Twin Falls Sen. Jim Patrick wants Idaho to do away with the requirement for a front license plate on cars. “There’s 19 other states that do this,” he said. Idaho already doesn’t require front plates on ATVs, old-timer classic cars and some other types of vehicles, he said. “I decided rather than identify another class of cars, it’s simpler to just say, ‘Let’s just take ‘em off the front of all cars.’”

Patrick told the Senate Transportation Committee, “There’s a lot of support for it, and there’s people that don’t like it, of course.”

Sen. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, said, “I love this bill,” but he questioned the fiscal note, saying he thought it would bring savings to the state to not have to print and mail the extra license plates.  “My assumption would be the savings would be passed on to the consumers,” Patrick responded. “When I order plates I have to pay a mailing fee, and of course we’re paying for two plates in our registration. That is, of course, to be determined. I don’t know that I can identify what the state would save vs. the consumer.” With that, the committee voted unanimously to introduce the bill, clearing the way for a full hearing.

Researchers at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute studied the issue in 2012, and found that most objections to front license plates are esthetic, from people who don’t want to sully the front of their prized vehicles with a license plate; while law enforcement officials typically support two plates for easier identification of vehicles.  “Interestingly, these discussions are unique to North America,” the Texas researchers wrote in their study, “since other countries require two plates and it is accepted much like the cultural expectation that individuals do not drive after drinking.”

Idaho State Police spokeswoman Teresa Jones said ISP opposes the move. She issued this statement to KIVI-TV:

“The Idaho State Police are opposed to eliminating the requirement for vehicles registered in Idaho to have a front license plate.  We use the front plates as a tool everyday in keeping Idahoans safe in a number of instances. The public frequently calls police with only a license plate number when reporting incidents that occur on our roadways such as road rage, impaired driving or distracted driving.  The front plate is also vital to law enforcement in apprehending suspects in crimes in progress such as stolen vehicles, kidnappings and robberies.  Without a front plate a suspect can easily back into a parking space and avoid detection. The bottom line is that two plates provide enhancement to public safety, and that benefit is degraded when the requirement for a front plate is eliminated.”

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