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Wow that is an awful design for visibility. As a New York resident I noticed when the plates changed in 2010 I personally found them harder to read [0]. The wh

Wow that is an awful design for visibility. As a New York resident I noticed when the plates changed in 2010 I personally found them harder to read [0]. The white background with dark letters/numbers used from 2001-2010 seemed like the better option... I wonder what law enforcement thought of the change. Seems they are about to change again to something with better contrast starting April 2020 [1]. Also an interesting side note I've noticed that a lot of the new license plates are peeling causing them to look entirely metallic. I see NY dropped their contract with 3M likely due to this issue [2]. [0] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_New_York https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of... [1] - https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/politics/albany/2019/09/06/new-york-license-plate-design-in-april-2020/2196965001/ https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/politics/alb... [2] - https://www.syracuse.com/news/2019/08/new-york-ends-contract-with-company-linked-to-peeling-license-plates.html https://www.syracuse.com/news/2019/08/new-york-ends-contract...

reaperducer 7y ago
I don't think that the police had a problem with the black-on-orange color scheme. It worked fine for New York for what seemed like forever back in the 70's. As for peeling paint, that's a problem that West Virginia has in the early 90's, too. The urban legend was that it was caused by the prisoners who made the plates peeing in the paint.
- Phillips126 7y ago
  That is likely true and perhaps it is just my vision. I just find the contrast to be worse leading to me personally having a harder time reading it in moving-vehicle conditions. All NY license plates are made in the Auburn Correctional Facility. Had they been made in multiple locations it would be interesting to see if all of the problems were stemming from a single source or if it is an issue with materials. That is an interesting urban legend.
Shivetya 7y ago
it all went down hill when license plates became a money making proposition to the states. from all the special interest plates and college plates it is just too much. then comes the fun in my state where EV plates come with a penalty, even higher fees on top of what I pay for yearly renewals hence I keep my Veterans plate.
specialp 7y ago
There are also a lot of people putting a coating over the numbers to make them not reflective and unable to be read by red light cameras and other automated means.
stefan_ 7y ago
Remember New York is where police or rather NYPD will intentionally bend or deface their license plates: https://mobile.twitter.com/placardabuse/status/1229933601464180737 https://mobile.twitter.com/placardabuse/status/1229933601464... https://mobile.twitter.com/placardabuse/status/1229276273106706432 https://mobile.twitter.com/placardabuse/status/1229276273106...
- yellowapple 7y ago
  ...why? Is it just to prevent them from being read? Or is there something symbolic about it?

reaperducer 7y ago

I don't think that the police had a problem with the black-on-orange color scheme. It worked fine for New York for what seemed like forever back in the 70's. As for peeling paint, that's a problem that West Virginia has in the early 90's, too. The urban legend was that it was caused by the prisoners who made the plates peeing in the paint.

Phillips126 7y ago
That is likely true and perhaps it is just my vision. I just find the contrast to be worse leading to me personally having a harder time reading it in moving-vehicle conditions. All NY license plates are made in the Auburn Correctional Facility. Had they been made in multiple locations it would be interesting to see if all of the problems were stemming from a single source or if it is an issue with materials. That is an interesting urban legend.

Shivetya 7y ago

it all went down hill when license plates became a money making proposition to the states. from all the special interest plates and college plates it is just too much. then comes the fun in my state where EV plates come with a penalty, even higher fees on top of what I pay for yearly renewals hence I keep my Veterans plate.

specialp 7y ago

There are also a lot of people putting a coating over the numbers to make them not reflective and unable to be read by red light cameras and other automated means.

stefan_ 7y ago

Remember New York is where police or rather NYPD will intentionally bend or deface their license plates: https://mobile.twitter.com/placardabuse/status/1229933601464180737 https://mobile.twitter.com/placardabuse/status/1229933601464... https://mobile.twitter.com/placardabuse/status/1229276273106706432 https://mobile.twitter.com/placardabuse/status/1229276273106...

yellowapple 7y ago
...why? Is it just to prevent them from being read? Or is there something symbolic about it?