# Why do some states have only one license plate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 19, 2001, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-states-have-only-one-license-plate/88515 "2001-10-19T23:10:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mapsmith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/848f3c/32.png) [@mapsmith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mapsmith)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-states-have-only-one-license-plate/88515/21 "2001-10-22T04:47:35Z")
Arizona is a rear only plate state, but when I got personalized plates, I was given two plates. (three different times) I guess the extra is a spare if someone stole the original. Also, (hijack attempt) when I lived in Texas, they had a big problem with the stickers for each year being stolen by people without the means or desire to pony up the fee each year. So you had to be careful if you parked in a shopping center during the first week of the month. (Really bad in the Dallas Area) Don’t know if they have minimized the problem since I have been out of Texas for 10 years now. ---
**Author:** ![Quisling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e47c2d/32.png) [@Quisling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quisling)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-states-have-only-one-license-plate/88515/22 "2001-10-22T11:16:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CrankyAsAnOldMan \* > \*\*Here in Ann Arbor a number of metered parking structures/lots forbid your backing into spaces, because the parking authority cannot see your plate to write the ticket if you do. > > An interesting artifact of the single-plate system. \*\* Heaven forbid the parking authority members actually step out of their vehicle and around your car to write a ticket huh? ---
**Author:** ![Niobium\_Knight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Niobium\_Knight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niobium_Knight)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-states-have-only-one-license-plate/88515/23 "2001-10-22T12:19:19Z")
it’s quite simple. if a car is coming towards you you have a chance to read the numberplate before the car passes and you end up looking at it in your mirror in reverse. ---
**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-states-have-only-one-license-plate/88515/24 "2001-10-22T13:28:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kellymccauley \* > \*\*I live in Alabama (no chuckling out there, now), a rear-only state. > I always wanted to put an old plate from another state on the front, but never had the guts. Would that be illegal? \*\* Even if nobody cares in Alabama, the same may not be true in other states you drive through, especially two-plate states. For instance, suppose you slapped a Texas plate on the front. The next time you go there, the cop sees a plate which hasn’t been used in the Lone Star State for two or three years. This **may** be illegal, even if you’re registered in another state. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-states-have-only-one-license-plate/88515/25 "2001-10-22T13:40:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mapsmith \* > \*\*Also, (hijack attempt) when I lived in Texas, they had a big problem with the stickers for each year being stolen by people without the means or desire to pony up the fee each year. So you had to be careful if you parked in a shopping center during the first week of the month. (Really bad in the Dallas Area) Don’t know if they have minimized the problem since I have been out of Texas for 10 years now. \*\* Yes, they have. Texas registration stickers now go on the inside of the windshield, and they void themselves if you peel them off. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-states-have-only-one-license-plate/88515.md?page=1)