If memory serves me correct from the last time I looked over the DMV regs as long as the plate is mounted on the front of the vehicle so its viewable then its legal so in/on the grill would be ok unless you ran into a cop that didnt get his/her daily donut alotment. Not to rub salt in the wound but my county sticker expired two years ago and theyve never bothered me over that. Hell, Ive even went through the DUI check points at Feather Rd and Hardy Rd and they never said a word [shrug].

FWIW/FYI putting the plate on the dash so it can be seen through the windshield is not legal technically (BTDT got a t shirt). Some cops wont bother you but others will write you up (like roanoke county or vinton in my experience).

Like I said, Id be willing to pay extra to get rid of the front plate but Im sure some tree hugging, peace, love, hump a dolphin, baby on board sign having type would scream fowl cause its a "safety" issue or the cops would say they cant ID a car easily (ever had a cop pull you over from the front???) .