A replica is illegal im most states.

I drove for 7 years without a front plate here in NJ, and then got a ticket - no other offenses - he pulled me over for no front plate. The officer was actually joking around a bit, and I thought he was just doing a "normal" stop - till he handed me the $45 ticket and said, "Have a nice day".

I should have told him, "But officer, I saw the plate fly off when I was doing 160mph on Rt. 80"!

I had been stopped 3-4 times previously for the plate violation, only to get a warning.