“Put out an APB for a male suspect, driving a... car of some sort, heading in the direction of, uh, you know, that place that sells chili. Suspect is hatless. Repeat, hatless.”
— Police Chief Wiggum
This state with the highest percentage of personalized license plates — a question that probably has never showed up on Jeopardy!. I put my money on Virginia. Personalized plates are EVERYWHERE. It’s typical during my ten minute commute to work I find four, five and six personalized plates. Drivers from every walk of life slap these plates on cars ranging from “elegant” to “the rusted hull of the Titanic.” (Standard Virginia plates follow an “ABC 1234” formula.)
Personalized license plates in Virginia cost $25 plus a $10 annual fee. For comparison’s sake, Empire State personalized plates cost $43 plus an annual fee of $25. In California, the cost runs from $41 to $90 with an annual fee of $30 to $70. If you have those plates for 10 years, the total cost is $293 for New York personalized plates and $341 in California at a minimum. Compared to $125 in Virginia over the same ten-year period, I now understand why such plates are so rare in Western New York. I bet such rarity is similar in the Golden State. Well, outside of Southern California.
Their presence on the road is so prevalent that starting on Aug. 1, I started writing down each one I saw. Walking to work, walking to the store, on the bus and on the Beltway — anytime and anyplace a special plate appeared, I was there, furiously scribbling the plate on my hand before the light turned green. My goal was to find 100 plates by Sept. 1. I reached that goal on Aug. 17.
Some make sense, some are nonsensical and some are in-jokes between the owner and friends and family. The best plates give insights into the drivers, their personalities, careers and hobbies. But is that what we think when we read their plates? Or do other drivers and pedestrians picture something else all together? Through Internet magic and, I swear, no alcohol I test their assumptions. If your license plate says RAD DAD, is that what really comes to mind? We’ll see.
License plates in bold indicate I’ve seen/met the driver, so I have special insight into their appearance/personality. Let the games begin! Remember — none of these plates are fictional. Each is authentic and observed on the roads of Northern Virginia.
