Q: I leased a car from a good dealership. It has a license plate on back but not on the front. The dealership mentioned something to me about how they could put one on when I leased, which was more than six months ago. I did not think it was necessary. Today, I parked at the beach and came back to a $62 ticket for not having a front license plate. This isn’t a fix-it ticket? What is the law on this?
S.R., Manhattan Beach
A: If you are leasing a California registered passenger car, state law here requires both front and rear license plates. Do you recall if the dealership told you that the front license plate is required by law?
California Vehicle Code Section 5200(a) sets forth that when two license plates are issued by the DMV, they shall be attached to the vehicle; one in front and one inthe back. You may also find California Vehicle Code Section 11713.17 of particular interest because it places an onus on the dealership before the vehicle is delivered to you. Specifically, the vehicle is to have a place for securing the front plate, or if not, then you are to sign in writing that you refused installation.
The justifications for a front plate are several, including that a police officer, toll system, witness or traffic camera is able to identify a vehicle when in front of it, and also because cameras can capture plates in front for various reasons, such as traffic video.
The ticket you received may allow you to contest it, or ask for a different disposition. A $62 fine for that kind of infraction seems pretty stiff. So there is no harm in writing to request it be treated as a fix-it citation, but bottom line, get the plate affixed to the front.
Q: What is a fix-it ticket, and what do you have to do?
C.R., Rowland Heights
A: A fix-it ticket is a citation for violation of the law that you may correct within a period of time. It is often referred to as a “correctable violation.”
One example is if your tail light is not working. Thus you have defective equipment. Take your car to an authorized facility, have the corrective work done, verified and signed-off on, then submit the proof to the court (or to whomever you are directed) by or before the time deadline. There likely will be a proof-of-correction/transaction fee that you are to pay, such as $25. Most often, the court then dismisses the citation, and you do not have to pay the fine.
As I think about it, the situation above with the front license plate could arguably be dealt with as a fix-it ticket. Unfortunately, the interest in collecting money today may be taking precedence over the more courteous “let’s give him or her a chance to fix it.”
Ron Sokol has been a practicing attorney for more than 40 years, and has also served many times as a judge pro tem, mediator, and arbitrator. It is important to keep in mind that this column presents a summary of the law, and is not to be treated or considered legal advice, let alone a substitute for actual consultation with a qualified professional.