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License Plate News

Started by Alex, February 04, 2010, 10:38:53 AM

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PurdueBill

Quote from: andrewkbrown on May 17, 2013, 09:55:01 AM
Saw a new Ohio license plate for the first time in Arlington, VA today. From a car-length, it resembled a diplomatic plate, which I initially thought it was, since it's more apt to see diplomatic plates than a new Ohio standard issue.

It has taken no time to see a lot of new-style plates around here; I don't recall previous new designs seeming to appear so fast.  It is interesting that right now there are still people with the white/gold plates, Bicentennial AA11AA format plates, red/white/blue plates, Beautiful Ohio plates, and now the tag cloud plates.  I thought I had read somewhere once that only two designs at a time were to be in circulation (e.g., the last ABC 123 white plates on the road were retired when the Bicentennial plate became the standard issue), but evidently not. 

It is good to see that stock tag cloud plates are still stamped; so far Ohio hasn't gone totally flat.  Ohio hung on to button copy long after most states abandoned it; maybe it will stick with stamped plates for as long as it can too?


vtk

You forgot the "sunburst" plate.  I've still got one of those...
Wait, it's all Ohio? Always has been.

andrewkbrown

#577
My former private ambulance company in Cincinnati was still running "Heart of it All" EMS vehicle plates on several of their trucks as late as 2009. How they were able to continue renewing them I don't know, as I had read that "Heart of it All" plates were obsolete and unable to be renewed with the issuance of the Bicentennial plates beginning in 2001-2002.

Most plates had rusted completely through, and had a mountain of renewal stickers 1/2 inch thick. Once again, I have no clue how they were able to keep the plates for so long, especially since each ambulance had a yearly physical inspection inside and outside of the vehicle by the Ohio Medical Transportation Board, and license plates were one of the inspection check-offs.

The "Heart of it All" plates were finally replaced in the summer of 2009 with the then current "Sunburst" EMS vehicle plates.   
Firefighter/Paramedic
Washington DC Fire & EMS

PurdueBill

Quote from: vtk on May 19, 2013, 01:46:48 PM
You forgot the "sunburst" plate.  I've still got one of those...

The red/white/blue one after the bicentennial and before Beautiful Ohio?  I forgot to call it Sunburst, but then again the state forgot to make the Sunburst plate actually look like anything resembling a sunburst except on close inspection.  :P

corco

I'm glad they did away with the sunburst plate-from any sort of distance it looks like an Idaho plate, and when those plates came out I was traveling back and forth from Idaho to Ohio with reasonable frequency and it just really blew my mind.

vtk

I recently saw a Texas plate that very much reminded me of Ohio's old "The Heart Of It All" plate.  I'm guessing it's the standard, but I don't see Texas plates often...
Wait, it's all Ohio? Always has been.

Perfxion

Texas current standing plate is white with black lettering, but really plain. If you want anything different, you only have about 120+ official options.
5/10/20/30/15/35/37/40/44/45/70/76/78/80/85/87/95/
(CA)405,(NJ)195/295(NY)295/495/278/678(CT)395(MD/VA)195/495/695/895

The High Plains Traveler

I have finally seen my first "Q" on a Colorado plate. As previously discussed, Colorado didn't use this letter because an acceptable design distinguishable from letter "O" hadn't been developed. It's now issuing all three-letter sequences with "Q" (probably not using FUQ) before reversing the letter-number sequence. I expected to see a California-like character, where the O was shortened and an exaggerated tail placed under it. Instead (and I will have to look closer as I see them in parking lots) it seems the standard O may have been ever so slightly shrunk and a relatively small tail put through the lower right corner.

This trivial little tale comes with a "Life happens while you're roadgeeking" lesson. I was returning from a work trip in a company vehicle and several vehicles in front of me saw the trailer bearing this plate along I-25 in Pueblo in the 2-mile distance between where I got on and was getting off to return to the office. I tried to get up closer to the trailer but was also aware that afternoon traffic was heavy and my exit was approaching, so I didn't push it. Then just as I got within one car of the trailer...BOOM

The trailer blew a tire. Big time. The tire came off the rim and traveled down the freeway - I expected it to jump the concrete median but fortunately it didn't. I braked hard and headed for the shoulder until I could track the debris trail. Now, if I had several miles to go on the freeway, I might have been more aggressive in trying to catch up to it. Gotta be careful out there, folks.
"Tongue-tied and twisted; just an earth-bound misfit, I."

kphoger

If you're able to come by one, you might offer to sell it to the owner of <www.15q.net>.  He collects Q license plates.
Keep right except to pass.  Yes.  You.
Visit scenic Orleans County, NY!
Male pronouns, please.

Quote from: Philip K. DickIf you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use them.

agentsteel53

Quote from: The High Plains Traveler on May 23, 2013, 06:40:27 PM
I have finally seen my first "Q" on a Colorado plate. As previously discussed, Colorado didn't use this letter because an acceptable design distinguishable from letter "O" hadn't been developed. It's now issuing all three-letter sequences with "Q" (probably not using FUQ) before reversing the letter-number sequence. I expected to see a California-like character, where the O was shortened and an exaggerated tail placed under it. Instead (and I will have to look closer as I see them in parking lots) it seems the standard O may have been ever so slightly shrunk and a relatively small tail put through the lower right corner.

that's probably gonna become indistinguishable when you place a frame over the plate, as people seem to really like doing.
live from sunny San Diego.

http://shields.aaroads.com

jake@aaroads.com

The High Plains Traveler

#585
Quote from: agentsteel53 on May 26, 2013, 07:49:42 PM
Quote from: The High Plains Traveler on May 23, 2013, 06:40:27 PM
I have finally seen my first "Q" on a Colorado plate. As previously discussed, Colorado didn't use this letter because an acceptable design distinguishable from letter "O" hadn't been developed. It's now issuing all three-letter sequences with "Q" (probably not using FUQ) before reversing the letter-number sequence. I expected to see a California-like character, where the O was shortened and an exaggerated tail placed under it. Instead (and I will have to look closer as I see them in parking lots) it seems the standard O may have been ever so slightly shrunk and a relatively small tail put through the lower right corner.

that's probably gonna become indistinguishable when you place a frame over the plate, as people seem to really like doing.
Kit at licenseplates.cc saw one the same day and same series. I don't think you can cover any part of the embossed characters with any frame I've seen. A lot of dealer-issued plate frames cover much of COLORADO and part of the registration sticker. The right and bottom of the O were moved inward to accommodate the slash within the 2-5/8" X 1-1/4" dimension for the characters. Too bad that wasn't AOQ so you could compare the 0, O and Q in the same place.

Here is the photo Kit took.

"Tongue-tied and twisted; just an earth-bound misfit, I."

Road Hog

Quote from: The High Plains Traveler on April 18, 2013, 08:59:10 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 18, 2013, 06:01:07 PM
Quote from: vdeane on April 18, 2013, 11:09:13 AM
Wow, that 7th digit sure makes the sequence last longer.

indeed.  even California, which has the most car registrations out of any state, has quite a ways to go before exhausting its 7-digit plates.  residentials have the 7ABC123, 8ABC123, and perhaps even 9ABC123 (don't think that is reserved for anything else) before they can flip over to start with 123ABC1, etc.

commercial plates just flipped over (8Z99999 was followed by 00000A1; 9A12345 is reserved for power units - the tractor half of a tractor-trailer).  so they will likely get to 99999Z8 before passengers need a redo, but even that is likely 30 years in the future. 

I'm not sure what is planned for after 99999Z8 and 999ZZZ9.  possibly a run over unused combinations in the same pattern (0A12345 and 12345A0 will be available), or some completely unused letter-number patterns may be opened up.  out of the 99* combinations of 0 to 3 letters, sufficiently many are available that I am too lazy to figure out the exact amount. 

* 7c0 + 7c1 + 7c2 + 7c3 = 1 + 7 + 21 + 70 = 99
By that time license plates will be old school. Cops will have an info-beam that will positively identify all vehicles and their owner.

They already use this technology in Texas. DPS and some local agencies use scanners that can read the bar codes on your registration and inspection stickers on the fly. (A well-placed speck of mud across the bar code will confound the scanner, however.)

adt1982

I noticed that Illinois has reached the S123456 series for car plates.  They've used nearly every other letter in the alphabet, albeit not in order.  U, V, W, and Z haven't been used, but U is used on state vehicles, so it is out. 

I wonder what they will do after they've exhausted all of these?

Crazy Volvo Guy

Quote from: adt1982 on June 16, 2013, 10:08:15 PM
I noticed that Illinois has reached the S123456 series for car plates.  They've used nearly every other letter in the alphabet, albeit not in order.  U, V, W, and Z haven't been used, but U is used on state vehicles, so it is out. 

I wonder what they will do after they've exhausted all of these?

Seeing how our current design has been in use since 2001, we'll probably get a redesign, and in keeping with current trends, they will probably end up being lousy flat plates.
I hate Clearview, because it looks like a cheap Chinese ripoff.

I'm for the Red Sox and whoever's playing against the Yankees.

Crazy Volvo Guy

I'm still waiting on states to offer at least euro-sized plates, if not full-blown euro-style plates.  Seeing how my wagon has the full exterior euro-spec treatment, I'd be first in line to get a set.
I hate Clearview, because it looks like a cheap Chinese ripoff.

I'm for the Red Sox and whoever's playing against the Yankees.

agentsteel53

Quote from: Crazy Volvo Guy on June 25, 2013, 11:25:14 AM
I'm still waiting on states to offer at least euro-sized plates, if not full-blown euro-style plates.  Seeing how my wagon has the full exterior euro-spec treatment, I'd be first in line to get a set.

I don't think that states are going to go for that, especially with more and more electronic reading of plates.  having them all conform to a single size makes the software a lot simpler.
live from sunny San Diego.

http://shields.aaroads.com

jake@aaroads.com

sp_redelectric

Quote from: agentsteel53 on June 25, 2013, 12:27:28 PM
I don't think that states are going to go for that, especially with more and more electronic reading of plates.  having them all conform to a single size makes the software a lot simpler.

What about motorcycle plates?  They are significantly smaller...

CentralCAroadgeek

According to License Plate News, Nevada has passed 999-YZZ and went on to the 000-LDE series, because the 1986 Nevada plates ended at 000-LDD. Nevada plates were originally speculated to go through combinations with the letter I, O, and Q.

Note that Nevada isn't using the Z series because they were originally supposed to be Dealer plates.

iwishiwascanadian

I've noticed that Connecticut has changed their license plate format.  It's been 123-AAA for as long as I can remember but now its 1ABCD2 with no spaces or anything.  I'm not fond of it at all. 

kphoger

I just saw one of these for the first time the other day (the serial was longer, I think), and I think they're beautiful.  I must say, it's probably the only plate that can make the back end of a grey Buick look good.

Keep right except to pass.  Yes.  You.
Visit scenic Orleans County, NY!
Male pronouns, please.

Quote from: Philip K. DickIf you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use them.

agentsteel53

awesome background.  what's with the shit font?
live from sunny San Diego.

http://shields.aaroads.com

jake@aaroads.com

The High Plains Traveler

I think I had an "info-beam" comment above.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/07/17/196914/privacy-group-warns-against-california.html#.UedMim1cX2A

"California license plates could get a high-tech makeover with a digital screen and wireless capabilities as part of a Senate bill making its way through the Legislature.

Senate Bill 806 authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to create a pilot program at no cost to the state with as many as 160,000 cars testing the digital plates patented by San Francisco-based Smart Plate Mobile. The state hopes the technology will improve efficiencies in vehicle registrations and potentially save the DMV some of the $20 million spent each year in postage for renewals.

Privacy advocates say the approach could leave motorists vulnerable to government surveillance by undoing a Supreme Court ruling that required authorities to obtain search warrants before using vehicle tracking devices..,."

There is some reference in here to selling advertisements. Great...I need to get the license number of the hit and run driver ahead of me and his plate is running a Cialis commercial.
"Tongue-tied and twisted; just an earth-bound misfit, I."

agentsteel53

Quote from: The High Plains Traveler on July 17, 2013, 10:07:08 PMI need to get the license number of the hit and run driver ahead of me and his plate is running a Cialis commercial.

"911, what is your emergency?"
"I just saw someone get run over by a huge dick."
live from sunny San Diego.

http://shields.aaroads.com

jake@aaroads.com

The High Plains Traveler

Quote from: agentsteel53 on July 17, 2013, 10:22:16 PM
Quote from: The High Plains Traveler on July 17, 2013, 10:07:08 PMI need to get the license number of the hit and run driver ahead of me and his plate is running a Cialis commercial.

"911, what is your emergency?"
"I just saw someone get run over by a huge dick."
...[like all pharma commercials]..."In slow motion!"
"Tongue-tied and twisted; just an earth-bound misfit, I."

ChoralScholar

I've been pretty pleased with the selection of special plates in Arkansas.  I have Teacher Plates and my wife has Susan G Komen Plates.  They have one for nearly every college and university in Arkansas as well as a ton of other stuff.



"Turn down... on the blue road...."



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