# DC license plate
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 28, 2010, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042 "2010-05-28T05:53:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/1 "2010-05-28T05:53:16Z")
I saw a Washington DC license plate that said “Taxation without representation” on it below the actual license number. And it honest-to-God looked like it was part of the plate - is it??
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### Author:  [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/2 "2010-05-28T06:05:03Z")
Yep:
[http://dmv.dc.gov/serv/plates/tax.shtm](http://dmv.dc.gov/serv/plates/tax.shtm)
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### Author:  [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/3 "2010-05-28T07:04:27Z")
Wait’ll you see the official “Choose Life” plates.
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### Author:  [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/4 "2010-05-28T11:37:10Z")
That’s part of the standard issue plate and has been since 2000 from what I recall. It is based on the District not having any representation in Congress despite paying taxes.
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### Author:  [@BorgHunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BorgHunter)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/5 "2010-05-28T11:46:39Z")
Anyone know if Obama’s limo has those plates? I remember that Clinton’s did, and when Bush took over he had them request the other version.
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### Author:  [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/6 "2010-05-28T11:49:07Z")
On long car trips it gives you an opportunity to explain that DC doesn’t have representation in Congress. It’s amazing how many Americans don’t know that. When the Nats first came to DC, there was talk of naming the stadium Taxation Without Representation Park, that would have been awesome.
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/7 "2010-05-28T12:45:26Z")
> [@BorgHunter](#):
>
> Anyone know if Obama’s limo has those plates? I remember that Clinton’s did, and when Bush took over he had them request the other version.
No he’s still using the [Bush plates](http://dcist.com/attachments/dcist_martin/presidential%20limo.jpg).
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### Author:  [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/8 "2010-05-28T12:51:51Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#):
>
> Wait’ll you see the official “Choose Life” plates.
To clarify, DC doesn’t have these plates, but a handful of states do.
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### Author:  [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/9 "2010-05-28T13:34:50Z")
I’m originally from DC and live in Northern Virginia, and I can confirm that these license plates are all over the place.
Being from DC and living near it, I have assumed that the DC vote issue was common knowledge (or at least would be covered in school).
The DC vote issue is often considered an overreaction that is not worthy of the revival of the old patriot slogan, since in those days none of the British colonies had any representation in Parliament whatsoever, and getting representation meant you had to move all the way back to Britain. If you are a US Citizen living in DC, and want representation in Congress, you can just move to Virginia or Maryland, which are at most only five miles away from any point in DC, so there is a good chance you can move a few miles, get representation, and keep your job and your local friends.
(not legal advice)
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### Author:  [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/10 "2010-05-28T14:12:12Z")
> [@robert\_andrews](#):
>
> The DC vote issue is often considered an overreaction that is not worthy of the revival of the old patriot slogan, since in those days none of the British colonies had any representation in Parliament whatsoever, and getting representation meant you had to move all the way back to Britain. If you are a US Citizen living in DC, and want representation in Congress, you can just move to Virginia or Maryland, which are at most only five miles away from any point in DC, so there is a good chance you can move a few miles, get representation, and keep your job and your local friends.
Yes, but then we’d have to live in _Virginia_ or _Maryland._ **shudder**
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### Author:  [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/11 "2010-05-28T15:18:40Z")
> [@Ravenman](#):
>
> To clarify, DC doesn’t have these plates, but a handful of states do.
Sorry! Didn’t mean to cause confusion. I was specifically thinking of Florida’s, but apparently [a crapload](http://www.choose-life.org/states.htm) of states have them. I am partial to [this “Kid’s First”](http://www.flickr.com/photos/triborough/4019157321/) one.
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### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/12 "2010-05-28T15:31:46Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#):
>
> Sorry! Didn’t mean to cause confusion. I was specifically thinking of Florida’s, but apparently [a crapload](http://www.choose-life.org/states.htm) of states have them. I am partial to [this “Kid’s First”](http://www.flickr.com/photos/triborough/4019157321/) one.
The Virginia plate linked isn’t a pro-life plate - it benefits organizations that deal with family violence, including abuse, neglect, violence, and sexual assault.
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### Author:  [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/13 "2010-05-28T15:37:01Z")
Grr. Just another personalized plate that goes well with the design that I found with a search. Wasn’t suggesting it is the same thing. VA’s Life plate does have kids on it though, per the first link.
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### Author:  [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/14 "2010-05-28T15:55:25Z")
> [@DCnDC](#):
>
> No he’s still using the [Bush plates](http://dcist.com/attachments/dcist_martin/presidential%20limo.jpg).
Why don’t they just use the generic looking “U.S. Government” plates you see on postal trucks and most other official government vehicles?
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/15 "2010-05-28T16:12:51Z")
> [@joebuck20](#):
>
> Why don’t they just use the generic looking “U.S. Government” plates you see on postal trucks and most other official government vehicles?
Good question. No idea. Can’t really understand why the presidential limo requires plates at all.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/16 "2010-05-28T16:28:08Z")
Or at the very least personalized plates. “Da Prez” or something like that.
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/17 "2010-05-28T16:30:42Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> Or at the very least personalized plates. “Da Prez” or something like that.
I’d have gone with “WS FAULT”.🙂
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### Author:  [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/18 "2010-05-28T16:37:39Z")
In any case as far as official statements on the plates it’s closer to “Live Free or Die” than to “Famous Potatoes”, if we may evoke George Carlin.
I wonder if nobody in Congress during the Rep majority tried to get them to get rid of it.
> [@silenus](#):
>
> Or at the very least personalized plates. “Da Prez” or something like that.
“I RULZ U”
“CINC”
“DMV One”
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### Author:  [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/19 "2010-05-28T18:16:39Z")
> [@Ravenman](#):
>
> Yes, but then we’d have to live in _Virginia_ or _Maryland._ **shudder**
If you call that “living.”
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### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-license-plate/541042/20 "2010-05-28T18:22:30Z")
> [@jrdelirious](#):
>
> …
> “i rulz u”
> “cinc”
> “dmv one”
potus
got nukes
the man
wh rsdnt
bho
not dubya
art ii
chf exec
da man
hoops 1
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