From nj.com:
NJ woman's rejected atheist license plate violates First Amendment, lawsuit arguesQuoteA Cumberland County woman argues that the state Motor Vehicle Commission's alleged denial of issuing an "8THEIST" license plate violated her First Amendment rights, according to a lawsuit filed on Thursday.
Shannon Morgan, of the Leesburg section in Maurice River Township, identifies herself as an atheist, according to the lawsuit, and attempted to personalize her license plate to read "8THEIST."
"There is nothing offensive about being atheist," Morgan said. "I should be able to express my sincerely held beliefs with a license plate just like everyone else."
FULL ARTICLE HERE (http://markholtz.info/si)
As an atheist, let me first off say this: I don't care what you practice. Just let me have my beliefs (or non beliefs in my case), and I'll let you have yours.
Next, I think it's BS that the state denied the 8THEIST plate. I can't tell you how many plates I've seen that have LUVGOD or something along those lines. This isn't the first time atheists have been discriminated against, and it won't be the last.
Also, the state MVC denied David Silverman's (president of American Atheists) ATHE1ST plate but then granted it a month later in a previous conflict just like this one. She should be allowed to have her plate.
QuoteAlthough Grossman declined to comment on Morgan's request because it is a legal matter, she explained that atheist-themed license plates have been issued before.
"We have no objection and continue to issue plates with these types of configurations," Grossman said.
Hmm... maybe the MVC thinks "8THEIST" means she's advocating cannibalism? :hmmm:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.dallasobserver.com%2Fcityofate%2FEatTheKidsFirst.jpg&hash=51ea46bec3142a85a6e4462d6597a23babf0fe56)
Oh wait, one of the people in the comments section is seriously arguing that. :banghead:
4NICK8
Drama like this is why we need to just not have vanity plates. Seriously, license plates are a standard government-issue vehicle identifier, not a personal billboard. Leave the personal statements to bumper stickers.
Quote from: Duke87 on April 20, 2014, 12:22:20 AM
Drama like this is why we need to just not have vanity plates. Seriously, license plates are a standard government-issue vehicle identifier, not a personal billboard. Leave the personal statements to bumper stickers.
I believe my forefathers fought many a war to give me my 1st amendment right to specifically express myself thru a vehicles' license plate.
I remember the old CNN Headline News once mentioned an Oregon man being denied of his request for a ZIG-HIL license plate.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 20, 2014, 12:53:58 AM
Quote from: Duke87 on April 20, 2014, 12:22:20 AM
Drama like this is why we need to just not have vanity plates. Seriously, license plates are a standard government-issue vehicle identifier, not a personal billboard. Leave the personal statements to bumper stickers.
I believe my forefathers fought many a war to give me my 1st amendment right to specifically express myself thru a vehicles' license plate.
They used to call people like that "horse's arses".
In a society where high school C+ students ex-athletes are given the power to randomly (or more importantly, not randomly) enforce a stupid "law" that 99.9% break regularly, why anyone would want to make a comment on any controvercial subject on their car is beyond me.
You might just get a DWDWTC. Driving while disagreeing with the cops.
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on April 20, 2014, 01:07:00 AM
I remember the old CNN Headline News once mentioned an Oregon man being denied of his request for a ZIG-HIL license plate.
I saw an article about a person who requested ZYKLONB. It was, thankfully, denied.
A weirder one was the lady who requested, and received, CUNTESS. It was later revoked after people complained. She claimed it meant "Countess" but the character limit meant she had to drop a letter. Sure.
There was some controversy in Virginia a few years ago over people who had sport team names or school names followed by "SUK." People complained that it was offensive and the DMV denied the protests, saying that the word "suck" has become common-place among younger people as a synonym for "stink" and it's not intended to offend. I'm not sure that's a good test to use. When I ride the Metrorail, I hear a lot of teenage kids (especially of certain racial groups) constantly using the word "fuck" as a standard part of their everyday speech. It's simply how they talk and they don't care if other people find it offensive. If your test is "common-place" and "not intended to offend," then sooner or later you'll need to allow "fuck" on license plates or else come up with a different rationale. (I guess a similar issue could arise as to the use of the word "nigga," since some people say it's fine for black people to use but not anyone else–should black people be allowed to have that word on a license plate?)
(All three of our cars have personalized plates, but they're pretty innocuous stuff.)
Quote from: Duke87 on April 20, 2014, 12:22:20 AM
Drama like this is why we need to just not have vanity plates. Seriously, license plates are a standard government-issue vehicle identifier, not a personal billboard. Leave the personal statements to bumper stickers.
There'$ $urely a rea$on government$ endure all thi$ headache for $omething a$ $illy a$ vanity plate$, though I can't figure out what.
I had vanity plates in the past, but then I realized: If I did something to piss someone off, it's way easier to remember a vanity plate than a generic tag.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 20, 2014, 10:16:17 AM
I had vanity plates in the past, but then I realized: If I did something to piss someone off, it's way easier to remember a vanity plate than a generic tag.
Mostly that's true, but sometimes you can have fun with vanity plates with codons, Klingon-language words, or something else esoteric that would not be memorable except to a few nerds....
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 20, 2014, 10:16:17 AM
I had vanity plates in the past, but then I realized: If I did something to piss someone off, it's way easier to remember a vanity plate than a generic tag.
That's always been my arguement for not getting vanity plates. Although, admittedly it is quite common in the plate collecting community. I will often get teased a bit by other collectors for my standard run-of-the-mill passenger plates at plate meets. I suppose I could get an optional graphic plate with a generic issued number, but I am frugal and can't justify the extra cost for them.
Quote from: 1995hoo on April 20, 2014, 08:20:47 AM
When I ride the Metrorail, I hear a lot of teenage kids (especially of certain racial groups) constantly using the word "fuck" as a standard part of their everyday speech. It's simply how they talk and they don't care if other people find it offensive. If your test is "common-place" and "not intended to offend," then sooner or later you'll need to allow "fuck" on license plates or else come up with a different rationale. (I guess a similar issue could arise as to the use of the word "nigga," since some people say it's fine for black people to use but not anyone else–should black people be allowed to have that word on a license plate?)
NJ does allow fuck...well, kinda...FUKLUZN. I saw it last summer on some rice rocket. It took me a minute to figure it out, then it finally hit me...ohh, fuck losing. Like fuck losing street races. That was allowed, however, a woman's religious beliefs (or lack thereof) was denied.
This plate is not a personalized plate, but my friends and I couldn't stop laughing when I spotted it. Took this picture in April 2007 at the car park outside the Airbus facility in Bristol, England. Notice the Nissan to the right whose plate is highlighted. (The plate on the Porsche is a reference to a Concorde on display at the Brooklands Museum whose registration was G-BBDG.)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi31.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc378%2F1995hoo%2FBristol%25202007%2FHiFka.jpg&hash=96bdb55c788f36bb2d9aceedcd812d335d9e022b)
I always thought BLZBUB would make a good plate!
Too much political correctness is going on these days and we get it from both the Left and the Right. Strange to see how when I discuss politics in a road/transport context a mod gets his panties in a bit of a bunch but this thread goes on without such. See what I mean about "political correctness"? Just like everyplace else including the dillrods at the DMV, this site has some who hate freedom and wish to muzzle discussion. Here's what I got to say about that: "¹^"º "¹(-¿-)"º "¹^"º
For the rest of you who are more free-spirited, keep on keepin' on!
Rick
One generic NJ issued plate I've seen on occasion: HOT 69X. Especially on my commute home from work, I would see this plate once in a while, but haven't recently.
I go to Delaware frequently, and once on my ride back I happened to see this plate.
Just about a month or so ago, I was driving up the highway one evening. My wife made a comment as I passed a vehicle: "Did you see that license plate? It said HOT 69X." I nearly stopped my car on the highway just so I could see her pass again (I didn't, nor did I slow down enough to see the driver again).
I'm sure I pass by the same people time and time again on my commute, but unless they have something special to take note, I would barely notice them.
http://imgur.com/fTVaf2q
New York issues standard plates with the first letter increasing alphabetically. They're up to the Gs now, but the Fs were being issued for several years fairly recently. I have lost count of how many times I have seen a car with NY plates where the three letters are "FAP". Here is one example:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F3uRKpMu.jpg&hash=87501d9262adf9b4615e90f1322976687feb3934)
Guess the DMV isn't aware that means something naughty.
I also spotted this guy in Connecticut:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FtOcSpaL.jpg&hash=89158412072c8064feb91630079fbff394521092)
It fits the standard sequence of CT plates so I'm assuming this is not a vanity plate. Guess the CT DMV isn't up on internet slang, either.
Quote from: Duke87 on April 20, 2014, 11:13:54 PM
New York issues standard plates with the first letter increasing alphabetically. They're up to the Gs now, but the Fs were being issued for several years fairly recently. I have lost count of how many times I have seen a car with NY plates where the three letters are "FAP". Here is one example:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F3uRKpMu.jpg&hash=87501d9262adf9b4615e90f1322976687feb3934)
Guess the DMV isn't aware that means something naughty.
What's naughty about Federal Aid Primary? ;)
The best part about my car being stolen when I lived in Tucson was that I got new plates- the original ones I got down there were ANL4504. I hated having ANL on the back of my car.
Ones I've encountered:
EFFOFF
6ULDV8
IUSEKY
STOLEN
Quote from: Jardine on April 21, 2014, 01:25:40 AM
STOLEN
That might backfire one day. In the past, owners of such plates as NO PLATE, MISSING, NOTAG, and XXXXXXX have received tickets for other cars that, in fact, had no license plates. (Verified by Snopes (http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/noplate.asp) for your convenience!)
I seem to remember plates that said IDIOT a few years back.
Quote from: nexus73 on April 20, 2014, 07:58:57 PM
I always thought BLZBUB would make a good plate!
Too much political correctness is going on these days and we get it from both the Left and the Right. Strange to see how when I discuss politics in a road/transport context a mod gets his panties in a bit of a bunch but this thread goes on without such. See what I mean about "political correctness"? Just like everyplace else including the dillrods at the DMV, this site has some who hate freedom and wish to muzzle discussion. Here's what I got to say about that: "¹^"º "¹(-¿-)"º "¹^"º
For the rest of you who are more free-spirited, keep on keepin' on!
Rick
That's because this thread has not become a thread of "Let's bash Democrats/Republicans/individual members thereof". All that causes is people arguing that their team is better than your team and does little to change anyone's mind on the subject.
If you want MTR, you know where to find it.
Quote from: corco on April 21, 2014, 12:03:41 AM
The best part about my car being stolen when I lived in Tucson was that I got new plates- the original ones I got down there were ANL4504. I hated having ANL on the back of my car.
Your car was stolen? That's awful!
I had my license plates stolen when I lived in Baltimore City. The person got caught with my plates just past the city line, which is kind of amusing: all that effort on their part for nothing. However, I lost my easy to remember state issued plates (5AK6744) for an random bunch of numbers and letters. Interestingly, this is a case where having vanity plates would have been better: nobody's going to steal plates that would attract attention.
iPhone
Quote from: getemngo on April 21, 2014, 01:45:59 AM
Quote from: Jardine on April 21, 2014, 01:25:40 AM
STOLEN
That might backfire one day. In the past, owners of such plates as NO PLATE, MISSING, NOTAG, and XXXXXXX have received tickets for other cars that, in fact, had no license plates. (Verified by Snopes (http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/noplate.asp) for your convenience!)
As I recall, that really was the last name of the owner of the car.
I started remembering this story from several years ago:
http://www.wxii12.com/Potentially-Offensive-License-Plate-To-Be-Replaced-For-Free/4491478
Basically, an (older) woman received a new license plate that contained 'WTF'. She didn't think anything of it. Her much younger grandchild knew what it meant though. Only then did this woman call the DMV. Of course, she was all upset and offended she was given such a license plate...even though she wasn't offended by it at all originally!
Quote from: US71 on April 20, 2014, 11:37:32 PM
Quote from: Duke87 on April 20, 2014, 11:13:54 PM
New York issues standard plates with the first letter increasing alphabetically. They're up to the Gs now, but the Fs were being issued for several years fairly recently. I have lost count of how many times I have seen a car with NY plates where the three letters are "FAP". Here is one example:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F3uRKpMu.jpg&hash=87501d9262adf9b4615e90f1322976687feb3934)
Guess the DMV isn't aware that means something naughty.
What's naughty about Federal Aid Primary? ;)
My first thought upon seeing FAP was Federal Aid Primary. Someone's going to have to point me to a link to explain what an alternative meaning of FAP might be that someone might find objectionable.
Quote from: hbelkins on April 21, 2014, 10:23:59 AM
Someone's going to have to point me to a link to explain what an alternative meaning of FAP might be that someone might find objectionable.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fap
Quote from: Scott5114 on April 21, 2014, 03:10:37 AM
Quote from: nexus73 on April 20, 2014, 07:58:57 PM
I always thought BLZBUB would make a good plate!
Too much political correctness is going on these days and we get it from both the Left and the Right. Strange to see how when I discuss politics in a road/transport context a mod gets his panties in a bit of a bunch but this thread goes on without such. See what I mean about "political correctness"? Just like everyplace else including the dillrods at the DMV, this site has some who hate freedom and wish to muzzle discussion. Here's what I got to say about that: ^ (¿) ^
For the rest of you who are more free-spirited, keep on keepin' on!
Rick
That's because this thread has not become a thread of "Let's bash Democrats/Republicans/individual members thereof". All that causes is people arguing that their team is better than your team and does little to change anyone's mind on the subject.
If you want MTR, you know where to find it.
Funny how you make assumptions about what I said but then you are just a 24 year old kid. My comment dealt with a poor performing bureaucracy that deals in transportation. How that becomes Demos vs Republicans is beyond me but okay, if that's what you see then that's what you see but please, don't drive on da' same road with me son!
Rick
Somebody (not me) actually paid the money for this Connecticut vanity plate:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FQ64eiGg.jpg&hash=198a3210b049ae032f00ed72f59995cb56d8fcba)
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on April 21, 2014, 12:15:48 PM
Somebody (not me) actually paid the money for this Connecticut vanity plate:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FQ64eiGg.jpg&hash=198a3210b049ae032f00ed72f59995cb56d8fcba)
"Preserve the sound" under FAP suits that license plate well. :bigass:
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 20, 2014, 10:16:17 AM
I had vanity plates in the past, but then I realized: If I did something to piss someone off, it's way easier to remember a vanity plate than a generic tag.
Apart from the lower cost ($20 extra per year as compared to $50 extra per year for "standard" vanity plates) that's one of the principal reasons I opted to get plates with my ham call sign. Over the years, Massachusetts has been using enough different combinations of letters and numbers on standard issue plates that my call letters don't stand out to the average driver.
now, in general, wouldn't any state restriction of potentially offensive plate text be a violation of the 1st amendment as well? if a state government cannot prevent you from saying offensive speech, wouldn't it be also required to furnish, on an equal opportunity basis, the plates "FUCKYOU" to someone who paid the relevant fees, as it would issue "HUNTER2" or what have you?
also, the existence of "8THEIST" in the court case implies that someone had already, successfully, taken "ATHEIST".
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 21, 2014, 05:04:13 PM
also, the existence of "8THEIST" in the court case implies that someone had already, successfully, taken "ATHEIST".
From the article in the OP:
QuoteThe Motor Vehicle Commission went through a similar battle last August when David Silverman, president of American Atheists and Cranford resident, attempted to get "ATHE1ST" as a license plate – with a numeral "1" instead of the letter "I" .
Silverman was denied his license plate after it was deemed offensive by a Motor Vehicle Commission clerk, according to reports, but the decision was reversed later that month.
Quote from: roadman on April 21, 2014, 04:53:36 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 20, 2014, 10:16:17 AM
I had vanity plates in the past, but then I realized: If I did something to piss someone off, it's way easier to remember a vanity plate than a generic tag.
Apart from the lower cost ($20 extra per year as compared to $50 extra per year for "standard" vanity plates) that's one of the principal reasons I opted to get plates with my ham call sign. Over the years, Massachusetts has been using enough different combinations of letters and numbers on standard issue plates that my call letters don't stand out to the average driver.
Wow, $50 is steep. Here in Virginia a personalized plate costs $10 a year, which is probably a major reason why Virginia is said to have the most personalized plates of any state. The "special license plate" designs cost more. Some of the earlier special designs have (or had) a one-time fee when you first get the plate, whereas a lot of the newer ones have an annual fee. To get a plate with a sports team or university logo is typically $25 per year (plus another $10 if you want a personalized plate), whereas on both of my cars I have the original "Jamestown" plate with the sailing ship on one side and that design cost a one-time $15 fee with half the money going to historic preservation. (That design has since been discontinued.) My wife similarly has the "Heritage–State Bird" design that has a cardinal (the state bird) sitting on a dogwood branch (the state tree) and that style has a one-time $10 fee (plus the additional $10 if you want a personalized plate). Big difference in cost compared to $25 per year!
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_RIthKTOqzto%2FTBGWttzpQGI%2FAAAAAAAABFs%2FCLmAHFxJjfI%2Fs1600%2Fseinfeld2.jpg&hash=fa64ff87b71abefa6c1264810ed3f77cde6f445c)
Quote from: 1995hoo on April 21, 2014, 06:03:54 PM
Quote from: roadman on April 21, 2014, 04:53:36 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 20, 2014, 10:16:17 AM
I had vanity plates in the past, but then I realized: If I did something to piss someone off, it's way easier to remember a vanity plate than a generic tag.
Apart from the lower cost ($20 extra per year as compared to $50 extra per year for "standard" vanity plates) that's one of the principal reasons I opted to get plates with my ham call sign. Over the years, Massachusetts has been using enough different combinations of letters and numbers on standard issue plates that my call letters don't stand out to the average driver.
Wow, $50 is steep. Here in Virginia a personalized plate costs $10 a year, which is probably a major reason why Virginia is said to have the most personalized plates of any state. The "special license plate" designs cost more. Some of the earlier special designs have (or had) a one-time fee when you first get the plate, whereas a lot of the newer ones have an annual fee. To get a plate with a sports team or university logo is typically $25 per year (plus another $10 if you want a personalized plate), whereas on both of my cars I have the original "Jamestown" plate with the sailing ship on one side and that design cost a one-time $15 fee with half the money going to historic preservation. (That design has since been discontinued.) My wife similarly has the "Heritage—State Bird" design that has a cardinal (the state bird) sitting on a dogwood branch (the state tree) and that style has a one-time $10 fee (plus the additional $10 if you want a personalized plate). Big difference in cost compared to $25 per year!
Massachusetts also has specialized plates with sports team logos. These plates are similar to standard issue, whereby you can't choose a specific plate number or get a personalized one. IIRC, those plates are at least $60 extra a year. The hook the Registry of Motor Vehicles uses to attract people to cough up the extra money is that a portion of the additional fee goes to support a local charity (like the Jimmy Fund for the Red Sox plate).
Personally, I've never liked the idea of a government entity acting as an agent for charitable organizations by offering special license plates. Or, in the case of Massachusetts, soliciting donations for selected non-profit groups on one's income tax forms.
Quote from: getemngo on April 21, 2014, 05:39:32 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 21, 2014, 05:04:13 PM
also, the existence of "8THEIST" in the court case implies that someone had already, successfully, taken "ATHEIST".
From the article in the OP:
QuoteThe Motor Vehicle Commission went through a similar battle last August when David Silverman, president of American Atheists and Cranford resident, attempted to get "ATHE1ST" as a license plate – with a numeral "1" instead of the letter "I" .
Silverman was denied his license plate after it was deemed offensive by a Motor Vehicle Commission clerk, according to reports, but the decision was reversed later that month.
that explains the existence of 8THEIST and ATHE1ST... so where is ATHEIST, correctly spelled?
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on April 21, 2014, 02:23:20 AM
I seem to remember plates that said IDIOT a few years back.
In Illinois? :P
Quote from: Duke87 on April 20, 2014, 11:13:54 PM
I also spotted this guy in Connecticut:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FtOcSpaL.jpg&hash=89158412072c8064feb91630079fbff394521092)
It fits the standard sequence of CT plates so I'm assuming this is not a vanity plate. Guess the CT DMV isn't up on internet slang, either.
That guy NEEDS to go to Ontario. It would be funny.
In NJ personalized plates are 50 bucks one time fee for a standard base license plate. The logo plates other than one are 50 dollars one time, plus 10 a year that goes to the orginization that is on the plate. The only one that is not 10/year or 50 bucks up front is the "Agriculture" Base plate that has agricultural items on it versus a charitable orginization. That one is 20 bucks, no fee each year. Personalized of all but the agriculture is 100 dollars, 70 for the agriculture plate. Sports plates are 60 dollars up front, and 25 a year renewal. And they are non embossed plates.
Quote from: sammi on April 21, 2014, 10:30:07 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on April 21, 2014, 10:23:59 AM
Someone's going to have to point me to a link to explain what an alternative meaning of FAP might be that someone might find objectionable.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fap
I think I may have had that pointed out to me once before, because that looked familiar, but obviously it didn't stick with me.
Back in my single days, I had two vehicles and had vanity plates on both of them. Originally they were HB-1 and HB-2, but I eventually switched to HBE-1 and HBE-2. I gave them up after I got married because ... well, I don't know why matrimony triggered that change, but I just decided not to use them anymore. They used to cost $25 a year extra in Kentucky, even if you didn't get a new plate. The cost was probably one reason I gave them up.
One of my old vanity plates recently found a new home in New Jersey.
Kentucky offers a variety of specialty plates, the extra cost of which funds various causes. We currently have "Spay & Neuter Your Pets" plates. "Friends of Coal" plates are popular in my area of the state.
I get amused when a state offers sports team plates from rival states. It's still difficult for me to process a Tennessee-issued University of Kentucky plate, complete with the Wildcats logo.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdtacconelli.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2Fvirginia-vagina-license_plate.jpg&hash=bc62aaadf51f566510c8c89f8bb0b0e400492a04)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fairfaxunderground.com%2Fforum%2Ffile.php%3F2%2Cfile%3D1033%2Cfilename%3D381556604207_0_BG.jpg&hash=8a5c852183c8ba697ea8c16050f2fcf1a1624921)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fairfaxunderground.com%2Fmedia%2FColin%2Falcohol.JPG&hash=9c1762791c7f1067f3d35009702dc96c09ec423d)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F4-ps.googleusercontent.com%2Fx%2Fwww.thehollywoodgossip.com%2Fimages.thehollywoodgossip.com%2Fiu%2Ft_slideshow%2Fv1395410157%2Fattachment%2Fxi-swallow.jpg.pagespeed.ic.wUPDvJMEYR.jpg&hash=f72694455d474d03a05defca7e93452694e2eee7)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.whatevo.com%2Fmedia%2Fposts%2Fgandalf1.jpg&hash=c0322b35c2428e022ea1c652be5e167533783cf3)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-mmgifhtePc4%2FT5WSCyvAt7I%2FAAAAAAAACt0%2FZF7JTW7qIC4%2Fs1600%2Fplate1.dms&hash=37291cf97eea633dbfe8b02a9afbf26b51c07ce9)
And it looks like someone in Alabama may have gotten around this.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffreethoughtblogs.com%2Fbiodork%2Ffiles%2F2012%2F03%2FXDHD7.jpg&hash=5eaeebf86cdfed66eaec5099bb05c24a46d726d3)
Quote from: hbelkins on April 21, 2014, 08:40:16 PMQuote from: sammi on April 21, 2014, 10:30:07 AMQuote from: hbelkins on April 21, 2014, 10:23:59 AMSomeone's going to have to point me to a link to explain what an alternative meaning of FAP might be that someone might find objectionable.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fap
I think I may have had that pointed out to me once before, because that looked familiar, but obviously it didn't stick with me.
I thought it was Federal Aid Primary too. We're getting old.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 21, 2014, 05:04:13 PM
now, in general, wouldn't any state restriction of potentially offensive plate text be a violation of the 1st amendment as well?
Probably not. The 1st Admendment is not absolute, as much as some of us, including me, would like it to be. Governments have certain powers relative to "offensive" statements.
As to the plates themselves, the 4th Circuit (which covers the Virginias, the Carolinas and Maryland) recently ruled that a "Choose Life" plate was unconstitutional. However other states have these. Then there is litigation all around about the SCV who generally win because they meet the state minimum for a club plate and the state cannot discriminate between groups thustly. Then there is the case from back in the 70s where some religious nut who felt living as a slave preferable to death made New Hampshire allow him to cover "Live Free or Die". NC also used to have "First in Freedom" which you could ask to have not be on there, which many people who did so said they were being targeted by the random taxers, and so they went to "First in Flight".
I do know that SC, which is among the states that offer an "In God We Trust" plate, offers an "In Reason We Trust" club plate.
The newspaper around here got the idea of asking the DMV for the whole list and called up people it though were "offensive". Among these was "KKK" which belonged, not our since departed senior Senator and Exhaulted Kleagle, but to a girl from deep in the country who asked for her initials and had never heard of the group.
I pass a guy every day who has "NCC 1701", which is just wrong on so many levels.
Quote from: SP Cook on April 21, 2014, 10:21:39 PM
I pass a guy every day who has "NCC 1701", which is just wrong on so many levels.
Is it a random license plate?
Atari 2600
Quote from: 1 on April 21, 2014, 10:25:26 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on April 21, 2014, 10:21:39 PM
I pass a guy every day who has "NCC 1701", which is just wrong on so many levels.
Is it a random license plate?
Is that for some Enterprising individual who is on a Star Trek?
Quote from: SP Cook on April 21, 2014, 10:21:39 PMThen there is the case from back in the 70s where some religious nut who felt living as a slave preferable to death made New Hampshire allow him to cover "Live Free or Die".
I cover the website on my new CA plates because I find it to be aesthetically offensive, and I'm also not renting out ad space on my truck for free. then again, I've used white retroreflective sheeting to change the plate to the next-most-recent specification, so people are not at all likely to notice that there is something going on.
When Kentucky came out with a license plate that featured the famous twin spires of Churchill Downs, it made stickers available to people who wished to cover that artwork because they were opposed to gambling.
Quote from: SSOWorld on April 21, 2014, 06:50:58 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on April 21, 2014, 02:23:20 AM
I seem to remember plates that said IDIOT a few years back.
In Illinois? :P
LOL!
Seriously, Illinois has a fairly big contingent of vehicles with vanity plates and personalized plates (two different types of plates).
Vanity plates, those with 1-7 letters or up to 3 numbers only, are $94 more than the $101 regular registration.
Personalized plates, those with both numbers an letters, are a mere $47 more than the $101 regular registration.
Quote from: Brandon on April 22, 2014, 02:06:46 PM
Vanity plates, those with 1-7 letters or up to 3 numbers only, are $94 more than the $101 regular registration.
Personalized plates, those with both numbers an letters, are a mere $47 more than the $101 regular registration.
I don't understand. "1-7 letters or up to 3 numbers only" is a subset of "both numbers and letters", but is $47 more?
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 22, 2014, 02:21:40 PM
Quote from: Brandon on April 22, 2014, 02:06:46 PM
Vanity plates, those with 1-7 letters or up to 3 numbers only, are $94 more than the $101 regular registration.
Personalized plates, those with both numbers an letters, are a mere $47 more than the $101 regular registration.
I don't understand. "1-7 letters or up to 3 numbers only" is a subset of "both numbers and letters", but is $47 more?
It's an "or" thing. It's $47 more for a plate like "8THEIST", but $94 more for plates like "123" and "ATHEIST", no letters or no numbers.
Quote from: SP Cook on April 21, 2014, 10:21:39 PM
I pass a guy every day who has "NCC 1701", which is just wrong on so many levels.
Let me guess. He drives a Plymouth Reliant.
Quote from: roadman on April 22, 2014, 02:35:57 PM
Let me guess. He drives a Plymouth Reliant.
I don't get it. but attempting to google it resulted in this, which is one of the least useful websites I've ever come across.
http://regator.com/p/210367786/the_wrath_of_khan_and_the_plymouth_reliant/
Quote from: Brandon on April 22, 2014, 02:27:14 PM
It's an "or" thing. It's $47 more for a plate like "8THEIST", but $94 more for plates like "123" and "ATHEIST", no letters or no numbers.
I would like to know the porkery that got into that one. the Letter Number Cegenation Lobby is powerful in Illinois.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 22, 2014, 01:40:34 PM
I cover the website on my new CA plates because I find it to be aesthetically offensive, and I'm also not renting out ad space on my truck for free. then again, I've used white retroreflective sheeting to change the plate to the next-most-recent specification, so people are not at all likely to notice that there is something going on.
I'm probably going to do the same with the plates for my next two cars. Virginia recently added the "Virginia Is For Lovers" logo and website to their standard issue plates and I'd rather have just the blue/white without any graphics.
Quote from: Takumi on April 22, 2014, 03:00:41 PM
I'm probably going to do the same with the plates for my next two cars. Virginia recently added the "Virginia Is For Lovers" logo and website to their standard issue plates and I'd rather have just the blue/white without any graphics.
email me if you want me to mail you some small swatches of reflective sheeting. I've always got ends floating around.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 22, 2014, 02:55:19 PM
Quote from: roadman on April 22, 2014, 02:35:57 PM
Let me guess. He drives a Plymouth Reliant.
I don't get it. but attempting to google it resulted in this, which is one of the least useful websites I've ever come across.
http://regator.com/p/210367786/the_wrath_of_khan_and_the_plymouth_reliant/
In The Wrath of Kahn (the second, and IMHO the best, Star Trek movie), the hijacked starship that attacks the Enterprise is named the USS Reliant. I'll admit it was a subtle reference.
Quote from: roadman on April 22, 2014, 04:36:59 PM
In The Wrath of Kahn (the second, and IMHO the best, Star Trek movie), the hijacked starship that attacks the Enterprise is named the USS Reliant. I'll admit it was a subtle reference.
heh. I actually remembered that, but somehow my mind had "USS Reliant" and "Plymouth Reliant" stored in such divergent places that it never made the connection that both were the same word.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 22, 2014, 02:55:19 PM
Quote from: Brandon on April 22, 2014, 02:27:14 PM
It's an "or" thing. It's $47 more for a plate like "8THEIST", but $94 more for plates like "123" and "ATHEIST", no letters or no numbers.
I would like to know the porkery that got into that one. the Letter Number Cegenation Lobby is powerful in Illinois.
Beats me, but, like Delaware, lower number plates have also been handed out to the politically connected, as have single and double letter plates.
Not Much On Their Plates (http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-01-17/features/9901170281_1_license-plate-car-long-shot)
QuoteLicense plate 21 has been in Ohs' family for half a century, ever since his great-uncle, Edward J. Barrett, was Illinois secretary of state. In that post, Barrett oversaw the production and distribution of license plates. And, like secretaries of state before and since, he took the opportunity to use the low-number plates as gifts for friends and family, starting with himself (plate 21) and his wife, Jeanne (plate 22).
Barrett kept 21 when he left state government and became Cook County clerk, and, after his death, the plate was passed down to his sister-in-law, then to his niece and finally to his niece's son Ryan. (Plate 22 represented more of a political bequest, going to Barrett's ally, Joseph P. Griffin, a former treasurer of the Illinois Democratic Committee.)
QuotePolitics, particularly in Illinois, is a game of favors. And low-number plates are a special kind of favor. For one thing, they don't cost a politician's campaign fund anything. For another, they're not going to be the subject of great scandal because they bestow no direct monetary advantage on the recipient.
But low-number plates are gifts of good will that keep on giving: Every time car owners look at those low-number plates, the odds are they think fondly of the politician from whom the plates came. There is, however, one problem. Those who get the low-number plates don't like to give them up. They hang on to them until death, and, often, their relatives find ways to keep the plates in the family.
Not to worry. Over the years, Illinois secretaries of state have solved the problem in several creative ways. One was to issue a new set of plates beginning with a zero (01, 02, 03 . . . ). Later, two zeros were added at the front to create another new set of numbers, and then three zeros and so on.
QuoteExcept for the single- and double-digit plates, the ones with the highest prestige are those with two characters (two letters or a letter and number combination) and, even more sought after, those with just a single letter.
In fact, shortly before he left the secretary of state's office for the governor's mansion in 1991, Jim Edgar distributed those single-letter plates to a host of friends, ranging from his personal cardiologist to the finance chairman of his gubernatorial campaign.
Well, actually, Edgar handed out only 25 of the 26 plates.
He didn't assign the plate featuring the letter E to anyone. Instead, that plate was stored away for eight years -- reserved for his own eventual use as ex-Gov. Edgar.
QuoteSome of those with low-number and other elite plates are loath to credit their political connections. ("It was luck," says Springfield builder-developer Frank Vala of obtaining license plate V.)
Not Don Stephens.
Stephens, the only mayor that Rosemont has had in its 42-year history, explains how it works:
"I had lunch one time with Jim Edgar when he was secretary of state, and I said, `If you ever have one of those low numbers come up, I'd like it,' and, one day, he called up, and I had one."
It was No. 34.
Several years later, George Ryan was secretary of state and was planning a new series of plates with a single letter and a single number. So Ryan's chief of staff, Scott Fawell, gave Stephens a call. "He told me they were doing this and asked me if I wanted S1, and I said, `Yeah.' "
Of course, the reason Stephens was having lunch with Edgar and getting calls from Ryan's aide is that he is a master fundraiser and the head of one of the most potent political organizations in the state.
Although a Republican, Stephens is also friendly with Democrats. And giving him distinctive license plates has been a way for the GOP leadership to keep him happy.
How's that for license plates. Gotta love the bipartisanship too.
Massachusetts has a low-number-plate lottery each year to thwart such favoritism. There is a low-number-plate-drawing breakfast each year, and I have often considered going just to see who goes to such a thing.
Quote from: Pete from Boston on April 22, 2014, 06:19:04 PM
Massachusetts has a low-number-plate lottery each year to thwart such favoritism. There is a low-number-plate-drawing breakfast each year, and I have often considered going just to see who goes to such a thing.
I think plate 1 has been in the same family since the beginning.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popularmechanics.com%2Fcm%2Fpopularmechanics%2Fimages%2FLW%2Flicense-plates-03-0612-de.jpg&hash=e5690c95ad5a2c7d6bc1fa30b212acb53e03e681)
California issues them just like any other vanity plate. a friend of mine who collects license plates has 27 and 55 on his cars. he regularly tries registering various low numbers just to see if they are available.
I recall some car in Maryland who had "D" as his license plate.
I don't think I've ever seen less than two characters on a Florida plate, except for Consuls.
In WV, the gov gets "1" and "ONE" (we had a long forgotten ex-gov who got "EX ONE" ). 2-2000 are given out by the gov. On the rare party shift in the gov's office, they actually send troopers out with regular plates and orders to confiscate the special ones and deliver them to their new owners. Legislators and some other functionaries get a plate the replaces the idiotic "Wild Wonderful" with "House" or whatever. Gov also can give out "G 2 thru G 200" (motorcycle plates all start with "G") and "B 2 thru 200" (larger than an F-150 or equilivant sized trucks get plates that start with "B").
I use a frame to cover up up the idiotic slogan. As a side note when my daughter was in school in NC, NC would ticket a car with a frame that covered any part of the state name, or any sticker on the car, including out of state cars.
BTW, the NCC 1701 (which is not a regular issue) is on a 20 plus year old Acura.
In WV, rather than getting any of the several categories of antique or classic plates, if the car is older than a 73 (the year WV began to use "permanent" plates with renewal stickers, rather than a new plate each year) and you can find a plate for the make year, you can use that. They print your "real" plate number on a piece of paper in the glove box, to which you attach the renewal stickers.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 22, 2014, 04:02:03 PM
email me if you want me to mail you some small swatches of reflective sheeting. I've always got ends floating around.
I will, thanks. I'll need at least one by the end of May. Since one of them is a 1991, it'll only be on the car for 18 months or so. I'm getting an antique plate for it in 2016. Hopefully Virginia will go back to its classic plain blue-on-white by then.
Quote from: Takumi on April 22, 2014, 09:15:13 PM
I will, thanks. I'll need at least one by the end of May. Since one of them is a 1991, it'll only be on the car for 18 months or so. I'm getting an antique plate for it in 2016. Hopefully Virginia will go back to its classic plain blue-on-white by then.
25 years and the car is an antique? I want antique plates for mine, but alas in California it has to be a lot older than that.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 22, 2014, 09:18:21 PM
Quote from: Takumi on April 22, 2014, 09:15:13 PM
I will, thanks. I'll need at least one by the end of May. Since one of them is a 1991, it'll only be on the car for 18 months or so. I'm getting an antique plate for it in 2016. Hopefully Virginia will go back to its classic plain blue-on-white by then.
25 years and the car is an antique? I want antique plates for mine, but alas in California it has to be a lot older than that.
In Connecticut it's only 20 years to qualify as "Early American." Kind of dilutes the meaning, but still it's funny to see 1990s cars with those little open roadsters on the plates (a design they have sadly just retired).
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 22, 2014, 09:18:21 PM
25 years and the car is an antique? I want antique plates for mine, but alas in California it has to be a lot older than that.
Yep. We get the choice of two antique plates, a white-on-black (which I want, since the car is black), or a blue-on-yellow. Vehicles prior to a certain year (sometime in the 1970s) when the plates were issued each year can have that year's plates as well, like WV.
Quote from: Takumi on April 22, 2014, 09:49:58 PM
Yep. We get the choice of two antique plates, a white-on-black (which I want, since the car is black), or a blue-on-yellow. Vehicles prior to a certain year (sometime in the 1970s) when the plates were issued each year can have that year's plates as well, like WV.
no such option for me. I'm thinking of getting California's "spay and neuter" vanity plates for my '86 CRX if I can find an available vanity. I went all the way through the "charge my credit card and let me know when I can pick 'em up at the DMV" option for "HWY 395" before being told it was unavailable. damn.
Quote from: Pete from Boston on April 22, 2014, 09:37:03 PM
In Connecticut it's only 20 years to qualify as "Early American." Kind of dilutes the meaning, but still it's funny to see 1990s cars with those little open roadsters on the plates (a design they have sadly just retired).
heh, 20 years for me is "evaluate reliability, purchase at a low price, and run into ground". not antique in the slightest.
(my household's
newest car is a '97.)
I would imagine that Southern California might have a greater prevalence of 20 year old cars than Connecticut does. Cars last longer when they are not subject to cold, snowy winters.
Wyoming used to have four character plates. I saw one on a Ford pickup that had "FORD" for the plate. Having just four characters to work with makes Twitter look positively verbose...LOL!
Rick
Quote from: Duke87 on April 22, 2014, 11:09:45 PM
I would imagine that Southern California might have a greater prevalence of 20 year old cars than Connecticut does. Cars last longer when they are not subject to cold, snowy winters.
My thoughts exactly. I just wasn't sure how to word it correctly. I've seen pictures of lots of cars in California that are nearly extinct elsewhere - Datsun 510s and 240Zs, pre-Civic Hondas, etc. They'd tend to skew the average vehicle age there to be older than most if not all other states, thus likely raising the stature needed for a vehicle to be classified as an antique. There are also probably political reasons for it as well, such as emissions. In the sections of Virginia that do emissions testing (DC suburbs), antique cars are exempt, as they are from inspection statewide. However, if you have a car registered as an antique, you must have another registered car that is your daily transportation. I don't know whether other states have the same policy.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 22, 2014, 09:18:21 PM
Quote from: Takumi on April 22, 2014, 09:15:13 PM
I will, thanks. I'll need at least one by the end of May. Since one of them is a 1991, it'll only be on the car for 18 months or so. I'm getting an antique plate for it in 2016. Hopefully Virginia will go back to its classic plain blue-on-white by then.
25 years and the car is an antique? I want antique plates for mine, but alas in California it has to be a lot older than that.
You can still get "Historic Vehicle" plates on cars as new as 1989 (25 years) in California, but the caveat is that cars must be of "historic interest" , which seems like an exceedingly vague definition.
I worked at a couple of AAA offices in Pennsylvania, where AAA clubs can process title transfers and vehicle registrations. I got an inside look at PA's antique vehicle registration process, which seemed more challenging than I would have expected. Applicants had to submit multiple photographs from several angles showing that the car is in its original condition or fully restored. I seem to recall someone getting an application rejected because he had something minor like a tonneau cover that wasn't originally offered on that model.
Quote from: Takumi on April 23, 2014, 12:21:02 AM
However, if you have a car registered as an antique, you must have another registered car that is your daily transportation. I don't know whether other states have the same policy.
In PA, the regulations state occasional use and later clarify to say "one day a week" .
Quote from: Pete from Boston on April 22, 2014, 09:37:03 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 22, 2014, 09:18:21 PM
Quote from: Takumi on April 22, 2014, 09:15:13 PM
I will, thanks. I'll need at least one by the end of May. Since one of them is a 1991, it'll only be on the car for 18 months or so. I'm getting an antique plate for it in 2016. Hopefully Virginia will go back to its classic plain blue-on-white by then.
25 years and the car is an antique? I want antique plates for mine, but alas in California it has to be a lot older than that.
In Connecticut it's only 20 years to qualify as "Early American." Kind of dilutes the meaning, but still it's funny to see 1990s cars with those little open roadsters on the plates (a design they have sadly just retired).
Illinois actually has two different plates. One is the Antique Vehicle (http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/license_plate_guide/antique.html) - must be 25 years old or older and drive on occasion. The other is Antique Vehicle - Expanded Use (http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/license_plate_guide/antiqueexpand.html) - must be 25 years old or older, can be driven a bit more often.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 22, 2014, 09:18:21 PM
Quote from: Takumi on April 22, 2014, 09:15:13 PM
I will, thanks. I'll need at least one by the end of May. Since one of them is a 1991, it'll only be on the car for 18 months or so. I'm getting an antique plate for it in 2016. Hopefully Virginia will go back to its classic plain blue-on-white by then.
25 years and the car is an antique? I want antique plates for mine, but alas in California it has to be a lot older than that.
I thought about registering my 1988 RX-7 as an antique because the registration fee is less and you're exempt from state safety inspection. I ultimately chose not to do so because they also put some restrictions on the use of the vehicle (you're not supposed to use it for routine personal transportation, for example, which was a dealbreaker for me because during the spring I just enjoy putting the top down and driving it as my primary car). I don't know how much they actually enforce those restrictions, but I'm not inclined to test it and find out.
Quote from: 1995hoo on April 23, 2014, 07:53:49 AM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 22, 2014, 09:18:21 PM
Quote from: Takumi on April 22, 2014, 09:15:13 PM
I will, thanks. I'll need at least one by the end of May. Since one of them is a 1991, it'll only be on the car for 18 months or so. I'm getting an antique plate for it in 2016. Hopefully Virginia will go back to its classic plain blue-on-white by then.
25 years and the car is an antique? I want antique plates for mine, but alas in California it has to be a lot older than that.
I thought about registering my 1988 RX-7 as an antique because the registration fee is less and you're exempt from state safety inspection. I ultimately chose not to do so because they also put some restrictions on the use of the vehicle (you're not supposed to use it for routine personal transportation, for example, which was a dealbreaker for me because during the spring I just enjoy putting the top down and driving it as my primary car). I don't know how much they actually enforce those restrictions, but I'm not inclined to test it and find out.
You should be given a certain number of miles to drive the car a year. I wouldn't think driving it for a few months on a daily basis would make it considered a 'primary' car, just like living in a house for a few months wouldn't make it your primary residence for tax purposes.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 23, 2014, 07:57:09 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on April 23, 2014, 07:53:49 AM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 22, 2014, 09:18:21 PM
Quote from: Takumi on April 22, 2014, 09:15:13 PM
I will, thanks. I'll need at least one by the end of May. Since one of them is a 1991, it'll only be on the car for 18 months or so. I'm getting an antique plate for it in 2016. Hopefully Virginia will go back to its classic plain blue-on-white by then.
25 years and the car is an antique? I want antique plates for mine, but alas in California it has to be a lot older than that.
I thought about registering my 1988 RX-7 as an antique because the registration fee is less and you're exempt from state safety inspection. I ultimately chose not to do so because they also put some restrictions on the use of the vehicle (you're not supposed to use it for routine personal transportation, for example, which was a dealbreaker for me because during the spring I just enjoy putting the top down and driving it as my primary car). I don't know how much they actually enforce those restrictions, but I'm not inclined to test it and find out.
You should be given a certain number of miles to drive the car a year. I wouldn't think driving it for a few months on a daily basis would make it considered a 'primary' car, just like living in a house for a few months wouldn't make it your primary residence for tax purposes.
Yeah, that might be easier, but I'm sure one reason they don't do that is because you're allowed to drive the vehicle to antique car shows and the like and such trips could require driving a good distance, especially if you live in a more rural area like far Southwest Virginia.
You can read the rules on the antique certification form here (go down to "Use of Antique Plates"): http://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/pdf/vsa10b.pdf
Quote from: 1995hoo on April 21, 2014, 06:03:54 PMHere in Virginia a personalized plate costs $10 a year, which is probably a major reason why Virginia is said to have the most personalized plates of any state.
For a long time vanity plates in New Hampshire (known officially as "initial" plates, because many people put their initials on them) cost only $5 extra. They're now $40 extra annually plus a one-time manufacturing fee of $8.
Quote from: 1995hoo on April 23, 2014, 07:53:49 AM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 22, 2014, 09:18:21 PM
Quote from: Takumi on April 22, 2014, 09:15:13 PM
I will, thanks. I'll need at least one by the end of May. Since one of them is a 1991, it'll only be on the car for 18 months or so. I'm getting an antique plate for it in 2016. Hopefully Virginia will go back to its classic plain blue-on-white by then.
25 years and the car is an antique? I want antique plates for mine, but alas in California it has to be a lot older than that.
I thought about registering my 1988 RX-7 as an antique because the registration fee is less and you're exempt from state safety inspection. I ultimately chose not to do so because they also put some restrictions on the use of the vehicle (you're not supposed to use it for routine personal transportation, for example, which was a dealbreaker for me because during the spring I just enjoy putting the top down and driving it as my primary car). I don't know how much they actually enforce those restrictions, but I'm not inclined to test it and find out.
Not a clue. In Illinois, for both the AV and EA plates, you sign an affirmation, but that's about it. The EA plate is a bit better as you can use it for more than just to/from a show or service. You can use the vehicle as a daily driver between April 1 and October 31. Yet, I've seen them used in the winter. An EA plate registration is only $51 compared to $101 for a normal plate.
Quote from: 1995hoo on April 23, 2014, 08:01:30 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 23, 2014, 07:57:09 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on April 23, 2014, 07:53:49 AM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 22, 2014, 09:18:21 PM
Quote from: Takumi on April 22, 2014, 09:15:13 PM
I will, thanks. I'll need at least one by the end of May. Since one of them is a 1991, it'll only be on the car for 18 months or so. I'm getting an antique plate for it in 2016. Hopefully Virginia will go back to its classic plain blue-on-white by then.
25 years and the car is an antique? I want antique plates for mine, but alas in California it has to be a lot older than that.
I thought about registering my 1988 RX-7 as an antique because the registration fee is less and you're exempt from state safety inspection. I ultimately chose not to do so because they also put some restrictions on the use of the vehicle (you're not supposed to use it for routine personal transportation, for example, which was a dealbreaker for me because during the spring I just enjoy putting the top down and driving it as my primary car). I don't know how much they actually enforce those restrictions, but I'm not inclined to test it and find out.
You should be given a certain number of miles to drive the car a year. I wouldn't think driving it for a few months on a daily basis would make it considered a 'primary' car, just like living in a house for a few months wouldn't make it your primary residence for tax purposes.
Yeah, that might be easier, but I'm sure one reason they don't do that is because you're allowed to drive the vehicle to antique car shows and the like and such trips could require driving a good distance, especially if you live in a more rural area like far Southwest Virginia.
You can read the rules on the antique certification form here (go down to "Use of Antique Plates"): http://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/pdf/vsa10b.pdf
Just looked up Jersey's rules and they do appear to be about the same. Ours are nicknamed QQ plates, since all antique plates start with QQ.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 23, 2014, 10:00:56 AMJust looked up Jersey's rules and they do appear to be about the same. Ours are nicknamed QQ plates, since all antique plates start with QQ.
So enumerated, of course, because QQ is a pair of eyes bugging out in astonishment at your beautiful car. This is the only instance of whimsy I have experienced from the government of New Jersey, but I love it.
I would imagine the reason QQ was selected was not anything so whimsical, but rather something along the lines of Q not being used for general issue plates because it looks like 0, so it was available for the special combination.
Quote from: Scott5114 on April 23, 2014, 10:33:59 PM
I would imagine the reason QQ was selected was not anything so whimsical, but rather something along the lines of Q not being used for general issue plates because it looks like 0, so it was available for the special combination.
You are correct. NJ does not issue I, O, or Q in any position on passenger plates because they could be misread for 1s or 0s. (O is used for Livery types.) I and O used to be used, but not since 1992. Q was never used in any position, except historic plates. Vehicles get QQ, morotcycles get a single Q.
WV has two "old car" plates. A "Classic Car" plate, which starts with "CC" and features generic representations of a 50s Corvette, an original Mustang and Charger, and an early 70s Grand Prix in the background, which is just like any other "club" (special interest) plate, costing double the regular fee, with no special restrictions. And an "Antique Vehicle" plate, which starts with "AV" and features a generic Model A, which can be ordered either as a "club" plate as above, or as a "restricted" plate, valid for 10 years for the cost of 2 years' standard fee, restricted to driving on Saturday, Sunday, legal holidays, and to and from "approved events" (no idea how that could be enforced) and in parades. The restricted plate exempts the car from the personal property tax on vehicles, which could be huge since it is based on true value, which could be quite high for a true collectable.
Both require a car to be 20 model years old, meaning cars far newer than those shown on the plates would be eligiable. The most common "CC" that I see, actually VW Beatles, which the last (US) model year was 79.