A state lawmaker thinks passenger cars and truck should only need one license plate, not two.
Rep. Mark Owens (R-Grand Forks) has introduced a bill for the 2017 Legislature to require only a rear plate. Owens said several other states now only require one license plate – in the back of the car. and some automobile manufacturers do not even have a place on the front to put a plate.
Owens also points to specialty vehicles – like motorcycles and ATVs – that only have one plate.
"Requiring two tags just for people who drive trucks and cars is literally singling them out," Owens said. "Do they need more licensing than the rest of these vehicles?"
Owens said says he has seen a number of North Dakota vehicles without a front license plate—and it appears the Highway Patrol or other agencies are not enforcing that law.
"Why in the world do we have something on the books, cluttering up the code, that says you have to have two plates?" said Owens. "We might as well get rid of the front plate, and make life a little easier."
Owens said once the word got out that he was having this bill drafted, he was approached by a number of legislators who wanted to be co-sponsors.
