License plate question
Karen
Is there a significance to the Minnesota plates that start out with WV, WX,
WY or WZ? I think they might be a slightly different color as well, like
blue lettering on white.
Someone told me they thought they designated "official" vehicles, like state
employees or something like that -- someone else told me they were people
with DUI convictions.
Thx
Jon Clark
"Karen" <kher...@suespammers.org> wrote in message
news:3f710e49$0$165$a186...@newsreader.visi.com...
Robert N Meyer
There are two completely different types of license plates that can
start with those types of letters.
If it's W, <some letter>, <some number>, then one, two, or three
letters, it's probably an amateur radio operator's license plate, but
those say "Amateur Radio" on the bottom.
I suspect, though, that it's the "other" type that you're asking about,
the background is plain white with no colorful borders. I think they're
all W, <some letter>, then a bunch of numbers. If I remember correctly,
these are replacement plates for someone who has had their plates
confiscated for things like DUIs.
Mark Olson
Shawn Barnhart
"Jon Clark" <jsc...@visi.com> wrote in message
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Why not just put DRUNK DRIVER on the plate, with a background picture of a
pair of handcuffs?
Surely shame is still an effective punishment.
Dan Mason
:
: The latter is correct - aka "Whiskey plates."
Any idea how many DUI convictions you have to get to end up with those
plates? Just curiosity...
Dan
--
"When the power goes out, I curse everybody. I curse God. I curse Saddam
Hussein. And I curse the Americans." --Emad Helawi, Iraqi accountant
TH
plates on your car.
One instance would be the husband gets the dui( car registered in both
names), but his wife still could drive there car. Hence the plates, so it
can be pulled over anytime to make sure he isnt driving it.My neighbor has a
set, due to there 18 yo kid:) I would be totally embarassed to drive a car
with those plates on it.
"Mark Olson" <ols...@tiny.invalid> wrote in message
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TH
168.0422 Stop of vehicles bearing special series plates.
A peace officer who observes the operation of a motor
vehicle within this state bearing special series registration
plates issued under section 168.041, subdivision 6, or 169A.60,
subdivision 13, may stop the vehicle for the purpose of
determining whether the driver is operating the vehicle lawfully
under a valid driver's license.
HIST: 1Sp1997 c 2 s 20; 2000 c 478 art 2 s 7
Copyright 2002 by the Office of Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota
"TH" <n...@spam.com> wrote in message
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osmium
> Any idea how many DUI convictions you have to get to end up with those
> plates? Just curiosity...
Here is the statute, I think if you are willing to invest the time in
studying it the answer is probably in there. A quick scan indicates one
time with 0.20% is enough. It's a bit complicated because the driver may
not be the owner and so on.
http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/169A/60.html
<stuff>
Here's the part I was looking for. The whole bill is kind of lengthy.
Subd. 13. Special registration plates. (a) At any
time during the effective period of an impoundment order, a
violator or registered owner may apply to the commissioner for
new registration plates, which must bear a special series of
numbers or letters so as to be readily identified by traffic law
enforcement officers.
<much more stuff>
As near as I can tell the DMV chose the letter 'W'.
DI
> Had to double check to make sure it was still a law, which it is:)
Only problem is this part of the statute was invalidated by the Minnesota
Supreme Court about a month ago. See the court's opinion at:
<http://www.lawlibrary.state.mn.us/archive/supct/0307/op011985-0731.htm>
Jim Manson
>Had to double check to make sure it was still a law, which it is:)
>
Actually no it isn't. The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that
particular statute unconstitutional on July 31, 2003 in
State of Minnesota vs. Joel Robert Henning
C9-01-1985
S Y L L A B U S
Minnesota Statutes § 168.0422 (2002), which authorizes stops of
motorists based solely on the presence of special series registration
plates, is unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment of the United
States Constitution and Article I, Section 10 of the Minnesota
Constitution.
The presence of special series registration plates issued pursuant to
Minn. Stat. § 168.041, subd. 6 (2002) or Minn. Stat. § 169A.60, subd.
13 (2002), does not amount to reasonable articulable suspicion
justifying a stop of a motorist.
TH
can drive around and cant be pulled over anymore unless there breaking a
driving law while doing it. I`d like to see 2nd dui , and your car gets
auctioned off:) Maybe that would keep em off the road if they have to start
walking to the bar.
"Jim Manson" <J...@Manson.com> wrote in message
news:08o4nv0dcts7uvn5h...@4ax.com...
Jim Manson
>I quess the W plates really serve no purpose then anymore, since the drunks
>can drive around and cant be pulled over anymore unless there breaking a
>driving law while doing it. I`d like to see 2nd dui , and your car gets
>auctioned off:) Maybe that would keep em off the road if they have to start
>walking to the bar.
>
Some areas do have forfeitures after, IIRC, 3 convictions.
John A. Weeks III
> I quess the W plates really serve no purpose then anymore, since the drunks
> can drive around and cant be pulled over anymore unless there breaking a
> driving law while doing it. I`d like to see 2nd dui , and your car gets
> auctioned off:) Maybe that would keep em off the road if they have to start
> walking to the bar.
Now that I know what to look for with these W plates, if I see one
having problems holding their car between the lines on the road,
I will be much more likely to call 911 rather than let it go.
-john-
--
====================================================================
John A. Weeks III 952-432-2708 jo...@johnweeks.com
Newave Communications http://www.johnweeks.com
====================================================================
osmium
> Now that I know what to look for with these W plates, if I see one
> having problems holding their car between the lines on the road,
> I will be much more likely to call 911 rather than let it go.
I'm sure the Supreme Court can and will find some reason to remove the W
from the plates. All they need is the proper test case. The 14th amendment
seems like a ripe starting place.
Dan Mason
: Here is the statute, I think if you are willing to invest the time in
: studying it the answer is probably in there. A quick scan indicates one
: time with 0.20% is enough. It's a bit complicated because the driver may
: not be the owner and so on.
They seem to realize the driver may not own the vehicle.
Subd. 7. Vehicle not owned by violator. A violator
may file a sworn statement with the commissioner within seven
days of the issuance of an impoundment order stating any
material information relating to the impoundment order,
including that the vehicle has been sold or destroyed, and
supplying the date, name, location, and address of the person or
entity that purchased or destroyed the vehicle. The
commissioner shall rescind the impoundment order if the violator
shows that the impoundment order was not properly issued.
Jim Manson
Actually since they're replacement plates for impounded ones I doubt
if the court will change it. The swap in plates takes place after a
criminal conviction and is a part of the administrative handling of
it. I don't think the 14th amendment is implicated.
In any event the State has two choices. Make the signing of a waiver
regarding being stopped part of applying for the plates, or simply
stop issuing them completely and let the vehicle sit and rust until
the person can get their plates replaced in a couple of years. The
whole idea was to issue the W plates so that family members would be
able to use the car. They may be out of luck in the future.
The car also can't be transferred with impound plates unless the owner
has permission from Public Safety.
osmium
> >I'm sure the Supreme Court can and will find some reason to remove the W
> >from the plates. All they need is the proper test case. The 14th
amendment
> >seems like a ripe starting place.
> >
>
> Actually since they're replacement plates for impounded ones I doubt
> if the court will change it. The swap in plates takes place after a
> criminal conviction and is a part of the administrative handling of
> it. I don't think the 14th amendment is implicated.
But the criminal conviction was of the guy driving the car, not necessarily
the owner of the car. That was my starting point.
Hollis
> There are two completely different types of license plates that can
> start with those types of letters.
>
> If it's W, <some letter>, <some number>, then one, two, or three
> letters, it's probably an amateur radio operator's license plate, but
> those say "Amateur Radio" on the bottom.
>
impoundment vehicles. Hams with W* call-signs are not allowed to have
custom plates.
At least as far I as know -- I'm not the Ham of the family.
---
Holly K.
hol...@abu.mn.org
www.tortpro.net
Jim Manson
The impound plates are when the owner is convicted. You may be
thinking of forfeitures.
Jeremy S. Nichols, PE
"Hollis" <hol...@abu.mn.org> wrote in message
news:548e5b40.0309...@posting.google.com...
I never had trouble in the past getting my call sign WA0TZY
on plates (I don't currently have ARO plates on my car). And
the state does not mention a restriction like this on their
special plates page:
http://www.dps.state.mn.us/dvs/MotorVehicle/specialplates.htm
Jeremy Nichols
WA0TZY
Scot Wilcoxon
some "WM" some time ago. Amateur plates for certain prefixes won't be
available.
Scot Wilcoxon
vehicle with restricted usage. DPS hasn't said in public what pattern
of license plates is used for these special plates, so they're not
advertising the meaning of these.
Jeremy S. Nichols, PE
"Scot Wilcoxon" <ca...@wilcoxon.org> wrote in message
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Well, here they are on the DPS web site:
http://www.dps.state.mn.us/dvs/plbrochure/page5.htm
And the pattern does not match any US Amateur call sign,
which all have only one digit.