# Is this a vanity plate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 26, 2007, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121 "2007-10-26T15:43:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/41 "2007-10-27T19:50:18Z")
88 has a significance to a ham (amateur radio operator). It means “love and kisses”. But the HH doesn’t mean anything, AFAIK. It could be a love note to someone whose initials are HH. Howard Hughes, I love you. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/42 "2007-10-27T20:25:21Z")
[QUOTE=Sapo] I remember reading about a guy who had VOID (or BLANK, or something to that effect) as a license plate and got a brazillion tickets and citations where there was no license indicated. I think it even said some states were forbidding those plates. [/QUOTE] Couldn’t find the article, which I think was on NYT, but here is the Snopes on it: > **[What Happens When Your License Plate Says 'NO PLATE'?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/auto-no-plate/)** > > Motorists with personalized license plates reading 'NO PLATE' or 'NO TAG' received a plethora of traffic tickets. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/43 "2007-10-27T20:30:11Z")
Wouldn’t it be a great way to become immune to the tickets you actually earn? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/44 "2007-10-27T21:02:57Z")
[QUOTE=fetus] Wouldn’t it be a great way to become immune to the tickets you actually earn? [/QUOTE] A friend of mine had a similar idea when odd/even gas lines were required. First, get a vanity plate like “GAF 333”. If odd plates could fill up on M-W-F, and evens and vanities on T-H-S, no one would challenge him on odd days. But if challenged on even days, he would say, “but it’s a vanity plate, and I can prove it.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/45 "2007-10-27T21:13:04Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat] A friend of mine had a similar idea when odd/even gas lines were required. First, get a vanity plate like “GAF 333”. If odd plates could fill up on M-W-F, and evens and vanities on T-H-S, no one would challenge him on odd days. But if challenged on even days, he would say, “but it’s a vanity plate, and I can prove it.” [/QUOTE] My first car’s license plate was MY66MGB. When rationing came around, even-numbered tags could fill up on even-numbered days, and odd-numbered tags and vanity plates could fill up on odd-numbered days. Since I had an even number I could fill up on even days, and since it was a vanity plate I could fill up on odd days. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/46 "2007-10-27T21:24:47Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] My first car’s license plate was MY66MGB…Since I had an even number I could fill up on even days, and since it was a vanity plate I could fill up on odd days. [/QUOTE] So did anyone challenge you on odd days? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/47 "2007-10-27T21:32:04Z")
You see a lot of vanity plates in Atlanta. My favorite so far is PSSYCHSR. Not very inscrutable. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2007, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/48 "2007-10-28T13:16:37Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] Maybe it was parked there illegally. That’s pretty congruent with what a neo-Nazi would do. [/QUOTE] Hehe. That wouldn’t surprise me. Of course, I might be biased towards thinking that because a few months ago I saw a white PT Cruiser with a vanity license plate that had some variation of “White Power” on it (minus a few vowels) and had a “did I really just see that?” moment. ---
**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 28, 2007, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/49 "2007-10-28T14:22:40Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat] A friend of mine had a similar idea when odd/even gas lines were required. First, get a vanity plate like “GAF 333”. If odd plates could fill up on M-W-F, and evens and vanities on T-H-S, no one would challenge him on odd days. But if challenged on even days, he would say, “but it’s a vanity plate, and I can prove it.” [/QUOTE] One of the rules for vainty plates in all jusridictions I’ve dealt with are that vanity he plates cannot be in the same letter/number pattern as the normal plates they’re issuing. So the only way somebody could get GAF 333 is if that was not the pattern in use in that state. And if not, it’s clearly a vanity and so ineligible for odd-day gas. Folkswho live near state borders could maybe play games with the differences between plates on this side & that side of the border … ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2007, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/50 "2007-10-28T14:36:42Z")
My job involves listening to scanners a lot. Recently on Md State Police in Frederick, MD. 1st officer calls in plate on radio: “I need a 10-28 on a tag. It reads 1080” 2nd officer excited “How fast is he going?” 1st officer “Speed limit, turn light out.” 2nd officer “Darn!” 10-80 is code for high speed chase… ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2007, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/51 "2007-10-28T14:39:57Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] You see a lot of vanity plates in Atlanta. My favorite so far is PSSYCHSR. Not very inscrutable. [/QUOTE] Many years ago, in NC I saw MUFFDIVR and more recently MERDALOR, but, to the OP - maybe, if Mass. plates use the pattern of 2 letters then 2 numbers, then 2 letters, maybe it was just his/her turn to get HH88HH. As mentioned in my post #26, I did just spot a Mass. plate with 2 numbers, then 2 letters (DD) then 2 numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/52 "2007-10-28T16:47:07Z")
[QUOTE=Big\_Norse] Would this be widely recognized as the reference? Why this passage in particular to put on a plate? [/QUOTE] I think it would be widely recognized among the faithful in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. It is about the power, mercy, and faithfulness of God. One key verse (9) is: In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/53 "2007-10-28T16:53:10Z")
[QUOTE=Ignatz] As mentioned in my post #26, I did just spot a Mass. plate with 2 numbers, then 2 letters (DD) then 2 numbers. [/QUOTE] So how was she? ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2007, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/54 "2007-10-28T16:59:26Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] So how was she? [/QUOTE] Last I heard, she’d missed a period. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2007, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/55 "2007-10-28T17:11:31Z")
[QUOTE=Ignatz] Last I heard, she’d missed a period. [/QUOTE] Uh oh. Disavow any connection you’ve ever had with her, traffic or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/56 "2007-10-31T14:54:03Z")
[QUOTE=lavenderviolet] I saw a white PT Cruiser with a vanity license plate that had some variation of “White Power” on it [/QUOTE] Hmm. I was wrong in my past posts. It’s not an SUV. 88H H88 is on a PT Cruiser. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2007, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/57 "2007-10-31T20:08:13Z")
I saw a weird one today: An Ontario plate with BBII8888. And of course I immediately thought of the SD and this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/58 "2007-10-31T20:40:06Z")
My favorite license plate is the Florida one that (unintentionally) appears to read “ASS ORGY”. [Linky-loo.](http://www.snopes.com/photos/risque/license.asp) Another favorite is 3M TA3. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/59 "2007-11-01T00:00:11Z")
I vote for the “Lucky Chinese” interpretation. I live near Monterey Park (huge Chinese population) and it sometimes seems that every other store is named 88 something. Apartment #8 very often has a higher rent (because of being more desireable) than the other apartments, etc. Also, given that Chinese-American immigrants have a strong culture of encouraging their children to succeed academically (almost as competitive about it as Koreans), that would fit with it being spotted at Harvard. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121/60 "2007-11-01T01:48:23Z")
OK, I’m probably dense, but yesterday saw a Porsche Carrara with: XI IX. If it wer IX II I’d get it Clear that up for me? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-vanity-plate/424121.md?page=4)