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Texas also uses retro reflective anti-theft plates with the double helices down the middle. Ironically, Houston is the paper plate capital of the US with a high

by nunez 3y ago

Texas also uses retro reflective anti-theft plates with the double helices down the middle. Ironically, Houston is the paper plate capital of the US with a high-single-digit percentage of drivers driving with fake temporary license plates. I learned about retro reflective signs while driving through California. Many of the signs on their highways are old-school signs illuminated by fixed backlights. The breakthrough that retro signs introduced was being easily visible by your car's backlights instead, which improves safety and energy efficiency. California is the only state I've been to that has this problem. However, the old signs add a vintage charm to their otherwise perfectly-manicured highways, so I suppose this problem is a feature depending on who you ask.

ben7799 3y ago
Your remarks about the paper temporary plates are interesting. Massachusetts is the opposite, you almost never see temporary plates. I don't even recall having one, and I've had a MA license and/or registration for most of the past 30 years. The MA RMV has a setup where most car dealers already have plates on hand along with a computer system that links with the registry. If you walk in with no existing car and buy a car (even used usually) you will leave the lot with real plates and a real registration. If you trade in a car they transfer your plates. We might still have temporary paper registrations for certain cases like private sales but it's really rare to see them. Nearby NH is the opposite you see temporary paper plates all the time and they are good for a fairly long time. That said I have lived in NH as well and bought a car there and I don't think I ever had a temporary paper plate there either. The article didn't mention it but MA has another quirk. The modern plates are white with red letters. They have the double helix. You are required to have them on the front and back of the car. Vintage MA plates where white with green letters, and you don't have to have one one the front. If you have an old one there are games you can play to make sure you never have to switch to the new ones and so you will see ancient really worn out old white/green plates on cars where people have kept the plates for 30+ years constantly switching, often to prove they've been around a long time or because they think a plate on the front of the car is horrible.
- coffeedan 3y ago
  You haven’t seen Massachusetts temporary plates because they don’t exist. Massachusetts doesn’t issue them.

by nunez 3y ago

ben7799 3y ago

Your remarks about the paper temporary plates are interesting. Massachusetts is the opposite, you almost never see temporary plates. I don't even recall having one, and I've had a MA license and/or registration for most of the past 30 years. The MA RMV has a setup where most car dealers already have plates on hand along with a computer system that links with the registry. If you walk in with no existing car and buy a car (even used usually) you will leave the lot with real plates and a real registration. If you trade in a car they transfer your plates. We might still have temporary paper registrations for certain cases like private sales but it's really rare to see them. Nearby NH is the opposite you see temporary paper plates all the time and they are good for a fairly long time. That said I have lived in NH as well and bought a car there and I don't think I ever had a temporary paper plate there either. The article didn't mention it but MA has another quirk. The modern plates are white with red letters. They have the double helix. You are required to have them on the front and back of the car. Vintage MA plates where white with green letters, and you don't have to have one one the front. If you have an old one there are games you can play to make sure you never have to switch to the new ones and so you will see ancient really worn out old white/green plates on cars where people have kept the plates for 30+ years constantly switching, often to prove they've been around a long time or because they think a plate on the front of the car is horrible.

coffeedan 3y ago
You haven’t seen Massachusetts temporary plates because they don’t exist. Massachusetts doesn’t issue them.