Ham Radio Car License Plates

[jbolton]

Interesting. Was just going to order some. Or try too. Seems like if there is a problem to just inform/suggest the officer to change the plate type in his computer.

[IrishJoe3]

Guys

Thanks for the information. Seems like the data bases between the DMV and your computers are not playing well together. Would it help if I add a bumper sticker referring to HAM radio Hobby?

Nope.

But this brings up another question, why would an officer even try to enter my ham plates in the first place. I was not speeding, driving badly etc, so I do not know why the officers were looking up my call sign. Is there an automatic licence plate reader camera in the police cars that triggers a search?

How else am I supposed to find your car once its stolen? I have yet to find a car thief holding a sign that says "I just jacked this car". I'll usually run hundreds of plates a shift for absolutely no reason other than it was there in front of me. And because of that I've been able to return a number of stolen cars and plates to their rightful owners. If in the course of running a plate I find something that is off or RS of a crime, I'll stop and investigate until I'm satisfied that there is no crime or hinky business. In your case, that'd be looking at your registration card at which point it becomes clear that your plate is legit.

It seems like a waste of time for an officer to see my car an then decide to enter my call sign on the computer, trying multiple databases, all the while following me as I drive along the road.

I know now when a police car (or three in a couple cases) is following me for more than a few blocks I'm going to get pulled over.

Yup. Its much easier to run a simple plate and get a standard return. But hey, life aint always easy.

[NiceGuyInSanJose]

One other letter/number issue that has caused "Record Not on File" results is a personalized plate that has something that looks like a ZERO in the plate.

Many years ago, I had personalized plates on my motorcycle that started with 1O98... and since cops are basically curious, it got run a lot! (and long before MDTs). The problem is they read the plate as One-Zero-Nine-Eight, when DMV required it to be One-Ocean-Nine-Eight...

I found that this also happens when there is what looks like a number 1, and DMV makes it be a letter "I".

[Rockbus]

Thanks again for the info guys. At least I know that its not just me and my plates. Its also good for me to learn how things work.


I'll close the thread now (once I find out how) that my questions have been answered.

[SWalt]

Just to add some info to the thread, my dad had his Ham license on his vehicle from the 1960's till he passed. It was always fun driving around with a black and gold plates on a new vehicle. Now I don't know if the plate could have been exchanged for the newer styles, but he would be too damn cheap to spend a few extra bucks in any case. Family members were pulled over just because of the plate color on new vehicles, although I never was. I still know the plate by heart, W6***. W is from getting his license on the east coast and if I remember correctly all radio licenses east of the Mississippi start with W, everything west starts with K. Just throwing this out there, may help someone or at least add to someones knowledge.

[lorax3]

Here's a link to DMV which shows the various special plates out there. The "Citizens Band " plates are interesting. They were discontinued in 1983, but DMV will still replace them to license holders.

I've never seen the "Press Photographer" plates, but I would guess some LEO have seen them around various crime scenes or accidents.

[mej16489]

Just to add some info to the thread, my dad had his Ham license on his vehicle from the 1960's till he passed. It was always fun driving around with a black and gold plates on a new vehicle. Now I don't know if the plate could have been exchanged for the newer styles, but he would be too damn cheap to spend a few extra bucks in any case. Family members were pulled over just because of the plate color on new vehicles, although I never was. I still know the plate by heart, W6***. W is from getting his license on the east coast and if I remember correctly all radio licenses east of the Mississippi start with W, everything west starts with K. Just throwing this out there, may help someone or at least add to someones knowledge.

The W and K beginning never followed the same convention as commercial radio stations (think KFI or WGO)

My bet would be that the W6* callsign was a reissued license when he moved to California. It used to be mandatory that you be issued a new license when you changed districts. Allot of folks got really upset when they had to change their original call. Now its completely voluntary to get a new one or keep your old one.

As a small point of trivia, All USA call letters begin with N, K, W or A. The Ns were the original prefix after Amateur Radio licenses became regulated. Similarly, USA airplanes registries begin with N. The original Great Britain licenses were G, also the same on airplanes. There are lots of licensing overlaps like that.

[EspoMan]

Having a plate with your call sign on it is very dumb in my book. Anyone can look you up and know your name and where you live.

http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchLicense.jsp

[mej16489]

Having a plate with your call sign on it is very dumb in my book. Anyone can look you up and know your name and where you live.

http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsS...rchLicense.jsp

Which licensees should be well aware of and hopefully use a PO Box or mailbox service.

[Sacmedic]

I have a local press photographer with the PP plates. Good guy. I've only seen one or two others statewide.

[EspoMan]

Which licensees should be well aware of and hopefully use a PO Box or mailbox service.

Don't believe the FCC let's you use a PO BOX.

[Buzzworm]

Got stopped for years just because I had a 'odd' ham plate. (K_FU) Finally took them off and got regular plates. Didn't need the attention especially with a CCW

[Che762x39]

How many LEOs know what W6--- is? I do since my dad had them on his truck since 1960. When I became a CA LEO in 1981 I use to see them frequently. In 2015, not so much anymore. Unless your grandpa is a HAM why would you get into that hobby?

[Che762x39]

We used to have to enter the correct "type" of plate after entering the numbers. passenger was default, "C" for commercial, "S" for special (personalized) so there were many errors when cops were running plates because they did not know the type of plate to run.

Correctamundo. Was not "L" for anything that was not "C", "S" or "M"?

[retired]

Thanks again for the info guys. At least I know that its not just me and my plates. Its also good for me to learn how things work.


I'll close the thread now (once I find out how) that my questions have been answered.

Rockbus, only the staff can close a thread and I will close this for you since you requested it.