COLUMBUS, Ohio — The debate over front license plates in Ohio is back.
Two Republican state senators have introduced legislation seeking to keep a requirement that Ohio drivers have front license plates on their vehicles, along with the ones on the back.
The requirement for a front plate is set to be eliminated July 1, 2020, under the state transportation budget approved earlier this year.
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About 15 county sheriffs and police officers joined Sens. Joe Uecker, of Clermont County, and Jay Hottinger, of Newark, at a Monday news conference announcing a bill intended to continue requiring both license plates. They say the front plate is a valuable tool in solving and preventing crimes.
Jason Pappas, vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, says removing it makes it tougher for law enforcement to identify and catch people committing crimes.
Other law enforcement officers are also weighing in.
"Almost every crime that happens has a vehicle involved in it and the traffic stop is the easiest way, the easiest, simplest and best sometimes, way for us to deter crime and that's what we do those stops for is to deter crime."
On the other hand, some in the auto industry feel the more legislation that goes into a car the more expensive it is.
"So if you put a big metal bracket in front of it that's unnecessary, guess what, we're going to have to spend more money putting the sensors you need in the front of it," explains Liberty Auto Group CEO, Michael Herrick.
"And that's up to the government, that's fine and we're not going to get involved in that but all I'm saying is there are much better ways to accomplish the goals of law enforcement, there's much better ways to accomplish the goals of the legislator."