I did receive a ticket for not having a front plate on my Honda about 10 years ago in Palo Alto, CA. I was parked in a 2 hour time limit spot, downtown. The meter maid kept track of the time the cars had been parked by the plate number (not chalk), I think. He must have walked by the front, unable to read a plate, and simply given me a ticket.
I had had to pay a fee (about $50??) and -worst part- show up and have it inspected at the police department. They had to sign something saying I had fixed it. I didn't mind the fee. The hour I had to waste on the inspection was annoying and made me subsequently alway run with a front plate.