Amateur Radio License Plates

[SCPD]

"I understand your concern, but look at it this way. I have so many people ask me what my plate is saying, they think it is a personalized tag.
They do not know or understand it is a callsign and even after telling them what it is will not know they could look up my address with it.
Those that do know it is a callsign are usually ham operators anyway."
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Yes, I can see that today with all the personalize tags that a callsign plate melds in with the crowd. This is truly a Tempest in a Teapot. Still, me-- I am not comfortable with anything other than the state issued vanilla plates,...... and too, I never have any bumper stickers on my vehicles nor political signs (though I am anything but non political!).. in my yard.
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Sometimes when I get on a roll...watch out!... I can get a bit colourful, no?...(laughs )
(...and I think this probably finishes me with this topic... it was fun, indeed..)
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.............CF

 

[AK9R]

Yes, I can see that today with all the personalize tags that a callsign plate melds in with the crowd.

It's not just personalized license plates that look like callsign plates. Used to be that Ohio light truck plates were in the format "AA##AAA". I would see that and immediately think "that's an amateur radio plate". Then, my mind would register that there were two numeric digits between the letters.

 

[KE0GXN]

It's rare to get plates that quick in Ca., as most of the time they are on lock down.

Well, here in MO they must be on permanent lock down. Just got my second inquiry answered today with the same canned answer, "Your plates are still in production, it may take up to 4-8 weeks for them to be completed."

Had the wife check and see if they cashed my check yet and of course they did several weeks ago....at least now I know they apparently got their commissary. :roll:

 

[KE0GXN]

All this paranoia about ham radio plates is hilarious.

It wouldn't surprise me if the same hams that are afraid of putting call sign plates on their car run around town wearing a ball cap with their call sign on it, or wear a call sign name badge when they go to meetings or a hamfest, not to mention using their call signs on internet forums. And of course, we all have to ID every ten minutes on the air.

Use some common sense, people.

I agree Chief. But as stated, to each their own.

Like you said..... I would venture say "some" of these same folks probably have the HAARP antenna farm at their QTH or so many antennas on their cars that they rival that of an EMCOM command post vehicle....but in their mind they are playing it safe by not having call plates....go figure.

 

[wa3hdi]

It's not just personalized license plates that look like callsign plates. Used to be that Ohio light truck plates were in the format "AA##AAA". I would see that and immediately think "that's an amateur radio plate". Then, my mind would register that there were two numeric digits between the letters.

In FL, the disability plates are Y#XXX or Z#XXX, so I did a lot of double takes when I moved down here. :lol:

 

[902]

In FL, the disability plates are Y#XXX or Z#XXX, so I did a lot of double takes when I moved down here. :lol:

Florida Embry Riddle plates are N with a number and two letters. Ohio also has ham-alike plates. If I had one of those as a ham and it were assigned, I'd be demanding they unassign it (they'd more than likely tell me "tough," but they knew better before assigning the block). By applying that logic, they'd probably make a generic amateur radio plate with sequential letters/numbers assignment.

 

[k6cpo]

All of this paranoia regarding ham radio license plates is based on the assumption that the average crook even knows what an amateur radio call sign is or how to look it up, which isn't very likely.

As I said in my prior previous post, crooks are stupid and looking for the easiest score. For this reason, I feel pretty safe with my call sign plates, ball cap and name badges.

 

[Delta33]

All of this paranoia regarding ham radio license plates is based on the assumption that the average crook even knows what an amateur radio call sign is or how to look it up, which isn't very likely.

As I said in my prior previous post, crooks are stupid and looking for the easiest score. For this reason, I feel pretty safe with my call sign plates, ball cap and name badges.

. NOT all criminals are stupid ! You might be their Next target, flashing that call sign doesn't make you Smart lol.

 

[N0IU]

As I said in my prior previous post, crooks are stupid and looking for the easiest score.

K6CPO, there are some things on which we do not agree... but this is NOT one of them!

I have said this before in other posts here and on other amateur radio forums (or is that fora?) is that for most of the people who fear that having "ham plates" on your car is an invitation for criminals to break into your vehicle or worse yet, allows them to look up your call sign and get your address so they can break into your house, STOP THINKING LIKE AN AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR AND START THINKING LIKE A THIEF WHO KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO!

 

[dlwtrunked]

...
Given the lack of purpose for having a callsign plate coupled with the ease of determining my address, I'm starting to rethink my license plate strategy.

Lack of purpose...On many drives I have had other hams either "52" me with fingers or just call me by the callsign they saw on my tags on146.52. and I have also done the same to other hams. Of course if you do not want to talk to people you do not know that is another thing; but then why would one be a ham?

 

[N0IU]

Given the lack of purpose for having a callsign plate...

W9BU, we agree on pretty much everything here at RR, but remember they are called vanity plates for a reason and for some people that is enough of a purpose for having ham plates!

 

[GrumpyGuard]

The opinions of everyone regarding this subject are valid, whether you are for or against the plates, but here is some food for thought, if someone of the criminal mind knows about the database and how to use it, they already have all the information about you at their fingertips. There is nothing in place to keep someone from doing a search on the database of all hams in their city and using the information to commit crimes against property or people. The only way to truly stay secure is to use a Post Office box as your mailing address with the FCC.

 

[mmckenna]

The opinions of everyone regarding this subject are valid, whether you are for or against the plates.....

You left out "indifferent".
I've had them before and I got rid of them for various reasons. One being that my amateur radio license isn't my identity and I don't -need- it displayed on my vehicle as some sort of indication of achievement or status. I've got plenty of certifications and licenses for work, most of them way more difficult to get than an amateur license, and I chose not to display them on my vehicle, either.

It's not an "anti-amateur radio" thing. It's easy enough to look in my truck and see the two radios. I'm not hiding them. I'm not hiding the two antennas on the cab, either. It's just a personal choice, neither right or wrong, it just is.

 

[AK9R]

Of course if you do not want to talk to people you do not know that is another thing; but then why would one be a ham?

This comes from a person who does not use their callsign as their forum user name and does not have their user name linked to their callsign.

Please don't question my motives for having an amateur radio license.

After 25 years in amateur radio, most of that time with callsign plates, obvious antennas on my vehicle, and a radio tuned to 146.52 MHz, I can count on the knuckles of one finger the number of of contacts I've had while travelling that were initiated by someone who saw my plates. In my experience, they aren't the highway conversation starter that some folks make them out to be.

 

[BoxAlarm187]

Pretty much anyone can fill out a form (in most if not all states) and find out who your car is registered to, and at what address. However, they have to submit proof of ID, supply a fraudulent reason (unless you really did hit them and run), and go on record.

As noted below, this is not correct.

"The release of information from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is also governed by the Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (18 USC §§ 2721 through 2725) and by Va. Code §§ 46.2-208 through 214. These statutes prohibit DMV from disclosing personal, driver, and vehicle information collected by it in the administration of the motor vehicle laws of Virginia, unless the release of such information meets one of the conditions specified in Va. Code §§ 46.2-208 through 214 and applicable fees are paid."

 

[KK4JUG]

As noted below, this is not correct.

"The release of information from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is also governed by the Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (18 USC §§ 2721 through 2725) and by Va. Code §§ 46.2-208 through 214. These statutes prohibit DMV from disclosing personal, driver, and vehicle information collected by it in the administration of the motor vehicle laws of Virginia, unless the release of such information meets one of the conditions specified in Va. Code §§ 46.2-208 through 214 and applicable fees are paid."

Georgia, too. Many states are going that route.

 

[N0IU]

There are two things that are pointless to discuss: gun control and abortion. They are pointless because it is unlikely that anyone will change their mind about how they feel about these issues no matter what anyone says about them. Well now there appears to be a third thing to add to that list: amateur radio vanity license plates!

 

[AK9R]

They are pointless because it is unlikely that anyone will change their mind about how they feel about these issues no matter what anyone says about them.

Oh, I don't know about that, Scott.

Used to be, I couldn't understand why an Indiana ham wouldn't get amateur radio plates. When I was first licensed, an Indiana AR plate was about $2.00 more than a regular passenger car plate and I got one as soon as I could. I've had AR plates pretty much the whole time I've been licensed. You could put me firmly on the "I'm fer it" side of the issue.

Recently, and after reading some of the comments here, I've started to re-think my position. In other words, my mind is being changed. I won't go so far as to say "I'm agin it", but I'm getting there.

So, this has not been a pointless discussion, in my mind. And, I'm glad you joined the debate!

 

[N0IU]

First of all, I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving. No Black Friday events going on here so I'll just stay in the house in my robe and slippers and QSY through the bands until my wife (she HATES being called "the XYL"!) decides its time to go out and get our Christmas tree.

But anyway...

I still maintain that some of the anti-vanity plate folks are thinking too much like amateur radio operators and not like thiefs. Oh well, to each his own!

My vanity plates may be even more "dangerous" than ham plates since they are Missouri Masonic plates. After all, we are the ones who rule the world and know where the "national treasure" is buried! Believe me, there is a lot more misinformation and paranoia about Freemasons than there is about amateur radio!

And as a side note...

I was going through my LoTW stats after uploading my Sweepstakes log and I still need one more state for 20m WAS.... INDIANA! And two more for 20m digital, Indiana and Nebraska.

 

[k6cpo]

The crook is going to be looking to steal items that they can easily sell for the largest amount of money. They're going to go after cell phones, tablets, computers, GPS units, tools, etc., and at this time of year, Christmas gifts, not ham gear (even if they knew what it was.)

As I said, when my truck was broken into, the crooks took the radio from under the seat but left the control head, which was in plain sight on the dash, behind.

I feel pretty safe having the plates on my truck.