I'm curious too. My Jeep came w/o the front bracket installed and I just can't bring myself to make holes in the bumper, even if it is "just a Jeep". At the moment I'm running around with no front plate in a state (NY) that requires it.
If you plan on mounting it, it will look better centered, where it belongs, rather than off to the side. The holes will not show, and you won't see those stupid looking dimples in the front bumper.
Plus, when you are driving you can't see the plate. Those that can see it don't GARA where your plate is, whether there are holes in the bumper, or whether or not you even have a bumper.
But if that isn't an option and you're worried about getting pulled over for it, I'd honestly just put it in the place it was meant to be. It looks best centered anyway and it would cover up the dimples that indicate where it goes, as already said. Just my thoughts.
I bit the bullet and installed the front plate tonight. My wife refused to drive the Jeep w/o a plate (not necessarily a bad thing! ) and I'm getting "nice" plates for it anyway. I couldn't come up with anything better than the stock location. It's "just a Jeep".
you can get the no drill front plate brackets. I have the altec show and go and lots of nyc ppl run them as well.
Also traffic agents can ticket you for that as well...i see this bmw on my block ticketed twice..one time i ask the agent..street cleaning isnt for another 15 mins..what is he getting a ticket for? She replied no front plate..see it on dash but that dont work. Next week he gave in and see a front plate on it.
Mine did not come with a bracket. Dealer drilled it right into the bumper. Alternative would be to lay it on the dashboard like the Corvette guys do? No thanks.
I bought our GC in NM which doesn't use front plates. Utah requires two plates, but won't stop you just for that. If you are stopped for anything else, they add on no front plate to the ticket.
My local dealer called yesterday and my front mount is in. Has anyone put them on themselves. ?? Drill holes and use self tapping screws ??
You're talking the "It's just a Jeep" thing wrong. I was repeating what someone else said. I took it to mean that Jeeps are meant to be off-road beasts with scratches and mud and battle wounds. Worrying about a front plate and how it looks seems rather silly in that context. I'm embarrassed when my Jeep is too clean.
Not really, but I see that side. I'd RATHER have no front plate, but where I am it IS enforced. Not to the level that I've ever gotten a ticket, but I was CONSTANTLY getting pulled over in my Eclipse (once by a friggin' BIKE cop) for not having a front plate. Never got a ticket, but not worth the hassle TO ME. Everyone needs to make his/her own decision. I feel better now that it's on...not wondering if every cop that drives by is gonna turn around and flag me down. Hate that. Hate front plates, hate getting pulled over more.
Maybe it's the law ONLY in your communist state and mine, but not in HIS state. Maybe only in his state of mind. Same goes with tints. I'd run without one as well, but in Crook County // Chicago, one tends to enjoys all sorts of bans, limits and other unconstitutional "privileges".
I say leave it in the center stock location or none at all. Front plates are IMO eye sores so every car I own does not have a front plate and thats even in a front plate state (IL). Where I live that law is not enforced whatsoever, so no front plate it is for me. Looks better, easier to clean as bugs are a pain to get off the plate and areas around the plate mounting bracket.
My problem with the cops not enforcing the two plate law has nothing to do with those who think their Jeep has to be a pretty as they are.
Too often when you see a car with one plate, the second one is on the back of an unregistered, uninsured vehicle. I handled too many claims where the at fault party in an accident had no insurance and no assets to speak of. While many/most people have uninsured motorist insurance to protect themselves in these situations, it is typically in lower amounts because they/we never believe it will happen to us. They are the innocent victims.