D.A.R.E. License plates?

Factual Questions
1

I’m not sure if this is strictly a PA thing or if they are available in other states, but there are special D.A.R.E. license plates on some cars (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). The plates are black with white letters, and a red “DARE” logo.

When I see these plates, they are almost always on cars driven by young guys who look like they don’t resist drugs. Generally they’re on cars that look like they’re from “The Fast and the Furious”, and I’ve been trying to figure out why. I have a couple of theories:

  1. They just look cool because of the coloring, so they are desirable to guys who want to “trick out” their cars.

  2. They might serve as a deterrant to being pulled over, like the “FOP supporter” stickers.

  3. They might be part of a punishment. “You can get 6 months probation for being busted with drugs, or put this advertisement for DARE on your car.”

Does anybody know if any of these guesses are right? Why do young guys that look like a-holes tend to have DARE license plates?

2

It appears to optional. That is, I can’t find anything on this site: http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/license_plates/index.shtml saying that they’re forcing miscreants to use these plates.

3

I’ve only seen them in PA. And my guess is that it’s mostly aesthetics that get them on the cars you’re talking about.

I used to wish I could get one. But I lived about 10 minutes outside PA in WV. I wanted one because I had a black car with black (smoke) and red tail lights. I thought it would match well. And no, I wasn’t one of the “F&F” crowd. I despise those cars.

But, alas, I couldn’t have registered it in the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. No D.A.R.E. plate for me!