4 ms·

can't you just get a different license plate if you want to though

by VWWHFSfQ 3y ago

csbingel 3y ago
If you give more money to the incompetent agency, yes.
- FridayoLeary 3y ago
  In the uk its trivial to replace a plate. What would you do if it falls off? Over here i've seen number plates written by hand on a white card.
  - Symbiote 3y ago
    > number plates written by hand on a white card. Those aren't legal, although you can probably get away with them for a while.
  - rahimnathwani 3y ago
    The UK has extremely detailed and demanding standards for number plates: https://www.bnma.org/advice-centre/the-new-rules-british-standard-bs-au-145e/ https://www.bnma.org/advice-centre/the-new-rules-british-sta... But you can choose from many different suppliers. Here in the US, you have to get them from the DMV, but the legibility requirements are so low. The backgrounds, narrow font, and minimal reflectivity all make them much worse than those in the UK and Europe. (Lack of enforcement is also a problem: I lived in the UK for ~10x the time I've lived in the US, but in the US I've seen ~10x as many cars with missing numberplates.
jrochkind1 3y ago
As far as I could tell, my options for doing that were: 1. Reporting my plate as stolen or damaged (assume there's a replacement fee, don't know how much) 2. Paying $20 and then $10/year forever for a "specialty" plate. Granted, even though I'm complaining about this like a grumpy old man, I have spent probably 20 minutes on three occasions looking into it by googling. If someone can find a free way (or even reasonable one-time fee) for me to get a standard plate without having to lie about it being stolen or damaged (or getting someone to steal or damage it haha), do point me to the procedure. In general, as expected, doing most anything with the MVA is a really confusing maze of bureaucracy, so I have some conditioned fear of trying it even if there is a procedure (but I haven't found one). I am now wondering what, say, Jehovah's Witnesses did, I bet they and/or other religious groups would not be okay with a flag on their car for religious reasons.
- GenerWork 3y ago
  You have to pay yearly for a specialty plate on top of registration fees? Is this a Maryland thing or have I been lucky enough to only get a specialty plate in a state that charged a one time fee?
  - jrochkind1 3y ago
    Yes, in Maryland. Every state is different (i'd imagine not every state even has "specialty" plates), I don't know what's more common. But I imagined the whole reason they have "specialty" plates is revenue generation? https://mva.maryland.gov/about-mva/Pages/info/27300/27300-29T.aspx https://mva.maryland.gov/about-mva/Pages/info/27300/27300-29... I think "specialty" plates are silly. I am old enough to remember when there was one option, and for every state it was white letters on a different solid color background, and that was fine.
    - jdmichal 3y ago
      In Florida, the fees paid for specialty plates are given directly to an organization which established the plate -- typically a charitable organization. So they're a way to support, while also providing personalization. The $25/year for my plate goes directly to my alma mater. Even Disney set up their plates to go to the Make a Wish Foundation.
  - aczerepinski 3y ago
    I pay $100 a year for WI specialty plates.
- bagels 3y ago
  You can damage it yourself. Seems pretty straightforward.
  - jrochkind1 3y ago
    Probably against the law (especially if you plan on continuing to drive the car waiting for replacements), but you'd probably get away with it. (more risky if you or your car attract police who want an excuse to mess with you). Good answer though.
gwbas1c 3y ago
"You can just" and "Can't you just" phrases should trigger you to think twice. The phrases show poor empathy on your part: It's a hassle to go to the RMV and get another plate, it's a hassle to update any place where your plate needs to be registered, it costs money...

can't you just get a different license plate if you want to though

csbingel 3y ago

If you give more money to the incompetent agency, yes.

FridayoLeary 3y ago
In the uk its trivial to replace a plate. What would you do if it falls off? Over here i've seen number plates written by hand on a white card.
- Symbiote 3y ago
  > number plates written by hand on a white card. Those aren't legal, although you can probably get away with them for a while.
- rahimnathwani 3y ago
  The UK has extremely detailed and demanding standards for number plates: https://www.bnma.org/advice-centre/the-new-rules-british-standard-bs-au-145e/ https://www.bnma.org/advice-centre/the-new-rules-british-sta... But you can choose from many different suppliers. Here in the US, you have to get them from the DMV, but the legibility requirements are so low. The backgrounds, narrow font, and minimal reflectivity all make them much worse than those in the UK and Europe. (Lack of enforcement is also a problem: I lived in the UK for ~10x the time I've lived in the US, but in the US I've seen ~10x as many cars with missing numberplates.

jrochkind1 3y ago

As far as I could tell, my options for doing that were: 1. Reporting my plate as stolen or damaged (assume there's a replacement fee, don't know how much) 2. Paying $20 and then $10/year forever for a "specialty" plate. Granted, even though I'm complaining about this like a grumpy old man, I have spent probably 20 minutes on three occasions looking into it by googling. If someone can find a free way (or even reasonable one-time fee) for me to get a standard plate without having to lie about it being stolen or damaged (or getting someone to steal or damage it haha), do point me to the procedure. In general, as expected, doing most anything with the MVA is a really confusing maze of bureaucracy, so I have some conditioned fear of trying it even if there is a procedure (but I haven't found one). I am now wondering what, say, Jehovah's Witnesses did, I bet they and/or other religious groups would not be okay with a flag on their car for religious reasons.

GenerWork 3y ago
You have to pay yearly for a specialty plate on top of registration fees? Is this a Maryland thing or have I been lucky enough to only get a specialty plate in a state that charged a one time fee?
- jrochkind1 3y ago
  Yes, in Maryland. Every state is different (i'd imagine not every state even has "specialty" plates), I don't know what's more common. But I imagined the whole reason they have "specialty" plates is revenue generation? https://mva.maryland.gov/about-mva/Pages/info/27300/27300-29T.aspx https://mva.maryland.gov/about-mva/Pages/info/27300/27300-29... I think "specialty" plates are silly. I am old enough to remember when there was one option, and for every state it was white letters on a different solid color background, and that was fine.
  - jdmichal 3y ago
    In Florida, the fees paid for specialty plates are given directly to an organization which established the plate -- typically a charitable organization. So they're a way to support, while also providing personalization. The $25/year for my plate goes directly to my alma mater. Even Disney set up their plates to go to the Make a Wish Foundation.
- aczerepinski 3y ago
  I pay $100 a year for WI specialty plates.
bagels 3y ago
You can damage it yourself. Seems pretty straightforward.
- jrochkind1 3y ago
  Probably against the law (especially if you plan on continuing to drive the car waiting for replacements), but you'd probably get away with it. (more risky if you or your car attract police who want an excuse to mess with you). Good answer though.

gwbas1c 3y ago

"You can just" and "Can't you just" phrases should trigger you to think twice. The phrases show poor empathy on your part: It's a hassle to go to the RMV and get another plate, it's a hassle to update any place where your plate needs to be registered, it costs money...