OK Ken, I also live in the communist state of New York and I understand the precise problem that you have. If you bend the bracket around when you tighten the screws, the plate looks lousy. So, what to do?

Get a set of two stainless steel spacers, with an O.D. of 1/2 inch and an I.D. of approx. 3/16 inch and a length of 1/2 inch. Place the two spacers behind the bracket and in front of the bumper. This will allow the center of the bracket to clear the bumper and allow the plate to sit perfectly flat on the bracket. You probably will want to use a license plate frame to stiffen the plate.

The plate and frame will stick out about 1/2 inch on both sides, however, this is far more preferable than the look of the bent plate.