Why don’t Teslas have front license plates?

Q: Riverside resident Jeff McKinley asked why Teslas don’t have to display front license plates.

“Is it because they are special?” he asked. “I have noticed that almost all Teslas do not have front license plates. Many other new electric cars also have no front plates. I know California still requires them.”

A: Tesla owners are not exempt from California’s law that requires front and rear plates on vehicles registered in the state.

The bottom line is that many Tesla owners just don’t want to have a front license plate for aesthetic reasons. They believe that attaching the front plate or mounting bracket will ruin their car’s appearance. Owners of some high-end vehicles in California have to purchase a separate license plate mounting part to attach the front license plate to the car, and in some cases, they just fail to do so. Some high-end cars don’t always come with a front license plate holder attached because several states don’t require a front license plate on cars.

Any Tesla driver missing their front plate on a vehicle registered in California is breaking the law and risks getting a citation. If you notice a car parked somewhere and it’s missing its front plate, you could call the local non-emergency police number and report the car or ask the police department for more enforcement.

This is an issue that, while not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, does bother a lot of people who don’t drive Teslas.

Q: Hemet resident Marion Stilson asked how drivers needing assistance can contact the Freeway Service Patrol.

A: Call them from your cell phone or a freeway call box in their service areas by dialing 511.

Click here or here for more details.

Q: Beaumont resident Ronnie Zacker would like to see road improvement work to fix potholes on the westbound 10 Freeway, between Beaumont Avenue and Oak Valley Parkway.

Another reader, Riverside resident Mark Balys, said the pavement on the 215 Freeway, from Riverside to Menifee, particularly from March Air Reserve Base to Nuevo Road, is in terrible condition and asked if it could be resurfaced.

A third reader, San Bernardino’s Bob Servin, said part of the 210 Freeway where drivers transition from the 210 westbound to the 215 south needs repaving.

A: We often receive inquiries from readers asking when this pothole or that rough street will be repaved.

We’ll direct all three readers to the Caltrans Maintenance Division’s online Customer Service Request system, where citizens can report things such as the need for road repairs, weed abatement and striping work.

Our readers also can also report concerns to Caltrans District 8 at 909-383-4631.

Finally, Greyhound bus has a new stop at the San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot, 1170 W. Third St., just over a mile away from its previous location on North G Street.

The new stop allows Greyhound bus passengers to more easily connect with Amtrak, Metrolink, and local bus systems. Hours at the stop are 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., with 20 schedules to popular destinations, including Las Vegas (if you’d rather take a bus than deal with the long drive and traffic on the strip).

Information: 1-800-231-2222 or greyhound.com.

Do you commute to work in the Inland Empire? Spend a lot of time in your vehicle? Have questions about driving, freeways, toll roads or parking? If so, write or call On the Road and we’ll try to answer your questions. Please include your question or issue, name, city of residence, phone number and email address. Write [email protected] or call 951-368-9670.

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