# 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:** 38
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2024, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/741 "2024-10-06T19:09:50Z")
TNKRB3L [![](https://i.imgur.com/JRUqm9I.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/JRUqm9I.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2024, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/742 "2024-10-07T00:03:45Z")
I noticed the frame first, and thought “cute” but took annoyingly long for me to figure out what that image on the left was, and to parse the meaning of the plate number itself and realize it was worth grabbing a picture. Glad that was a long light. [![](https://i.gyazo.com/dfc4c408653249ea3c2d4d30d60d1a2c.jpg) ](https://i.gyazo.com/dfc4c408653249ea3c2d4d30d60d1a2c.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2024, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/743 "2024-10-07T00:37:37Z")
I didn’t get a picture but I saw this **B3R3TT4** 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2024, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/744 "2024-10-07T00:42:52Z")
I saw one I can’t now remember but it inspired me to think about getting one for Mrs Cad. I wouldn’t because she would not find any humor in it. 1ING L8 ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2024, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/745 "2024-10-07T08:49:52Z")
A _long_ time ago I used to see VB&C4NT on a Corvette while commuting. That one didn’t age well. (Visual Basic and C for [Windows] NT) ---
**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:** [October 7, 2024, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/746 "2024-10-07T14:39:31Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I saw one I can’t now remember but it inspired me to think about getting one for Mrs Cad. I wouldn’t because she would not find any humor in it. > 1ING L8 I laughed. And, as an often-late person, if I were rich enough to spend money on vanity plates, I’d love to have that one. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2024, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/747 "2024-10-07T20:47:42Z")
> [@Ponderoid](#): > > oyingly long for me to figure out what that image on the left was, and to parse the meaning of the plate number itself and realize it was worth grabbing a picture. Any chance of an explanation for those of us who can’t fathom either the background picture nor the plate. > [@Zyada](#): > > **B3R3TT4** > > 🙄 Maybe I’m stupid today, but I have no idea what that might mean now why eyerolls are the right response. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2024, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/748 "2024-10-07T20:50:00Z")
I think the image is a train, and the plate is 9 3/4, which was the platform number that the Hogwarts Express left from. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2024, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/749 "2024-10-07T21:16:36Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Maybe I’m stupid today, but I have no idea what that might mean now why eyerolls are the right response. **B3R3TT4** = Beretta (a make of firearms). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2024, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/750 "2024-10-07T21:17:32Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I think the image is a train, and the plate is 9 3/4, which was the platform number that the Hogwarts Express left from. Yup, though I had to look really closely at that image to make out that it’s a train (mostly, a stylized image of the front of a steam locomotive). The “Hogwarts Express” license plate frame was what helped me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2024, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/751 "2024-10-07T21:19:13Z")
[Also a famous TV detective…](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baretta) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2024, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/752 "2024-10-07T21:20:39Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Also a famous TV detective Note the slightly different spelling, however. Were the plate a nod to that character, it would have been **B4R3TT4**. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2024, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/753 "2024-10-07T23:47:07Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > > [@Zyada](#): > > > > **B3R3TT4** > > > > 🙄 > > Maybe I’m stupid today, but I have no idea what that might mean now why eyerolls are the right response. The eyeroll is because I live in Texas. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2024, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/754 "2024-10-08T00:07:55Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > **B3R3TT4** = Beretta (a make of firearms). And also a former [Chevy model](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Beretta). Although putting that plate on a Chevy Beretta seems a little uncreative. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/755 "2024-10-08T00:29:34Z")
Definitely not that. My phone was overheated, or I would have taken a picture ---
**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:** [October 11, 2024, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/756 "2024-10-11T07:50:39Z")
I8NTAM5? What could this mean? [![](https://i.imgur.com/uo6ksAr.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/uo6ksAr.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/757 "2024-10-11T08:08:29Z")
“I ain’t” … something"? It’s a start, anyway. ---
**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:** [October 11, 2024, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/758 "2024-10-11T11:35:56Z")
I decode that as “I ain’t a(n) M5”. Which is a fancier model of BMW than the car actually is. I _think_ the car is a mid-2000s BMW 3-series. I had one for awhile. It _might_ be an mid-2000s 5-series, but I doubt it; it looks both too narrow and also very familiar to me. It’s absolutely positively a mid 2000’s BMW something. The license plate frame is from these guys > **[Driven By Passion | Hoonigan](https://www.hoonigan.com/)** > > We're dedicated to bringing enthusiasts like you the most comprehensive lineup of performance brands to drive your passion. We're the leader in the automotive aftermarket. So presumably the car is mightily hopped up w aftermarket parts and the owner is quite proud of his (good bet it’s a “his”) performance nous, maybe outdoing the factory M5 of the day. The M5 being BMW’s performance tuned quasi-street-racing version of their standard 5-series midrange luxo-performance sedan. ---
**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:** [October 11, 2024, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/759 "2024-10-11T15:03:55Z")
Good info, thanks. I did think it meant I Ain’t an M5. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965/760 "2024-10-13T22:10:43Z")
Last June I posted this plate: [![](https://greenwoodsoftware.com/misc/lic-plate.jpg) ](https://greenwoodsoftware.com/misc/lic-plate.jpg) Today I was walking past the same house where that car is still parked, and noticed that they have another car, with this plate: [![](https://greenwoodsoftware.com/misc/lic-plate2.jpg) ](https://greenwoodsoftware.com/misc/lic-plate2.jpg) Ok, if these are not attempts to confuse the cops, I don’t know what they are. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965.md?page=37) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custom-licence-plates-seen-in-the-wild/992965.md?page=39)