The OP probably received a box 3 Notice and Order to fix the problem ie front licence plate. The next ticket would be Fail to Comply with Order which is $598.
This is totally separate from no front plate ticket which could have been issued on top of the Notice and Order.
http://www.drivesmartbc.ca/traffic-t...notice-order-3
As for the cost of having a front plate: This would probably not show up in the stats but how many hit and run accidents are there a day? Lots I bet. How many suspect vehicles are identified by the front plate? Half maybe. And assuming those suspects are found at fault then yes those savings are passed on to everyone else in the form of keeping our insurance rates reasonable. I would like to think the suspect is paying out for those collisions.