Blue Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 16 iTrader: (0)	Front License Plate--Chicago I was downtown on a Friday night a few weeks ago, parked legally at about 3400 north on Halsted. It was pouring rain and when I came out I noticed a ticket. Low and behold, it was for no front license plate and no other infraction--$50. I've had the car for a year and this is the first time I've "been stopped". I live in the suburbs and had heard that Chicago was much more attentive to this. Next time I'll leave it in the front window. __________________ 2006 325i, Mystic Blue, black w/aluminum int., black line tail lights, debadged, Al pedals, chrome exhaust tips, premium pckg., xenon lights, cold weather pckg., Klasse SG w/Souveran wax

03-18-2007, 12:23 PM	#4
erossen Blue Mystic Magnificence Drives: 2006 325i, Mystic Blue Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 16 iTrader: (0)	Not a warning but a real ticket. Paid on-line today. I can afford a ticket or two each year but 5 might motivate me to put the plate on. Vanity gets the best of us. So I guess it's not just the suburban folks they like to nail! __________________ 2006 325i, Mystic Blue, black w/aluminum int., black line tail lights, debadged, Al pedals, chrome exhaust tips, premium pckg., xenon lights, cold weather pckg., Klasse SG w/Souveran wax

03-18-2007, 08:28 PM	#6
iKON Second Lieutenant Drives: 335i Coupe Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: L4P Posts: 229 iTrader: (0) View iKON's Garage	Yea it seems like they notice it alot more in the city than in the burbs... Over the summer my friend and I parked on Lincoln for about 10 min and he got a ticket for no front plate. Its kind of ridiculous. __________________ 07 \| BMW 335i Coupe Black Sapphire Metallic \| Black Dakota Leather \| Brushed Aluminum ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| Steptronic Six Speed Auto \| Paddle Shift Llumar Tint (Sides:15% Rear:5%) \| Amber Reflector Delete

03-19-2007, 01:01 AM	#7
drkeng Lieutenant Drives: 07 335 E93 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northbrook, IL Posts: 519 iTrader: (0)	Didn't have my front plate on. We drove my wife's car into the city and I saw a meter maid walk around the back of a car with no front plate. She didn't ticket it, but I went and saw it was from out of state. I immediately had my front plate put on, because I take my car into the city often, too. Apparently the suburbs don't care; at least that's what the dealer said. Chicago clearly does--it's easy money and they're probably told to look for it. As much as I hate the front plate look, it's not worth it. The velcro thing is interesting; I wonder if anyone ever gets stopped for just no front plate. Too bad they can't offer a sticker type plate for the front. __________________ 2007 335i Convertible Sparkling Graphite / Black Leather / Aluminum Trim / Steptronic w/ Paddles / Sport, Premium, Cold Weather Packages / Nav / Comfort Access / Sirius / PDC just over 2 years old! what next?

03-25-2007, 08:41 PM	#8
kevkaz First Lieutenant Drives: Alpinweiss 2009 E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 360 iTrader: (3) View kevkaz's Garage	Chicago cops will also troll the lots at ORD and ticket you there as well. I've had no front plate for about 5 years across my two bimmers and only once got a ticket at ORD. So now I make sure to take my other car when I park there since it does have a front plate. __________________ 2009 E92 M3 - 7/3/09 ED, 8/17/09 redelivery 2007 E92 335i - retired 2003 E46 330ci - retired

03-18-2007, 10:24 AM	#3
mrahp23 Private Drives: AW 335i Coupe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Diego, CA & Chicago, IL Posts: 68 iTrader: (0)	Sorry to hear this. I live in the City and I park my Jeep on the street. I've incurred about 5 tickets for no front plate - then I decided to put the plate on my front windshield - doesn't work bud. They still gave me tickets. :mad:

03-18-2007, 12:53 PM	#5
ihsanshaik Major Drives: bmw e90 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: chicago Posts: 1,455 iTrader: (2)	same thing happened to me 3 months back on clark. When i park in the city i have this velcro strip i jus connect 2 da front when i park.

03-26-2007, 12:39 PM	#9
sblument Lieutenant Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 418 iTrader: (0) View sblument's Garage	I've lived in the city now for 2 months, no front plate, no issues. I'll post if I ever get nabbed. __________________ 2006 330i, SP, PP, fold down rear seats, sparkling graphite, black leather, metallic trim.

03-26-2007, 01:10 PM	#10
toolfan Banned Drives: E90 335i sedan Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Palatine,IL Posts: 454 iTrader: (1)	When I had my wrangler, I got pulled over at 1am for no reason coming home from college going through winnetka. The cop did say something about no front plate, but I told him because it is a custom bumper I havent had time to drill it on. I guess a Jeep with 37" tires screams 'pull me over'. But I will risk the ticket for the better look on my e90.

03-27-2007, 12:31 PM	#11
Railgun Major Drives: FD RX-7 & E92 335i Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago(land) Posts: 1,107 iTrader: (2)	Yeah...they're relentless. I had parked there over a weekend and got TWO for no plate. One on a saturday and one on a sunday. Ok...ummm...you tell me where a DMV is in Chicago that's open at reasonable times and when I could have gotten a front plate. The car was registered from Carbondale (so technically out of town) and now I'm going back and forth with the law office/collectors. This is 18 mo ago. Geniuses I tell ya.

04-28-2007, 02:19 AM	#12
Emil@RENN-ART Second Lieutenant Drives: AW 335i Coupe Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago / Arlington Heights, IL Posts: 214 iTrader: (1) View Emil@RENN-ART's Garage	i try to just park in my deeded parking spot at home and in parking lots... on the street i park very briefly ... partly because in the city you get the "rear city bumper effect" (read: people f up the paint on your bumpers by mashing into them over and over while parking)... __________________ _________________________________ www.RennArt.com 1034 Addison Ct. Arlington Heights, IL 847-593-1066

04-28-2007, 02:28 AM	#13
purplewidow Colonel Drives: e92 335 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,023 iTrader: (2)	actually Chicago police are not allowed to stop you just for no front plate....if the car is parked though like you were the meter maids or s CPD can give you a ticket but it is always a meter made cpd don't care ...even my cpd friend told me that tonight cause i have no front plate and we were joking cause i showed him my radar detector cause ther are iligal now in illinois!!! mine is hidden i have a k40...he loved it and i have the laser diffuser he says they all use the lidar(laser) in the city now cause it is instant and accurate in traffic..the ones with the guns are laser the ones with the thing sticking out of the side of the car attatched to the window or door are radar!!!

05-01-2007, 10:24 AM	#17
mrahp23 Private Drives: AW 335i Coupe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Diego, CA & Chicago, IL Posts: 68 iTrader: (0)	I've gotten 3 tickets for my e92 in the City so far for not having front plates and guess what; I wasn't parked anywhere nor was I pulled over. These nothing better to-do CPDs will write you a "parking" ticket when they see you driving. Couple days later, you'll get a bill for the tickets. They need to find something better to do.

05-01-2007, 11:03 AM	#18
penwan Private First Class Drives: '07 328i Sedan Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 71 iTrader: (0)	Why do they need to find something better to do? It's a quick $50 or so for the city to help them pay for law enforcement. Thank you for doing your part to keep me and others safe when we venture in to the city!

05-10-2007, 06:24 PM	#21
850CSi VALVETRONIC I6 Drives: '06 JB 325i 6MT Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Illinois (Chicago Suburbs) Posts: 100 iTrader: (0)	I haven't had one since I bought my car... But I rarely drive downtown. __________________ E90 BMW 325i 6MT carspin.net