Technology ConnectionsDec 10, 2023

I recently noticed that the State of Illinois has changed the font of the *stamping* on license plates.

The design is the same, but the stamped text is a bit thinner and the glyphs are blockier.

I am surprised how much this change is bothering me, to be honest. It has never occurred to me how much that is a defining feature. The first one I saw I assumed had to be fake!

Show threadTechnology ConnectionsDec 10, 2023

But - I'm relieved they're still being stamped.

Shame on all the states that just print them now. Cheapskates.

Show threadNathan WeilDec 10, 2023

@TechConnectify Yeah, but look at all the REALLY COOL plates you can get in Arizona now! Seriously, I do think some are awesome and it's an easy way for the state to make money.

Now if only the other states could catch up and get rid of the front plate too!

I'd like to see something replace plates altogether. They have a lot of flaws.

Show threadTechnology ConnectionsDec 10, 2023

@weiln I disagree so hard on the front plate thing.

Several hit-and-runs get solved every year because the front plate fell off and was left at the scene. I really do not understand the aversion to putting another $1 piece of metal on the front of your car other than aesthetic preferences, and when we're dealing with machines that can kill people aesthetic preferences like that can go eff allllll the way off.

Show threadBrian EnigmaDec 10, 2023
@TechConnectify The one downside I’ve seen with front plates in Portland, because they also have registration stickers, is that they get stolen and re-used as illegal back places on similar-model cars. But that seems like a minor downside and ultimately fixable if the front/rear plates had distinctly different design elements.
Show threadFuzzysteveDec 10, 2023
@BrianEnigma @TechConnectify The US system for plates is weird. replacement plates or stickers every year? That seems just a bit dumb and backwards. It's all on computer already, so why not deal with it there? You didn't pay this year? They'll already know, and could flag your number.
Show threadTechnology ConnectionsDec 10, 2023

@fuzzysteve @BrianEnigma I don't know. It seems pretty reasonable to me.

Here, the sticker changes color every year. So when you see a car with a sticker that's two colors old, you know at a glance that driver hasn't renewed their registration. No need to look anything up.

In fact, I would rather have mechanisms like that then require a bunch of cameras and or manual lookups.

Show threadRaymond RussellDec 10, 2023
@TechConnectify @fuzzysteve @BrianEnigma
Curious as to what registration means in a US context.
To drive on a public road in the in the UK you must have have a licence, be correctly insured, pay a road fund tax and have a valid MOT.
MOT is an annual vehicle road worthyness check.
You used to have to display a (road fund) tax disc with an expiry date on it. Now you still pay the tax but enforcement is mostly thru automatic license plate recognition cameras with hefty penalties if you don't pay.
Show threadFuzzysteve
@raymierussell @TechConnectify @BrianEnigma You also should be notifying the licensing department that a vehicle is off the road, thus not taxable. and undoing that when it's not.
Dec 10, 2023 at 7:01pmWeb