# Do you like your state's license plate(s)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 21, 2002, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286 "2002-03-21T03:27:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/1 "2002-03-21T03:27:52Z")
I was sitting in traffic today looking at the cars ahead of me and noticing that one of them was a MI plate I’d never seen before, and that it was just as ugly as the others. Michigan has dozens of them. I loathe them all, except the basic blue with white numbers/letters. They have an “olympic spirit” one, a “great lakes slendor” one, some sort of historic automobile heritage one, numerous ones for the state colleges, one for kids, one for arts, and who knows what else. They’re all hideous. People have to pay extra for those. Heck I’d pay extra just to keep my plain boring blue one. So. What’s your state? What do your plates do for you? ---
**Author:** ![tigergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@tigergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tigergirl)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/2 "2002-03-21T03:58:50Z")
Victoria’s normal plates are white background with dark blue latter/number and a shitty slogan that I think says “Victoria: The place to be” or something as equally moronic as that. BUT… I’ve opted for blues ones like **Cranky**. They’re personalised/customised and say “SREGIT” in white writing. Ten points for whoever figures out what it stands for (Not entirely difficult). Others that we can get are Thoroughbred Racing Horsie-ones (they don’t say horsie but I like that word). Lots of vintage car clubs have their own and a few towns have as well. Bendigo has a crappy yellow background with dark blue writing and picuture of a [Poppet Head](http://www.bwc.com.au/tourism/features/bendigo_by_night.shtml) in the corner. ---
**Author:** ![tygre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@tygre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygre)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/3 "2002-03-21T04:00:06Z")
I’m in Illinois, and we just got new basic plates after at least 10 + years of the same design. Frankly, the new plates suck. They are red letters on a light blue background (with Lincoln’s face, we are BIG into Lincoln here) and are hard to read IMO. How many states have rear plates only? We have both front and rear plates in IL. ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/4 "2002-03-21T04:40:27Z")
Jersey plates are okay - plain and easy to read as they’re light yellow with black lettering. I wouldn’t mind some of the speciality plates (Pinelands, cancer research, wildlife) but I do prefer the basic one. But I still miss my favorite plates from my former haunt, exclaiming those brave yet strange words: **FAMOUS POTATOES**. Gotta stand up for a place hawking tubers on their license plates. The worst one I’ve seen so far was a speciality plate from Pennsylvania. It was about tall ships, I think. Brown picture on beige background with beige or brown lettering. You couldn’t read the damn thing even when right behind them. I don’t think they make them anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/5 "2002-03-21T04:47:30Z")
I like Hawaii’s: white background, dark dark brown letters and numbers, and a large pastel rainbow in the background. Prior to that, I think we had an image of King Kamehameha, in orange, with a white background. Ick. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/6 "2002-03-21T05:44:54Z")
When I lived in PA, I remember seeing that plate **brachyrhynchos** mentioned for the first time. I wondered what fool state came up with that train-wreck of a plate, before I looked closer and saw it was one of our own. Ick. The default plate in PA, of course, has to stoop so low as to put the Official Pennsylvania Website Address on it. All part of Governor Mark (“I never would have made it this far if GWB and Tom Ridge weren’t friends”) Schweiker’s “Friction-Free e-Government Initiative.” I didn’t make that up, I swear. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/7 "2002-03-21T05:57:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by brachyrhynchos \* > \*\*Jersey plates are okay - plain and easy to read as they’re light yellow with black lettering. \*\* Ugh. The color on the plates reminds me of the color of pee–the kind of pee you produce when you’re terribly dehydrated. Other than the color, though, I agree that the plates are thoroughly inoffensive. ---
**Author:** ![tighthead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@tighthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tighthead)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/8 "2002-03-21T06:01:53Z")
Our standard license plates are white with green letters and numbers (although I think the latest ones have maroon letters and numbers, which makes more sense as maroon is the state colour), with ‘Queensland - The Sunshine State’ printed beneath. There was a bit of controversy recently when our self proclaimed ‘media tart’ premier, Peter Beattie, decided to change the slogan to ‘Queensland - The Smart State’. This was howled down from both Queenslanders and other Australians, as Queensland is probably regarded (perhaps with the exception of Tasmania) as the state with the fewest ‘intellectuals’. Other state license plates that I can recall are : New South Wales - The Premier State Victoria - The Garden State South Australia - The Festival State Northern Territory - Australia’s Outback? Tasmania - The State With Two Heads. JB ---
**Author:** ![BalmainBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@BalmainBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BalmainBoy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/9 "2002-03-21T06:27:56Z")
In New South Wales, there are still quite a few plates with the motto: **NSW - Towards 2000** _thinks - in reverse?_ But it’s the [Waratahs](http://www.nsw.rugby.com.au) who are leading the Super 12!!! ---
**Author:** ![tighthead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@tighthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tighthead)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/10 "2002-03-21T06:31:51Z")
[Hijack] > [@](#): > > But it’s the Waratahs who are leading the Super 12!!! Yeah, but its the Waratahs! We all know (hope) they’ll stumble at the final hurdle. JB ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/11 "2002-03-21T07:38:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tighthead \* > **New South Wales - The Premier State > Victoria - The Garden State > South Australia - The Festival State > Northern Territory - Australia’s Outback? > Tasmania - The State With Two Heads.** In Western Australia we no longer have a motto on our plates. In 1987, ‘Home of the America’s Cup’ was prevalent, but that obviously didn’t last. Then there was ‘State of Excitement’ - quite a good play on words, except it was interpreted by most to be ironic. Now we have a rather pretty white number plate with blue writing. The lower quarter of the plate is blue and resembles an ocean horizon. There’s a yellow sun setting into the water. Very nice. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/12 "2002-03-21T09:26:54Z")
I’m in Oregon USA. The plates are white with a mountain or something in the background. Comet o think of it, I’m not even really sure. I think there is a salmon plate as well. Myself,. I’m in the two colour camp. Dark background, light letters/numbers. Dump the backgrounds and dumb sayings -or put REALLY dumb sayings on them… “Oregon: It no longer smells of cabbage” On a side note about plates. My first name is “seven”. Of all the plates in Oregon someone in the same town I live in has a plate that says “seven”. You would not imagine all the times I’ve been asked if that is my car. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bare](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bare/32/471_2.png) [@bare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bare)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/13 "2002-03-21T11:46:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by brachyrhynchos \* > \*\*But I still miss my favorite plates from my former haunt, exclaiming those brave yet strange words: > > **FAMOUS POTATOES**. > > Gotta stand up for a place hawking tubers on their license plates. > > \*\* I could help you out if you wanted one for old times sake, there are lots of them around since Idaho started offering specialty plates, which blessedly lack the slogan. It is really quite a racket, since nobody in their right mind wants a plate with the infamous slogan, Famous Potatoes. And am I the first to claim **tigergirls** reward for tigers spelled backwards? ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/14 "2002-03-21T12:15:47Z")
Texas has dozens of them, [this](http://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/vtr/reginfo/spplates/specialplate.asp?idnbr=99) is my favorite. [This](http://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/vtr/reginfo/spplates/specialplate.asp?idnbr=89) is the one the kids wants on his (imaginary) jeep for his 16th birthday. [This](http://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/vtr/vtrreginfo.htm) is what the basic one is right now. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/15 "2002-03-21T12:53:13Z")
Florida has a gazillion different tags - schools, causes, professional teams, clubs… I’ve got the basic one - an orange in the center on a white background, green lettering, three alpha-numerics on either side of the orange. One tag on the back of the vehicle. Or is it orange lettering?? Shows how much attention I pay to the things… ---
**Author:** ![dono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@dono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dono)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/16 "2002-03-21T14:39:40Z")
Our license plates were [voted the best](http://wydotweb.state.wy.us/web/news/press_releases/2001/plates/plates.html) by the Automobile License Plate Collector’s Association! And I agree. I like 'em a lot. ---
**Author:** ![misshannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3e96dc/32.png) [@misshannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misshannah)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/17 "2002-03-21T14:52:23Z")
**Cranky** I read the title thread, and being in Michigan, my first thought was ‘they all suck except the blue with white letters/numbers!’ I’m getting afraid they’ll take that option away in favor of the plethora of dumb picture plates ala Florida. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/18 "2002-03-21T16:09:04Z")
Ontarian license plates are simple and pretty-good looking, IMHO. They have: white background, blue characters (non-commercial plates); white background, black characters (commercial plates); yellow background, black characters (dealer plates); or red background, white characters (diplomatic plates). You can get a variety of symbols, but there are no multicoloured backgrounds. ---
**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/19 "2002-03-21T16:24:45Z")
D.C.'s used to be pretty lame (“A Capital City”) but I love the new “Taxation Without Representation” plates. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286/20 "2002-03-21T16:32:00Z")
The plate I like best is the specialty plate I designed for the state of Virginia (of course!): [http://www.unc.edu/~nbeach/supplies.html](http://www.unc.edu/~nbeach/supplies.html) I wish I had a picture of the cars in the parking lot from the last time I attended our greyhound adoption group’s annual reunion - it was pretty cool to see the same plate on every car in the front row. The basic Virginia plate is dull, but not offensive - blue letters, white background. They do have some other nice-looking specialty plates. Unfortunately, I had to give up my VA plate when I moved to NC - their plates are not nearly as attractive, and they only give you one. My husband keeps his VA specialty plate on the front, which looks sort of strange. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-your-states-license-plate-s/99286.md?page=2)