Part of the confusion may come from states with different license plate rules.
Twenty states require only a rear plate, which means drivers can legally put a novelty or decorative plate on the front. The remaining 30 states require a state-issued plate on both the front and back of the vehicle; New York is one of them.
That may explain why law enforcement would assume a decorative “Star Trek” plate on the front of the car would be a legitimate license plate.
This is one of the stupider “50 countries in a trench coat pretending to be one country” things we have going on. There’s no reason not to require plates on both the front and back bumper, especially when it’s opening the door for confusion with fake plates on the optional bumper.
So many vehicles in those 20 states don’t even have a front plate holder at all because they were either removed by the dealer or didn’t come with them in the first place.
Yeah I bought a new car last year and it doesn’t even have a mounting spot. it’s not a big deal not having two plates I’m sure one of the other 600 cameras on the drive will get me.
For fun I looked up how I’d have to mount a front plate and it’s just gross. I’d have to drill holes into the front or buy a bracket that’d be lopsided.
I’d have to drill holes into the front
So what? That’s how it’s done at the factory too. I am also opposed to front plates but drilling into the bumper is no big deal