License Plates

[Matthew]

I saw a car late last month. It what a white Caddy it had Florida Plates. Funny thing is is that this caddy had a florida plate ON the front as well as the rear. Why would this care have 2 plates when FL is a one-plate state? It was a standard issue plate wasn’t Vanity or Specialty. Any Ideas?

Topic

[Paul]

It’s possible the person also resides in another state that requires both plates. I have 2 new neighbors that recently moved from different states and were asking about vehicle registration. The person from LA said that California requires both plates regardless of the state the vehicle is registered, and is often targeted by parking checkers.

[Bryan Carter]

Well let’s look at our clues…

1. Most states require front and rear plates
2. Florida is a popular state for out of state residents to retire to
3. Cadillacs are a popular make among the retiree crowd

So the only question I have is, does Florida issue you 2 plates when you register a vehicle? If they do, then rest of the story fills itself in.

[Matthew]

[quote=”McWicked” post=108585]
So the only question I have is, does Florida issue you 2 plates when you register a vehicle? If they do, then rest of the story fills itself in.[/quote]

I know that Arkansas being a 1 plate state Issues you (and REQUIRES Use of) 2 plates when you have vanity plates. I know another 1-plate state issues you two plates but only requires one on the rear cant remember what state that is i know its not FL not sure the logic behind issuing 2 plates if its not required to use both. I also happen to know the the state of Wisconsin requires 2 plates HOWEVER only has the registration stickers on the rear plate (what’s up with that?) and i also happen to know that the state of NJ uses no registration stickers at all.

[Matthew]

Here in the state of MN (FL as well) the state requires replacement (replate) every 7 years. The Plates on my car are due for replacement in October. I want to get RVID plates. What you think? anyone on here ever seen them?

“Remembering Victims of Impared Drivers” Specialty plates (since 2010) when they became available.

STANDARD ISSUE Plates since 2008

EMBOSSED plates used from 95-08 (the same kind on my car)

so what you all think of the unique and rare RVID plates? should i get them?

Attachments:

• RememberingVictimsofImpairedDrivers.jpg
• mn2011.jpg
• mn2009.jpg

[Paul]

[quote=”McWicked” post=108585]
So the only question I have is, does Florida issue you 2 plates when you register a vehicle? If they do, then rest of the story fills itself in.[/quote]

My other new neighbor is from Florida, and they only issue one plate. She doesn’t have a front mount, and I interpreted that as the natives identify themselves by not having a front plate or mount visible.

[quote=”Matthew2014″ post=108586]I also happen to know the the state of Wisconsin requires 2 plates HOWEVER only has the registration stickers on the rear plate (what’s up with that?).[/quote]

They require 2 plates, but it’s rarely enforced. I had my plate stolen, and the DMV handed me new stickers (after I paid a fee) and told me to install the front plate on the back. When I asked about not having a front plate, the representitive told me not to worry about it.

I hate the registration sticker and placement on the rear plate. Thieves will steal the entire plate, or cut break the right side of the plate to steal the sticker. I don’t really know why since [most of] the police cars have cameras that scan the plates and verify registration.

[Matthew]

[quote=”McWicked” post=108585]
My other new neighbor is from Florida, and they only issue one plate. She doesn’t have a front mount, and I interpreted that as the natives identify themselves by not having a front plate or mount visible.[/quote]

So why did this Caddy have a FL plate on the front? same plate number on both plates. However when i used Carfax to run the plate it came back as registered to a Mazda go figure…

[Bryan Carter]

[quote=”Matthew2014″ post=108593]
So why did this Caddy have a FL plate on the front? same plate number on both plates. However when i used Carfax to run the plate it came back as registered to a Mazda go figure…[/quote]

Now that’s strikes me as kinda creepy. Why on Earth are you running plates on random stranger’s cars?

[Paul]

I’m guessing here, but the FL DMV could probably provide someone with a second plate if requested with a legitimate reason – such as to comply with a law in another state.

Edit: Wait. Carfax is collecting, aggregating, and distributing registration data to anyone willing to pay the fee? That seems outside of their scope – vehicle history with anonymized owner information is one thing, but I hope that registration data is limited to gov’t, law enforcement, and insurance companies for legitimate reasons.

[Matthew]

[quote=”McWicked” post=108595][quote=”Matthew2014″ post=108593]
So why did this Caddy have a FL plate on the front? same plate number on both plates. However when i used Carfax to run the plate it came back as registered to a Mazda go figure…[/quote]

Now that’s strikes me as kinda creepy. Why on Earth are you running plates on random stranger’s cars?[/quote]

I was looking ur history reports out of bordom CarFax can get records by either VIN or Plate numbers

[Matthew]

[quote=”Hanneman” post=108596]I’m guessing here, but the FL DMV could probably provide someone with a second plate if requested with a legitimate reason – such as to comply with a law in another state.

Edit: Wait. Carfax is collecting, aggregating, and distributing registration data to anyone willing to pay the fee? That seems outside of their scope – vehicle history with anonymized owner information is one thing, but I hope that registration data is limited to gov’t, law enforcement, and insurance companies for legitimate reasons.[/quote]

they arent providing any registration info CarFax has 2 ways to check history reports you can either use the VIN or if u dont have a VIN u can enter the plate number to get the History of ths same car

[Paul]

[quote=”Matthew2014″ post=108604]they arent providing any registration info CarFax has 2 ways to check history reports you can either use the VIN or if u dont have a VIN u can enter the plate number to get the History of ths same car[/quote]

Ok. I can see repair shop using the license plate number as an identifier, especially a dealership with a row of similar cars, which then is utilized by CarFax.

An alernate idea: He/she was issued a new plate with the same number after N years, and they transferred the old one to the front. I know people who are OCD about certain numbers or empty spaces/things and the need to fill them.

[Matthew]

[quote=”Hanneman” post=108619][quote=”Matthew2014″ post=108604]they arent providing any registration info CarFax has 2 ways to check history reports you can either use the VIN or if u dont have a VIN u can enter the plate number to get the History of ths same car[/quote]

Ok. I can see repair shop using the license plate number as an identifier, especially a dealership with a row of similar cars, which then is utilized by CarFax.

An alernate idea: He/she was issued a new plate with the same number after N years, and they transferred the old one to the front. I know people who are OCD about certain numbers or empty spaces/things and the need to fill them.[/quote]

why those states dont just have 2 plates is beyond my cops HATE that there is no front plate some drivers hate it too

[Matthew]

Both the OHIO and the the Minnesota House voted elimination of front plates. Law Enforcement fought it expecially in Minnesota. MN Law Enforcement told the DMV that they do 90% of vehicle registration checks using the front plate.

[Pat Calhoun]

Even wierder. In Missouri, commercial trucks larger than 12000lbs only have front plates..NO rear plates. I work on TV trucks and was recently there and every satellite truck there had only front plates and thought they were swiped somehow. I asked the drivers and they said….Well yea it’s Missouri law. Front only for commercial trucks.. Now thats weird..

[Stephen Bowen]

I think the answer about living in two states (retired people) makes sense.

I live in upstate NY. (where we get beaten with a snow shovel each year with lake effect x5)

We have a lot of FL plates up here 6-7 months of the year. NYS requires both plates. I would imagine it would be safer not to get pulled over to run with both plates to avoid setting off red flags.

Plus the added bonus of the new license plate scanners the cop cars now have. The system scans all plates as the patrol car does it’s “patrol”. Any car with bad plates, suspended plates, expired insurance, etc… And it kicks up a red flag on the laptop in the car. The cop spins it around and tickets said driver. In order for that system to be 100% effective? Both plates need to be in use.

(our local PD has that installed on all their cars….sneaky little buggers)

S-

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