# Custom Licence Plates — Seen in the Wild **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 11, 2023, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965 "2023-11-11T02:25:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 127
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2521 "2026-03-05T19:48:26Z")
_Rica vida_ is also “rich life” or “good life”. Although _vida rica_ would be correct Spanish word order. As the song _almost_ goes, “_Livin’ la vida rica_” As to why no “I” in there, the best bet is somebody else already has “RICA VIDA”. The next person wanting that saying stuck with RCA VIDA since now we know RICA VDA is taken too. Or we get into the “R1CA V1DA” permutations of number _one_ subbing for letter _aye_. Does NY allow 8 characters with an embedded space, or only up to 7 with an embedded space? Some people would prioritize putting a space between words ahead of using all the letters but having to run the words together. So “RICAVIDA” or “RICA VDA”; which is clearer? A matter of opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Topologist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/topologist/32/3208_2.png) [@Topologist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Topologist)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2522 "2026-03-05T20:07:07Z")
Yes, I noticed the reversal of order, which is probably why Google suggested it had to do with the magazine using that order. And I believe NYS counts the space as a character toward the max of 8. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2523 "2026-03-05T20:44:11Z")
> [@Topologist](#): > > **BELLA3** on a NYS “love your pets” plate. Perhaps Bella was a (the third?) beloved pet but, probably because I’m in the middle of rereading the Harry Potter books, I couldn’t help reading it as Bellatrix. I could also be Bellas which in Spanish is the plural of Bella (beautiful). I have seen many times where the **3** is used in place of an **S** either in order to obscure the meaning or just because the one version with the S is taken. `//i\\` ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2524 "2026-03-05T21:53:05Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Kay (or Karen or Karly or …) loves balance. > > She teaches yoga. Or attends a _lot_ of classes. > > Or maybe it’s her shakras that are in balance and she’s quite the devotee of woo. > > “She” might be a “he”. But I bet not. It was actually on a newish Toyota Tacoma, which doesn’t fit that stereotype at all, but I guess anything’s possible (I mean, I’ve seen Priuses with NRA stickers before). I didn’t mention the vehicle because I didn’t think it was relevant for this one, but I guess this is a lesson on why one should never assume anything. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2525 "2026-03-05T22:19:39Z")
My assumption is that the plate is a coded message from the owner / driver to the world. And everything else we can learn about them contributes to our being able to decode the message as intended. Location, car details, license plate frame, stickers, appearance of driver, etc. Sometimes details don’t matter. Sometimes plates have obvious decodes. And sometimes details mislead. Heck, my sighting of **GSD RESQ** reported yesterday was an example of that. I saw the converted cop car and ham radio antenna and conditioned all my decoding efforts around that image of a first responder type. Not around dog fanciers. Oops on me. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2526 "2026-03-05T23:46:29Z")
The person may well be a responder who works with a rescue dog. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2527 "2026-03-06T00:05:55Z")
Or developed a fondness for GSDs while working and has now retired to dog rancher. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2528 "2026-03-06T00:42:42Z")
Saw _five_ today… four on the way to work and one one the way home. A surprising haul considering traffic was really light today. **QUINTA** and **ALDO** which I assume are someone’s name/nickname **SUB WOO** on a Subaru **A LIT FW** not sure what this means, I am in Fort Wayne so maybe they’re trying to improve the party scene around here? And finally **GRNLB7** on a green truck. Not sure what that means either. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2529 "2026-03-06T01:07:56Z")
Those are headscratchers for sure. Scored two more here: - **SPIN5** on a FL Panthers NHL booster plat on a Bentley SUV. Defenseman Erin Eckblad is the current bearer of Panther’s #5 jersey. Might be his car. Or a fan’s car. Not sure what “spin” might mean in any context. - **BCA⎵RDY** on a FL golf booster plate on a white generic SUV. “RDY” as “ready” is pretty obvious. “BCA” is harder. Might be the name of a local town with some golf courses. I don’t know of a tournament by those initials. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2530 "2026-03-06T03:32:10Z")
**M8 OAK** on a black Tesla Model Y. No license plate frame or bumper stickers. M8 might be “mate”, maybe? And since I’m in NorCal OAK could be Oakland. **4FREEDM** on an Explorer. Probably self explanatory. **EWWGAAS** on a Prius. That’s actually a little ironic now that EVs are becoming more popular and the Prius does use some gas. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2531 "2026-03-06T19:35:55Z")
**TOWN TOY** , seen just now. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2532 "2026-03-06T19:44:45Z")
Just ran across **AUTO ART** on a shiny clean but otherwise ordinary Chevy Suburban or similar. There’s an auto painting & customization shop by that name a few burbs over. Might be theirs. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2533 "2026-03-06T20:00:53Z")
I just saw **AMICUS** on a nondescript sedan. It could be a friendly Latin speaker, or a lawyer licensed to file amicus briefs. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2534 "2026-03-06T21:40:24Z")
I work from home on Fridays, but I just looked out the window and saw **I​❤FOLSM** on a Lexus crossover parked on the street. Folsom is the name of the town I’m in, so that is the obvious explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2535 "2026-03-06T22:29:57Z")
**LAW LADY.** Evidently owned by a woman who is a lawyer or lawyer-adjacent, but I couldn’t see the driver. The car was a striking shade of cobalt blue. **THE WALL**. Nostalgic for Berlin? A Pink Floyd fan? Someone’s last name? All of the above? Got me. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2536 "2026-03-06T22:44:24Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > **THE WALL**. Nostalgic for Berlin? A Pink Floyd fan? Someone’s last name? A MAGA supporter who wants to build it? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2537 "2026-03-06T23:00:02Z")
Or line folks up against it. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2538 "2026-03-06T23:15:36Z")
**IXHXI** on a Porsche 911. IXXI, I get that, but the H? The Orange came out and when I asked him he said it’s just a spacers between **IX** and **XI**. I don’t know if I buy that. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2539 "2026-03-07T01:27:01Z")
0 down more likely. Got everybody out in one piece. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/2540 "2026-03-07T02:16:19Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > On a Veterans plate with a First Cav sticker in the back window: O DWN Or maybe one of those mortgage brokers who teach people how to buy real estate with no money down? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965.md?page=126) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965.md?page=128)