Nice! I imagine the conversation went something like "Oh sorry officer, I was at a car show and forgot to re-attach it".
I had a similar experience, but BOTH my plates were missing. Had just purchased my 99 35th Anniversary Silver GT vert and taking it to Speedy Muffler on King St.in Oshawa to get the safety done. Was heading west on Bond St. and went to make a left turn onto a side street to go over to King St. and Durham's finest was on the opposite side of the street (entering Bond) and when I made my left, he was checking the car out...and saw no plate on the rear. Proceeded to drive with him behind me, made my left onto King St. and then another left into Speedy and he followed me right to the back of Speedy Muffler garage door entrance. Top was down on the car. He gets out of his car....walks up to ask where my plate was (all business) and then noticed my temporary plate (paper back in the day) on my windshield. Conversation immediately turned into "What an F'ing beautiful car, where did you get it, etc. etc." Too funny.