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Q: Jim Sinnema of La Verne asked why the law, which requires vehicles to have both a front and a rear license plate, is not enforced. “I find a disservice to owners when the front plate holder is not included when the vehicle comes out of the factory,” Sinnema said.
A: We’ve had a few readers in the past voice the same concern about missing front license plates and what they see as a lack of enforcement of this law. Police and California Highway Patrol officers have told us this issue just isn’t a top priority for police agencies with limited resources who must prioritize service calls that involve public safety or life-saving emergencies.
That being said, police do enforce this violation, mostly when officers stop a vehicle for another violation. Or, officers will on occasion stop a vehicle just to cite the driver for the missing front license plate. “It’s a matter of resources when it comes down to it,” said CHP Officer Dan Olivas of the Inland Division.
As for vehicle manufacturers, they don’t always include front license plate holders on new vehicles because several states (Florida, Arizona and North and South Carolinas, for example) don’t require vehicles to have a front license plate. And, most people will tell you that cars just look better without it on their front bumper, especially sports cars and high-end vehicles, it ruins the aesthetic. So for these reasons, some vehicle manufacturers leave the bracket off and leave it up to drivers or dealerships in states like California, where the front license plate is required, to take care of this. A list of the states that require a front license plate as well as the pros and cons can be found online on Autolist here.
Q: Bruce Adams of Redlands observed that new traffic lights at Live Oak Canyon Road and the 10 Freeway and some lights around Redlands now have a yellow border around the traffic light. He asked if this is a new requirement for California or what’s behind this new device.
A: This bright yellow, reflective backplate around traffic lights is a new safety measure that is popping up in California and in other states as well. Redlands is installing these reflective traffic signal backplates within the city as a safety measure to increase signal visibility, said spokesman Carl Baker.
Redlands City Engineer Goutam K. Dobey explained, “The retroreflective yellow bordered backplates are being installed to systematically improve safety performance at signalized intersections nationwide. It increases traffic signal visibility during morning hours, at night, or during a loss of power. This is one of the Federal Highway Administration Proven Safety Countermeasures.” Dobey shared a United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration brochure that says adding this device has reduced crashes by 15%. The agency is encouraging municipalities to add the yellow backplate to signalized intersections as an additional low-cost safety device.
Mich Bulletproof Helmet Do you commute to work in the Inland Empire? Spend a lot of time in your vehicle? Have questions about driving, freeways, toll roads or parking? If so, write or call On the Road and we’ll try to answer your questions. Please include your question or issue, name, city of residence, phone number and email address. Write ontheroad@scng.com or call us at our new phone number, 951-368-9995.