RIDE-CT – Classic Cars Celebrating Classic Cars in Connecticut
HARTFORD, CT – To some car owners, they’re unsightly. Others claim they mess with the air flow to the radiator of their gas-powered models. To all owners, they’re a nuisance to attach. Go to a car show, though, and you’re apt to see almost many cars lacking a front license plate as displaying one.
A quick check of photos in RIDE-CT’s archive of cars shows turned up example after example of models with bare front ends.
—
Connecticut currently requires that vehicles have license plates front and rear. While the state police would no doubt prefer all cars and trucks to have front plates for easy identification, they seemingly do little in terms of enforcing that law.
Ignoring the front license plate requirement pretty much comes with no consequences. (Ask me how I know.) Some owners who refrain from adding the state-issued marker instead add plates that identify the make, model or year of their vehicle. Or they serve some other purpose.
The purpose of this background is report that a bill introduced last month in the CT General Assembly would eliminate the front marker requirement. SB 291 front state Sen. Rob Sampson (R-16th District) would amend the state statute to only “require a number plate be displayed at the rear of a motor vehicle.”
Sampson’s gives the bill’s statement of purpose “as a cost-saving measure.” The bill was introduced on Jan. 8 and has been referred to the Joint Committee on Transportation.
Three days ago, RIDE-CT posted a poll on its YouTube channel seeking viewer reaction to the bill. So far, 82 percent of voters favor doing away with front license plates. Only 18 percent think the status quo is just fine. If you care to vote, click the link above.
