In Ohio they do not issue fix-it tickets. The license plate is a pretext for a drug search or just outright harassment. If they find anything else such as an unbuckled seatbelt then a citation is issued.
Express a little attitude about getting $300 worth the fines for a plate and a belt and you can watch the peace officer start losing his composure. He knows that he is engaging in chickensh@& and doesn’t want to be disresepected.
Look, the law is the law. The front plate can be very important when trying to spot a felon by auto description, then verifying with the plate.
Child abductions or other things, it’s just a reasoned thing to have that plate there.
If a person doesn’t want to subject themselves to such a stop, keep the plates on.
If someone drives by your home and hits someone, don’t you want the neighbors to be able to check out the front plate?
It is reasoned to stop a guy and have this conversation with them.