Front License Plates ?

[Chubby]

Does New Hampshire need to have a front license plate requirement ?

Twenty one states don't currently issue front license plates.

Plate reading technology devices work equally well in states that have only a rear facing license plate.

Modern vehicles often have active driver assistance safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist, etc., which rely on sensors that must be placed in the front of the car to function.

Is it time to leap into the 21st century and phase out the wasteful second plate ?

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by Chubby

Does New Hampshire need to have a front license plate requirement ?

Twenty one states don't currently issue front license plates.

Plate reading technology devices work equally well in states that have only a rear facing license plate.

Modern vehicles often have active driver assistance safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist, etc., which rely on sensors that must be placed in the front of the car to function.

Is it time to leap into the 21st century and phase out the wasteful second plate ?

Then what would the prisoners do all day with less plates to make?

[John Mercier]

You would need to ask a legislator to enter it as an LSR.

The debate would be on savings (mostly to the State) as compared to value in the field.

On the inspection issue, some of the arguments about getting rid of any inspection was the restrictions placed in NH due to augmentation of a non-necessary nature.

For instance, failing an inspection because a fog light didn't work.
Or failing an inspection because of aftermarket window tinting.

The fog light issue was noted as being superficial, while the tinting was about the safety of a LEO to see movement within the vehicle during a stop.

[TheTimeTraveler]

Originally Posted by Chubby

Does New Hampshire need to have a front license plate requirement ?

Twenty one states don't currently issue front license plates.

Plate reading technology devices work equally well in states that have only a rear facing license plate.

Modern vehicles often have active driver assistance safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist, etc., which rely on sensors that must be placed in the front of the car to function.

Is it time to leap into the 21st century and phase out the wasteful second plate ?

Years ago I had heard that the city meter maids (Nashua, Manchester, Concord, Portsmouth) want the front license plates retained to make their job of writing tickets faster and more efficient.

Not sure that is the case anymore since traditional coin meters really don't exist anymore.

[Chubby]

Originally Posted by Biggd

Then what would the prisoners do all day with less plates to make?

Ya... well Big GD, although this appears to be the best contra argument, I don't think we really want to know what prisoners do all day. That may not be a suitable discussion topic in polite company.

One plate wouldn't cut costs in half but it would cut costs and pollution.

Everything status quo doesn't qualify as Granite State tradition and culture.

[John Mercier]

It doesn't have to cut it in half.
Savings are savings.

[FlyingScot]

If memory serves, Mass tried to go from 2 plates to one decades ago. It created a black market of "front" license plates that various miscreants would use on the backs of their cars

[Descant]

When we celebrated our town's 250th anniversary, one of our legislators made it possible to use only a rear plate for two years. We made special memorial plates, approved by NH, and sold them as a fund raiser. You had to have one on the front; it was not an excuse to go without a front plate.

[fatlazyless]

"Live Free or Die" is the official state motto of New Hampshire since 1945. "It is possibly the best-known of all state mottos, partly because it conveys an assertive independence historically found in American political philosophy and partly because of its contrast to the milder sentiments found in other state mottos."

Eliminating the NH license plate on the front of NH motor vehicles will reduce the general public display of NH's famous assertion of independence, Live Free or Die by one half or 50% which will be a huge loss for promoting the State of New Hampshire and American independence ......

[Chubby]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

If memory serves, Mass tried to go from 2 plates to one decades ago. It created a black market of "front" license plates that various miscreants would use on the backs of their cars

Mass had just one plate for many years in the 70s and 80s. They still allow just one plate if it's the green plate (green characters instead of red numbers/letters). In 2025, the 21 states with one plate include huge states like Florida that have no issues. I'd rather let all the sensors have wider unobstructed ranges than status quo. NH didn't always have two plates. The front plate was added in NH long before you were born and the current technology hadn't been envisioned. Is it time for an update ?

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by Chubby

Mass had just one plate for many years in the 70s and 80s. They still allow just one plate if it's the green plate (green characters instead of red numbers/letters). In 2025, the 21 states with one plate include huge states like Florida that have no issues. I'd rather let all the sensors have wider unobstructed ranges than status quo. NH didn't always have two plates. The front plate was added in NH long before you were born and the current technology hadn't been envisioned. Is it time for an update ?

I'm surprised to read that your car was not designed for the sensors to be unobstructed with a front plate. What are you driving?

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by Chubby

Mass had just one plate for many years in the 70s and 80s. They still allow just one plate if it's the green plate (green characters instead of red numbers/letters). In 2025, the 21 states with one plate include huge states like Florida that have no issues. I'd rather let all the sensors have wider unobstructed ranges than status quo. NH didn't always have two plates. The front plate was added in NH long before you were born and the current technology hadn't been envisioned. Is it time for an update ?

Mass is vigorously trying to get rid of every last green plate. They are telling inspection stations to fail vehicles if that green plate is not pristine. Many of those green plates are faded from being out in the sun for many years. Of course, there are those few little old ladies that only drive to church on Sundays and their car is in the garage most of its life!

[AC2717]

Originally Posted by Biggd

Mass is vigorously trying to get rid of every last green plate. They are telling inspection stations to fail vehicles if that green plate is not pristine. Many of those green plates are faded from being out in the sun for many years. Of course, there are those few little old ladies that only drive to church on Sundays and their car is in the garage most of its life!

They are but there are many reproduction companies that can make it for you, and its perfectly legal

[TomC]

Originally Posted by Biggd

Mass is vigorously trying to get rid of every last green plate. They are telling inspection stations to fail vehicles if that green plate is not pristine. Many of those green plates are faded from being out in the sun for many years. Of course, there are those few little old ladies that only drive to church on Sundays and their car is in the garage most of its life!

...because they have solved all the other problems in Massachusetts...

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by TomC

...because they have solved all the other problems in Massachusetts...

They have many of the same problems as every other State.

[Kamper]

For the police: It is easier to make out a plate that is approaching, than receding, especially with a trailer.

For drivers: It gives you a 'spare' if one gets stolen or falls off.

Also... Remember when they went from 2 inspections a year to 1? They doubled the fee. If they go from 2 plates to 1, the fee will stay the same. I would expect at some point they would go back to 2 plates but charge more because they -now- have to use twice as much materials!

[TomC]

Originally Posted by Biggd

They have many of the same problems as every other State.

I lived in MA for nearly 60 years and am quite familiar with what the state does and doesn't do well...

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by TomC

I lived in MA for nearly 60 years and am quite familiar with what the state does and doesn't do well...

I can see where this is going, have a nice day!

[VitaBene]

The local PDs like the front plate. They can pick up on unregistered cars as the are passing them without using their rear view mirror.

[TheTimeTraveler]

Originally Posted by AC2717

They are but there are many reproduction companies that can make it for you, and its perfectly legal

Some folks don't want to take work away from the inmates, lol.

[fatlazyless]

New Hampshire has the most famous state motto of all fifty states, Live Free or Die, and eliminating the front license plate will decrease the display of Live Free or Die by 50%.

This is an excellent reason for New Hampshire to have two license plates, Live Free or Die.

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by AC2717

They are but there are many reproduction companies that can make it for you, and its perfectly legal

Yes in NH we can run old year specific plates on the corresponding model year. The plate needs to have the year in raised letters. I had https://restoreatag.com/see-our-work.html restore the plate for my 48 Indian Chief. It came out great!

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

Yes in NH we can run old year specific plates on the corresponding model year. The plate needs to have the year in raised letters. I had https://restoreatag.com/see-our-work.html restore the plate for my 48 Indian Chief. It came out great!

Would love to see pics of that Indian Chief John!!

Dan

[Chubby]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

The local PDs like the front plate. They can pick up on unregistered cars as the are passing them without using their rear view mirror.

Wait... what about motorcycles ?

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by Chubby

Wait... what about motorcycles ?

They are looking for your inspection sticker!

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Would love to see pics of that Indian Chief John!!

Dan

It is a lefty Dan- right tank shift, left hand throttle! Rocker clutch is heel to go on Indians, but I'm going to reverse it this year so it matches HDs toe to go.

[ishoot308]

Thanks for posting the pics John! That is one sweet beautiful bike!! What a piece of MC history you have there and in such pristine condition!!

Thanks again!

Dan

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Thanks for posting the pics John! That is one sweet beautiful bike!! What a piece of MC history you have there and in such pristine condition!!

Thanks again!

Dan

Thanks Dan! We have our AMCA camp and ride coming up at my house June 5- June 8. There should be 40 or so antiques... if the weather cooperates!

[TheProfessor]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

The local PDs like the front plate. They can pick up on unregistered cars as the are passing them without using their rear view mirror.

As mentioned above. What about motorcycles ?

LEO looks at the inspection sticker on front. Done.

Done.