ZR-1 Net Registry Forums - View Single Post - [VA] Single License Plate Bill up again...

WVZR-1 · 01-14-2013

When I first moved (1976) to Virginia I carried my front tag in the car "on the floor" and drove through maybe five or so traffic checks receiving only a comment regarding it. Never a warning to install or even a hint of a citation.

On 29 west of Warrenton one Saturday (1980/81) I was headed east quite fast and a I saw a trooper headed west and it looked to me like he intended to do a u-turn and pursue. I was certainly speeding. He did! As soon as I spotted him in the mirror there was a wide shoulder so I pulled off. His reason for doing the u-turn and pursue was the lack of a front tag, no comment on the speed. This was an older trooper and in the conversation he mentioned that in his early years on the force that maybe something in the vicinity of 30% of the single tagged vehicles they saw were thefts or stolen tags. It was a valuable tool in recovery and prosecution. Is it?

He asked if I had one, I showed it and tag hardware. He suggested I consider mounting it. I had registration, insurance card and all was well.

I had just done a rear gear change and had not done the speedometer calibration yet and I asked if he had clocked me. He hadn't. I asked if he could pace me back to Warrenton and he mention not actually but he said: I need to drive the speed limit also! I followed him to Warrenton at the speed limit I assumed, he waved and went south, a week later I did the speedometer calibration based on that days pace and some measured miles. They were spot on.

01-14-2013	#2
WVZR-1 Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,884	Re: [VA] Single License Plate Bill up again... When I first moved (1976) to Virginia I carried my front tag in the car "on the floor" and drove through maybe five or so traffic checks receiving only a comment regarding it. Never a warning to install or even a hint of a citation. On 29 west of Warrenton one Saturday (1980/81) I was headed east quite fast and a I saw a trooper headed west and it looked to me like he intended to do a u-turn and pursue. I was certainly speeding. He did! As soon as I spotted him in the mirror there was a wide shoulder so I pulled off. His reason for doing the u-turn and pursue was the lack of a front tag, no comment on the speed. This was an older trooper and in the conversation he mentioned that in his early years on the force that maybe something in the vicinity of 30% of the single tagged vehicles they saw were thefts or stolen tags. It was a valuable tool in recovery and prosecution. Is it? He asked if I had one, I showed it and tag hardware. He suggested I consider mounting it. I had registration, insurance card and all was well. I had just done a rear gear change and had not done the speedometer calibration yet and I asked if he had clocked me. He hadn't. I asked if he could pace me back to Warrenton and he mention not actually but he said: I need to drive the speed limit also! I followed him to Warrenton at the speed limit I assumed, he waved and went south, a week later I did the speedometer calibration based on that days pace and some measured miles. They were spot on.