# MD plates **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 19, 2003, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/md-plates/176275 "2003-05-19T23:14:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/md-plates/176275/21 "2003-05-22T00:20:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*They sure seem to be. I don’t know if there are any NY state statutes that confer special exemptions to cars with MD plates. If so, you could argue that they serve a function. Absent that, I’d think it a pure vanity thing. Fortunately I think I’m past the phase where I’d want MD plastered on my car. \*\* There is a plate called an FOP plate, which stands for Federation Of Police. This plate is obtainable from this organization only. I have two nephews who are police officers and they had to appear in front of an executive board member with all the proof they could muster, including calls to their police departments, to confirm that they were,in fact, police officers. The State of NY will then issue the plates. Believe me when I tell you that it is a get out of jail plate. As you speed by a trooper, he’ll give you a wave. I have recently seen a Conneticut FOP plate, so maybe it’s a country wide organisation. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/md-plates/176275/22 "2003-05-22T01:50:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by St. Urho \* > \*\*Minnesota and Wisconsin both have firefighter and EMT license plates. > > St. Urho > EMT/Firefighter \*\* [Me, too](http://www.angelfire.com/yt/alpca3877/mdimages/FD.jpg). That’s a tag for a personal vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/md-plates/176275/23 "2003-05-22T02:23:42Z")
Ours are similar. The trucks all have standard plates that say FIRE- no numbers or anything else. Just like the squad cars all have plates that say POLICE (or SHERIFF). ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/md-plates/176275/24 "2003-05-22T02:36:35Z")
Whoops, I’m not the firefighter, my husband is. That’s the tag we have on our cars; for volunteer FFs only. Yes, it’s a vanity tag, but the extra money goes back to the MD State Firefighters Association. The engines for the volunteers have a tag that has BC (for Baltimore County) and the engine or squad number. I’m drawing a blank on what the paid crews have on their tags. Something that lists their station number, I know. ---
**Author:** ![Doc\_Trauma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Doc\_Trauma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doc_Trauma)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/md-plates/176275/25 "2003-05-22T03:34:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yeah \* > \*\*“But then, I guess if th eabove were true, they’d have fireman plates, too.” > > Plates? Who needs plates? They’e got sirens and stowable flashing red lights. \*\* They do. They also make EMT plates for the folks who make most of the MDs housecalls for them. I think it’s just a vanity thing…or maybe just a way to let the cop who pulled you over know that you’re an upstanding member of society. ---
**Author:** ![Doc\_Trauma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Doc\_Trauma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doc_Trauma)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/md-plates/176275/26 "2003-05-22T03:38:38Z")
oops just realized that someone else said the same darn thing like 8 posts up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/md-plates/176275.md?page=1)