“New cars are going to be driven home with a front bracket installed by the dealer.” “Most people affected by this law are buying older and/or cheaper vehicles, poorly maintained ones, or cars repaired on a budget,” Smolik wrote. Lawmakers who represent the south suburbs - which overwhelmingly tend to vote Democratic - should listen to the points raised by Smolik that the requirement unfairly punishes lower-income residents. Based on other states that have adopted the policy, the change should prove popular with rural residents throughout Illinois who tend to vote Republican. Interestingly enough, Illinois requires annual stickers only be placed on rear plates.īanning front plates in Illinois could be an issue that finds bipartisan support. That saved vehicle owners the hassle of dealing with rusted screws when trying to replace tags every year. Some time ago, however, Illinois switched to stickers that are updated each year.
Nailing license plates from past years to garage walls was popular décor for many folks for a long time.
Older readers may recall a time when drivers received new metal plates every year in the mail. Smolik pointed out that Illinois and other states have evolved their vehicle-tag requirements over time. They include Alabama, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. Many of the 19 states that allow rear-only plates are considered deep red political territories. Other sensible states that do not require front license plates are Michigan, Indiana and Pennsylvania. The reform in the Buckeye State takes effect in 2020. Ohio recently became the 20th state to require only one license plate.
“SAN efforts have resulted in positive outcomes on a wide range of issues, from vehicle scrappage laws to equipment standards, registration classifications, emissions-test exemptions and hobbyist rights,” the group said. “The SEMA Action Network (SAN) was formed in 1997 to unite vehicle clubs, enthusiasts and members of the specialty auto parts industry as a political voice for the hobby,” the group said on its website. The item was from SEMA Action Network, a lobbying group for the Specialty Equipment Market Association. In his note to the Southtown, Smolik included a link to an article about the proposed Illinois legislation. Many collectors believe front license plates ruin the carefully crafted design of many vehicles. Classic car shows are wonderful community events. Some vintage-automobile aficionados support a front-plate ban for aesthetic reasons. Some issues, such as legalized marijuana for recreational use, also encountered opposition from law enforcement but eventually were approved in Illinois.Ĭitizen proponents of a single-plate format ought to convince legislators that the issue deserves reconsideration. Sensible citizens who support switching to a single-plate system may consider rallying allies from a variety of interests to counter opposition from government agencies. However, that benefit has to be weighed against the cost of requiring every vehicle registered in the state to display a front license plate. In those instances, front plates presumably would help police identify a criminal. Sometimes, motorists involved in hit-and-run collisions have the front bumpers containing license plates ripped from their vehicles and left behind after they have fled a scene. The tollway, for example, has cameras that record rear plates just as well as front plates, Smolik said.Ī police officer in a vehicle passing another motorist likely has insufficient time to visually register the numerals, letters and other characters on a front license plate, Smolik added. Smolik, Skillicorn and others reject the safety arguments raised by law enforcement groups.