Roadgeek plate sighting of the day

[Brandon]

I found two cars parked in Staten Island (near the old now-gone abandoned wye) with a total of three copies of the same license plate. I spent a solid minute comparing them to make sure all three were identical.

back in the day this would have been easier, when the DOT gave you new plates each year.  now, with the advent of registration stickers in most (all?) states, it is much tougher.

I suppose nowadays the only way you could do this is by claiming that your plate was "lost".  I think CA issues you a new number if it isn't a vanity, but some states might give you a new example of your current one. 

In Illinois, certain plates are part of a recall.  Plates made from about 2000 through 2003 tend to bubble and rust easily.  Mine are included, but I have yet to turn them in for new ones as they haven't gotten bad yet.  Of course, there are folks out there with completely rusted over plates.

[agentsteel53]

In Illinois, certain plates are part of a recall.  Plates made from about 2000 through 2003 tend to bubble and rust easily.  Mine are included, but I have yet to turn them in for new ones as they haven't gotten bad yet.  Of course, there are folks out there with completely rusted over plates.

Illinois still makes steel plates?  dang.  I thought all states had switched to aluminum.

[Brandon]

In Illinois, certain plates are part of a recall.  Plates made from about 2000 through 2003 tend to bubble and rust easily.  Mine are included, but I have yet to turn them in for new ones as they haven't gotten bad yet.  Of course, there are folks out there with completely rusted over plates.

Illinois still makes steel plates?  dang.  I thought all states had switched to aluminum.

It was an error for a few years.  The ones before and after were aluminum.

[agentsteel53]

It was an error for a few years.  The ones before and after were aluminum.

that seems like more of an attempt at cost saving, than an error.  ordering the wrong material for three years implies gross incompetence.  I refuse to credit a government with anything more interesting than standard incompetence.

[Brandon]

It was an error for a few years.  The ones before and after were aluminum.

that seems like more of an attempt at cost saving, than an error.  ordering the wrong material for three years implies gross incompetence.  I refuse to credit a government with anything more interesting than standard incompetence.

This is Illinois.  We're the state that you can work a day for and get a full pension for life based on a full year's salary. 

[kphoger]

Spotted in a Wichita parking lot on Monday the 20th:  DURANGO

[agentsteel53]

in the general spotting category ... on I-15 near Temecula, CA: a Toyota Aristo, right hand drive, with Japanese plates!

[formulanone]

Bump...(although this is probably more of a Parrothead plate, it references a state road.)

[mgk920]

I'm not 100% sure on this, but I believe that Wisconsin will issue duplicate number amateur radio call-sign plates.  And who said that ham radio was a dead hobby?  There are OODLES of cars here in the Appleton area that sport them.

Mike

[DaBigE]

And who said that ham radio was a dead hobby?  There are OODLES of cars here in the Appleton area that sport them.

Mike

I've never heard anyone say it was a dead hobby. Regardless, there are plenty of the Amateur Radio plates around the Madison area as well. Quite a few of the severe storm spotters sport those plates on their vehicles.

[hbelkins]

Bump...(although this is probably more of a Parrothead plate, it references a state road.)

Go Big Blue!

[vtk]

Wait, is that a jesus shark?

[roadman]

And who said that ham radio was a dead hobby?  There are OODLES of cars here in the Appleton area that sport them.

Mike

I've never heard anyone say it was a dead hobby. Regardless, there are plenty of the Amateur Radio plates around the Madison area as well. Quite a few of the severe storm spotters sport those plates on their vehicles.

"Do people still do that (ham radio)?" is an all-too common comment I get when locals ask me about my car - which has plates with my ham call sign and three whip antennas on the trunk.  One of the reasons I opted for the ham plates is because, in Massachusetts, the annual fee for call sign plates is $30 cheaper than regular vanity plates are.  There were a couple of "general series" number/letter combinations that would have worked as well, but Massachusetts won't let you reserve a "general' plate - even for a fee.

And, even though my car sports Mass. plates, for a brief period in the early to mid-1990s when traveling on I-81 in Virginia, people were often reluctant to pass me, as they thought I was a VDOT employee (during this time period, VDOT had a fleet of cars the same model and color as my car is, complete with whip antennas on the trunk).

[cpzilliacus]

And, even though my car sports Mass. plates, for a brief period in the early to mid-1990s when traveling on I-81 in Virginia, people were often reluctant to pass me, as they thought I was a VDOT employee (during this time period, VDOT had a fleet of cars the same model and color as my car is, complete with whip antennas on the trunk).

I don't know what kind of car you were driving, but in years gone by, some VDOT Central Office staff people sometimes drove cars that could easily be confused with unmarked VSP trooper cars (except for the "State Use Only" registration plates, which I have never seen on a trooper car).

[roadman]

And, even though my car sports Mass. plates, for a brief period in the early to mid-1990s when traveling on I-81 in Virginia, people were often reluctant to pass me, as they thought I was a VDOT employee (during this time period, VDOT had a fleet of cars the same model and color as my car is, complete with whip antennas on the trunk).

I don't know what kind of car you were driving, but in years gone by, some VDOT Central Office staff people sometimes drove cars that could easily be confused with unmarked VSP trooper cars (except for the "State Use Only" registration plates, which I have never seen on a trooper car).

For the past twelve and a half years, I've been driving a 1999 Ford Contour - color is the same wine red as the VDOT ones were.  And you're right.  Assuming VDOT is similar to MassHighway, this is exactly the type of car that would be assigned to the motor pool for Central Office staff.

I saw several examples of the VDOT red Contours during my travels on I-81 over the years.

[roadman]

Bump...(although this is probably more of a Parrothead plate, it references a state road.)

The album "AIA" is one of Mr. Buffett's earlier works, and IMO one of his better ones.  Used to be a fan until he started getting too commercial for my tastes (about the time he released Volcano).

[roadman]

that seems like more of an attempt at cost saving, than an error.

Or could be a combination of a poorly-written contract and a low bidder.