Amateur Radio License Plates

[N0IU]

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.

I know this is waaaaaay off topic, but....

Thanks Bob for confirming #50 on 20 meters and #49 on 20 meter PSK31 (and 20 meter digital)

Now back to our regularly scheduled thread.

 

[SCPD]

I just return'd from towne this morning- and there in a parking lot what did I see but a license plate with
.
................................................ U4EAH .............................
.
My first thought was, "A Russian ham??"
'
Then I replayed the (mental) tape and laughed out loud..... very clever!!
.
..........................................CF

 

[KK4JUG]

I'm a retired cop. I like my tag: WUZDFUZ

 

[N1GTL]

THIS!!!

I got rid of them when the internet really took off and I realized how easy it was to run my call sign, figure out who I was, address, phone number, etc.

I did the same.

 

[KE0GXN]

I still maintain that some of the anti-vanity plate folks are thinking too much like amateur radio operators and not like thiefs.

Bingo!

There is no amateur radio crime syndicate of thieves who specifically target us, because they need a Icom-7300 to get their next crack/meth fix.

Easy scores of opportunity, that is what a crook is looking for. Sorry folks, but the fact is, if someone wants to victimize you...they will....and HAM plates are not going to increase or decrease those chances. Secondly, believe me, these criminals do not have a clue what the hell HAM plates are, much less what the letters and the number signify.

The multiple antennas on your car and at your QTH will bring you more grief then a set of HAM plates ever will.

Lastly if for some reason you think petty criminals are that sophisticated (because that is what we are talking about here...the sophisticated ones are not wiling to do a felony bit your IC-7000.)....then by all means stay the course and I would suggest getting rid of every antenna on your car and property at home.

 

[KK4JUG]

Bingo!

There is no amateur radio crime syndicate of thieves who specifically target us, because they need a Icom-7300 to get their next crack/meth fix.

Easy scores of opportunity, that is what a crook is looking for. Sorry folks, but the fact is, if someone wants to victimize you...they will....and HAM plates are not going to increase or decrease those chances. Secondly, believe me, these criminals do not have a clue what the hell HAM plates are, much less what the letters and the number signify.

The multiple antennas on your car and at your QTH will bring you more grief then a set of HAM plates ever will.

Lastly if for some reason you think petty criminals are that sophisticated (because that is what we are talking about here...the sophisticated ones are not wiling to do a felony bit your IC-7000.)....then by all means stay the course and I would suggest getting rid of every antenna on your car and property at home.

I think you pretty much nailed it, Tony.

 

[KE0GXN]

I think you pretty much nailed it, Tony.

You know what I am talking about brother.

 

[KI7HYI]

Amateur Radio is considered apart of the emergency management community, I would say at least 75% of amateur radio operators are part of ARES=Amateur Radio Emergency Services, Skywarn/storm spotter/trained chaser or some kind of EmComm=Emergency Communication organization. In Most states you have to show a current ARES ID card to obtain this tage. Look up the history of amateur radio in EmComm.

Speaking from personal experience, all you have to do in Wyoming is pay the $30 fee (+$50 if you want embossed) and include a copy of your license with the application. Of course, you have to wait while they make the plate, but since I have never remembered any previous plate I've had in the 46 years I've driven, it will be worth it.
Judging by what I've read about ARES, RACES sounds like a better better organization, if you want to affiliate with Homeland Security in the first place. I'm working on creating a Oathkeeper's CPT for my region.

 

[KI7HYI]

If you have multiple antennas, Amateur radio plates pretty much answer the question of 'what's with all the antennas', before it's even asked.

Could also keep one from being lumped into the 'Whacker' category, by LE and others.

That assumes that most people know the difference between a anatuer radio operator and an unmarked police commander's vehicle.

 

[N4GIX]

That assumes that most people know the difference between a anatuer radio operator and an unmarked police commander's vehicle.

It's not likely a White 1998 Toyota Camry would ever be mistaken for a Po-Po mobile... :lol:

 

[Rred]

"RACES sounds like a better better organization, "
Sorry to disagree, but that myth needs to be busted. DIE VAMPIRE DIE, that kind of busted.

ARES is an organization, run by the ARRL.
RACES is NOT an organization. It is a communications service under the aegis of the FCC and Congress. It is a SERVICE which allows government emergency operations agencies to create their own INDEPENDENT and SEPARATE radio amateur emergency communications service "departments". Or divisions, or teams, however they prefer to call and classify them.

Each RACES group is separate, there is no umbrella organization. There is no "Chairman of the Board", no "Executive Committee" no nothing except Congress and the FCC overseeing a service.

So the "Podunk RACES" team, proudly sponsored by the Podunk Emergency Operations Department, is totally unrelated to the Goober State RACES team, even if Podunk is in the state of Goober (I'm not sure) and the West Podunk RACES team may only be twenty miles away, but it is, again, still a totally separate entity.

The odds are that all RACES teams in a county will have formal agreements with each other, and with other counties and any state team in their state. But they are all separate organizations, no one person can tell them all "Stand down, the operation is over."

On the other hand, the ARRL can issue orders and edicts and in fact even DISBAND any local ARES group and personnel. And there have been several embarrassing incidents where they have had to fire someone "in charge" of an ARES group, and even pursue legal actions against them.

The myth that RACES and ARES are both "organizations"? DIE VAMPIRE DIE.

Many people serve in both, yes. I can work nights at WalMart and days in a mortuary, that doesn't mean WalMart is a funeral home.

 

[KI7HYI]

It's not likely a White 1998 Toyota Camry would ever be mistaken for a Po-Po mobile... :lol:

You must not know much about undercover police work.

 

[KI7HYI]

"RACES sounds like a better better organization, "
Sorry to disagree, but that myth needs to be busted. DIE VAMPIRE DIE, that kind of busted.

ARES is an organization, run by the ARRL.
RACES is NOT an organization. It is a communications service under the aegis of the FCC and Congress. It is a SERVICE which allows government emergency operations agencies to create their own INDEPENDENT and SEPARATE radio amateur emergency communications service "departments". Or divisions, or teams, however they prefer to call and classify them.

Each RACES group is separate, there is no umbrella organization. There is no "Chairman of the Board", no "Executive Committee" no nothing except Congress and the FCC overseeing a service.

So the "Podunk RACES" team, proudly sponsored by the Podunk Emergency Operations Department, is totally unrelated to the Goober State RACES team, even if Podunk is in the state of Goober (I'm not sure) and the West Podunk RACES team may only be twenty miles away, but it is, again, still a totally separate entity.

The odds are that all RACES teams in a county will have formal agreements with each other, and with other counties and any state team in their state. But they are all separate organizations, no one person can tell them all "Stand down, the operation is over."

On the other hand, the ARRL can issue orders and edicts and in fact even DISBAND any local ARES group and personnel. And there have been several embarrassing incidents where they have had to fire someone "in charge" of an ARES group, and even pursue legal actions against them.

The myth that RACES and ARES are both "organizations"? DIE VAMPIRE DIE.

Many people serve in both, yes. I can work nights at WalMart and days in a mortuary, that doesn't mean WalMart is a funeral home.

Given the multitude of evidence to indicate that most of our non-natural emergencies are the result of incompetence and/or deceit, I'd prefer to avoid government involvement with any kind of emergency service that I'm involved in.

 

[KI7HYI]

I live in a town with a total population under 3,000. Ain't no hiding anywhere. And my plates mark me even more than amateur plates.

I'm unaware of any amatuer medical services
Judging by the color of the vehicle and the "COMMERCIAL" on the plate, I have to wonder if it is your vehicle or your employer's.

 

[KK4JUG]

You must not know much about undercover police work.

I do and no one in a Toyota is going to pull me over for anything. If it's not a marked car, I'll move over for a blue light but I'm not stopping.

 

[SteveC0625]

I'm unaware of any amatuer medical services

Judging by the color of the vehicle and the "COMMERCIAL" on the plate, I have to wonder if it is your vehicle or your employer's.

In New York, you can get vanity plates for both passenger and commercial registrations. Amateur radio, EMT, volunteer firefighter (VF), and volunteer ambulance corps (VAC) vanity plates are only issued to individuals.

It's my truck. When I asked the dealer to find me one with the specific features I wanted, it took him 2 weeks to find one. The color was not a consideration as I was looking for an end-of- model-year savings on a new vehicle.

I have been retired from my career employment for 13 years and have not worked a part time job since 2010.

 

[Delta33]

You must not know much about undercover police work.

WHAT agency would use a TOYota for a UC vehicle ?? Think about that!

 

[N0IU]

That assumes that most people know the difference between a anatuer radio operator and an unmarked police commander's vehicle.

But sometimes you can tell the difference!

 

[N4KVE]

I got my N4KVE tag a few years ago, but I didn't like the AMATEUR RADIO logo at the bottom of the tag, so I went by a local car dealer, & got their license plate frame where the bottom was wide, & covers the logo. Happy now.

 

[902]

But sometimes you can tell the difference!

Tom's car is always popular in the hamfest parking lots.