Legal Question in Traffic Law in Michigan

Yes. In Michigan it is required to be affixed and clearly displayed on the rear center bumper, which is why cars sold in Michigan have a bumper allowing such. In other states, such as Ohio, license plates are installed on both ends of the car, and thus there are holes in the front bumper. Your license plate cannot be obscured or modified with in any way. Modifying it, even if just writing a star on it, constitutes "tampering" with a license plate, which violates the law. If your car is such that affixing the metal license plate to the bumper is not feasible without fixing it, then put it in your back window, but get it repaired immediately, so that it can be properly displayed. Temporary paper plates are required to be in the back windshield because putting paper on the exterior of your car is not logical, whereas metal is.