Amateur License Plates

[N8KVB]

I have one on my off-road trail rig. It helps keep the call signs easy to match up with a vehicle on trail rides.

 

[jaymatt1978]

As a ham radio operator and a license plate collector I find this thread very interesting on a number of levels. First of all even though I can understand the thinking behind ham plates might tell a thief there's valuable equipment in the car, the same can be said for antennas. The flipside is some thiefs, remember these folks aren;t the brightest bulbs in the box, might see the antennas and think it's a government owned vehicle. I'm just throwing this theory out there, I always wondered if having ham radio plates made the vehicle more vunerable to theft

 

[ScanWV]

I don't have ham radio tags. I've felt that it's a security thing. Criminals can see my antennas so they know there's expensive radios in my vehicles, but I don't need to give them my address by googling my call sign and just inviting them to my house.
I also don't have EMS tags or anything indicating I'm affiliated with a fire or EMS agency.

 

[JimNS3K]

I have a PO Box for my callsign.

Jim, NS3K

 

[AD8NT]

I'm still considering whether or not I want to get ham plates...
Someone mentioned covering their VIN.. That's a no-go, police will cite you for that.

I'll probably use cash from my next pay check to get a PO box and do a change of address on my fcc profile.

I also thought about a vanity call, however.... I memorized my assigned call in an instant and was very happy to get it.. I don't think I could part with it, even if I did get a "pimped out" vanity call.

 

[gewecke]

I'm still considering whether or not I want to get ham plates...
Someone mentioned covering their VIN.. That's a no-go, police will cite you for that.

I'll probably use cash from my next pay check to get a PO box and do a change of address on my fcc profile.

I also thought about a vanity call, however.... I memorized my assigned call in an instant and was very happy to get it.. I don't think I could part with it, even if I did get a "pimped out" vanity call.

You can cover your vin # if you are on private property in illinois, if you wish privacy from nosey people. Leo's included. I have a vehicle parked in a private driveway that I'm currently not using and is without plates and vin is protected from view. I have had one note on my windshield from a "nosey" and that's it.
Obviously, if you're driving and parking on public property then this is indeed illegal.

73,
n9zas

 

[JimNS3K]

Vanity plates

Why not just get a PO Box for your address. About 47.00 a year. Then if anyone looks up your callsign they will get your PO box not home.

Jim, NS3K

 

[gewecke]

Why not just get a PO Box for your address. About 47.00 a year. Then if anyone looks up your callsign they will get your PO box not home.

Jim, NS3K

Already did this in a alternate city, as well. :wink:

73,
n9zas

 

[ki4lev]

I can understand why some don't want their call on display. That said, I have had mine on my Jeep since 2005 and no issues so far anyway. I've been in a red cross convoy passing through a police roadblock headed to a tornado aftermath area and noticed the deputy in my mirror eyeing my plate so I felt better knowing he knew I was legit being there. My cousin who is also an officer asked why I had emergency plates, I told him it was for radio blah-blah and he stated he had seen those type plates and wasen't sure what they were for exactly. And I've had a neigbor ask me if I'm with the county rescue squad or something so I'd say the average Joe wheather he means well or not doesn't have a clue he can research my callsign because he can't tell it from just another plate number.

 

[ermin]

Had mine here in South Florida since 1993 with no problem. $30 extra per year.

73

Ermin

 

[cifn2]

I got to spend some quantity time with the auto theft task force guys because of having plates on two different vehicles. The officers was running plates in the parking lot and the plate on my Neon came back to my 3500 Chevrolet. He was in the process of writing the citation when the dispatcher came on and asked him if the plate was on a Neon. This started a thirty minute you can't do that session which finally required a supervisor to call DMV to get it cleared up. I don't like being left standing in the Texas summer heat and humidity in an asphalt parking lot because Barney didn't know the law.

I don't do call sign plates anymore.

I seem to remember another issue with someone where, who had amateur radio plates, who was detained for a long time, and several officers on scene, for what they believed were false plates. It came down to the fact that, they were not sure how to enter the plate into the system, either it needed a space, or had a space in the computer entry and shouldn't have.

 

[cifn2]

Vehicle registrations are public information. They can find your address just as easy from a regular tag.

True, the way I understand it, you can get the DMV to run them if you fill out the proper paperwork.

 

[wa2chj]

I've had call sign plates in three different states (NY,NC, and CT) since I first got them in 1975. Never had an issue. I even have had the exact same call plate on two different vehicles at the same time. Some states allow that, some don't. New York State speedpass, however is another story. They won't let you get passes for multiple vehicles with the exact same plate.

 

[John599nj]

Why are some states so much more than others.

You can find a complete list of information for U.S. states' amateur license plates here: Amateur License Plate Information

Great link Dave thanks. It's amazing when you look at states like Alaska its Free to apply and Free to renew then you get whacked from my home state NJ no pun intended. Or Mass is very hi in price. I thought they made these license plates in prison what are they union now lol.

 

[KE4ZNR]

Have had mine on my car for years.
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[AK9R]

I thought they made these license plates in prison...

Indiana still has a license plate shop at the state prison, but they only do very low volume special-use plates. The bulk our plates, including amateur radio plates, are made out of state by a private company.

 

[elk2370bruce]

Unlike Warren, I'm too cheap to get my NJ callsign tags.

You couldn't mean Camden or Philadelphia, could you?
You got it! Until the twin mounted thirties are remounted on my armored car, you won't see me in Camden anytime soon. I did get some photos that I've been passing off as Berlin after the blitz.

 

[KC0KM]

Here is my plate --- for some reason I am proud of this -- I worked hard to get it.

 

[reedeb]

I seem to remember another issue with someone where, who had amateur radio plates, who was detained for a long time, and several officers on scene, for what they believed were false plates. It came down to the fact that, they were not sure how to enter the plate into the system, either it needed a space, or had a space in the computer entry and shouldn't have.

Very stupid officers If they have your DL and a valid Registration [with your name and addy on it ] That is all they need. All they need to do is run your name in computer to see if you are suspened or OK to drive.

 

[AC9BX]

I park my car in too many places where having a sign on the back saying "attention thieves, expensive easy to sell radio inside" is a bad idea.