have a court date on Oct. 28th, turns out that it is a criminal offense for having a fake plate on, unlike no plate which is a non-moving violation. The cop told me that he could've arrested me on the spot. This sucks.

i use heavy duty double sided tape to keep mine on, and usually, i only put it on when i'm going somewhere (like an auto-x, the track, kk meet). i'm looking into some heavy duty black velcro so that i can put on nothing (and have the velcro not too noticeable), my IL plate, or my euro plate. i havent had my state plate on my car since day 1. i did get one ticket for that, but i paid it and havent had any problems since.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/22561/europlate_ground.jpg">

Take in the plate in question, ask the judge if he had any chance of mistaking it for a US plate, take a bunch of pics of other tuned cars with the plates to illustrate it's just an appearance accessory, explain how your an auto enthusiast, and have it pleaded down to the $50 (or $90?) no front plate ticket. Just don't be a dick and explain everything and it'll work out.

BTW sounds like the cop was a real douchenozzle - where'd you get the ticket?

If you have a non-compliant license plate at the front of your car YOU WILL GET A TICKET! If you had an Illinois plate ON TOP of the Euro plate then you would have something
to complain about. You are now at the mercy of the judge presiding over the court. The Chicago Police Dept. are
reknowned for ticketing this type of infraction. Just pay
your fine and take it like an adult learning experience.

He didn't get a front plate ticket, he got a COUNTERFEIT PLATE TICKET. It is a CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

You think he should just suck it up and pay it? That's just stupid IMHO. $.02

I was pulled over on I-80 coming back from Iowa by an IL trooper, gave me a speeding ticket and gave me a warning about not having a front plate. I then purchased a front plate insert for my bumper and had it painted. That was $250 for those two items!

It's easier to have a front plate than to get pulled over for something stupid. I already have slightly tinted windows, got a ticket for that a few months ago in LaGrange, I figure I'll get one or two more tickets over the life of the car for it.

My old car had 35% tint too, the darn cops in McCook sit on First Avenue as you are getting off I-55 and will pull you over for anything just to get some revenue.

Got a ticket for tinted windows then, now I just get ready to roll my front windows down when I go through there.

pw

so I am forced to take it off. If that cop sees me again he'll more of a d*ck than he was this time. I didn't have any plates on b4 and got a tickets once and it was only $15, so hopefully it'll be the same thing this time.

... at their yearly car show (Treffen). Winners some times mount their Illinois plate over their Treffen plate in a manner that allows the official tag to be easily removed for show purposes. I can't say I like the looks of this arrangement, but it might solve the prob. with local law enforcement.