Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

I need to find what state a particular plate is for. I will describe this the best I can and hopefully someone will recognize it:

1. The top of the plate is a light blue color
2. The font of the state's name is red and the state is only one word but appears to be longer, I guessed Alabama and Arkansas but I haven't found any visual confirmation.
3. The sequence of the plate is mostly numbers with a letter in possibly the second to the last spot (6-7 digits total).
4. The digits are all in black and the plate is white in that area, making the digits fairly easy to see however the state is not.

And before anyone leaves any smart comments, I have googled it and I have found sites which give pics of the plates but I haven't found it thus far.

EDIT: made a quick little sketch in paint, the state's font style is sort of fancy, not just block letters:
http://i51.tinypic.com/107vpc9.png

Pennsylvania

http://www.doj.mt.gov/driving/images/plateredlodgeareachambercommerce.jpg
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/imageserver/dmv/images/elp/whaletail_150.jpg
http://www.customlicenseplates.co/images/LP-2061%20Texas%20State%20Background%20License%20Plat es%20-%20Texans.jpg
http://pi.b5z.net/i/u/1014110/i/licenseplates/NEBRASKA_ezr.jpg

any of these?

Greg-

Check out this site (http://www.15q.net/usindex.html).

I didn't check all the states, but based on a quick scan... Maybe Arkansas?

-Citicop.

Greg-

Check out this site (http://www.15q.net/usindex.html).

I didn't check all the states, but based on a quick scan... Maybe Arkansas?

-Citicop.
this?

http://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/offices/motorVehicle/plateImages/amateur_radio_lg.jpg

based on the weblink that citi posted I vote Montana...good luck that's like finding a needle in a haystack..

There are a bunch similar to what you posted. South Dakota and older Nebraska plates come to mind.

this?

http://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/offices/motorVehicle/plateImages/amateur_radio_lg.jpg

It was somewhat similar to that but that wasnt it., the blue was darker and the letters of the state were "fatter," and hoenstly not very legilble at all. There are also no stickers on it identifying expiration. Appreciate the help so far though...

I'm beginning to think someone made it in their basement. To expand on the info I saw it on a large bus last night. It was similar to a Greyhound but had no markings, indicating it was likely privately owned. It did not commmit any violations or anything it just bothers me that I don't know what state the plate was from. I happened to see the same style plate on a Honda Civic a few months back as well so it's probably legit. The problem is boh were at night and the blue/red contrast made it about impossible to see the state's name.

I checked that site Citicop posted before posting this but couldnt find it. Some of the pics of the brand new plates are missing so it may be one of them...

It was somewhat similar to that but that wasnt it., the blue was darker and the letters of the state were "fatter," and hoenstly not very legilble at all. There are also no stickers on it identifying expiration. Appreciate the help so far though...

I'm beginning to think someone made it in their basement. To expand on the info I saw it on a large bus last night. It was similar to a Greyhound but had no markings, indicating it was likely privately owned. It did not commmit any violations or anything it just bothers me that I don't know what state the plate was from. I happened to see the same style plate on a Honda Civic a few months back as well so it's probably legit. The problem is boh were at night and the blue/red contrast made it about impossible to see the state's name.

I checked that site Citicop posted before posting this but couldnt find it. Some of the pics of the brand new plates are missing so it may be one of them...

There's a button in your car that turns on a blue and red light. They'll stop. Tell them you stopped them for an obstructed/obscurred plate. Leave your hat in the car and give them a warning to move to a state with better plates.

For the bus, do a commercial vehicle inspection. Do you even need a reason for that?

Stop any of these:
http://www.dor.ms.gov/mvl/nascar/rpms4207.jpg

There's a button in your car that turns on a blue and red light. They'll stop. Tell them you stopped them for an obstructed/obscurred plate. Leave your hat in the car and give them a warning to move to a state with better plates.

For the bus, do a commercial vehicle inspection. Do you even need a reason for that?

Stop any of these:
http://www.dor.ms.gov/mvl/nascar/rpms4207.jpg

We can't just arbitrarily pull over people because we feel like it. That's called a civil rights violation. Maybe that's how they do it in AZ I don't know. It's not like the plate was obstructed, I just couldn't see because my headlights sucked and so did the plate lamp on the bus. Have I mentioned Crown Vic headlights are worthless?

I'm not a commercial vehicle inspector so even if that's allowed (which I have no idea if it is) I am not qualified to do it, short of tire tread and other basic equipment.

There's a button in your car that turns on a blue and red light. They'll stop. Tell them you stopped them for an obstructed/obscurred plate. Leave your hat in the car and give them a warning to move to a state with better plates.

For the bus, do a commercial vehicle inspection. Do you even need a reason for that?

Stop any of these:
http://www.dor.ms.gov/mvl/nascar/rpms4207.jpg

I am a Montoya fan. Nice plate.

I am a Montoya fan. Nice plate.

http://i52.tinypic.com/90adc5.jpg

Approves.

Excellent!

Greg, I'm not very familar with number plates in the USA but have you checked the canadian plates?

We can't just arbitrarily pull over people because we feel like it. That's called a civil rights violation. Maybe that's how they do it in AZ I don't know. It's not like the plate was obstructed, I just couldn't see because my headlights sucked and so did the plate lamp on the bus. Have I mentioned Crown Vic headlights are worthless?

I'm not a commercial vehicle inspector so even if that's allowed (which I have no idea if it is) I am not qualified to do it, short of tire tread and other basic equipment.

If the plate light is not sufficiently lighting up the plate, thats enough of a violation to stop the vehicle to better read the plate.

Greg, I'm not very familar with number plates in the USA but have you checked the canadian plates?

I considered that also but it seems the sequence of the numbers and letters weren't consistent on the Canadian plates I looked up. The seem two have the digits separated 3 and 3 instead of one long number...




If the plate light is not sufficiently lighting up the plate, thats enough of a violation to stop the vehicle to better read the plate.

Yeah in hindsight it probably would have worked but really didn't think ID-ing the state would have been this hard after the fact...I figured a 5 minute google search would clear it up.

Greg-

Check out this site (http://www.15q.net/usindex.html).

I didn't check all the states, but based on a quick scan... Maybe Arkansas?

-Citicop.

Thanks for that site - great resource. I'd hit you with green, but I apparently still have to spread it around.

Thanks for that site - great resource. I'd hit you with green, but I apparently still have to spread it around.
The site must have been done by a private citizen. I looked at Oregon and it showed the plate last issued in 1969 and said that it's valid if it's been continuously on the same vehicle. That's not true, you can have your old plate transferred to your new car in Oregon if you like, it just costs more money. I've seen cases where people had a particularly unique plate issued and wanted to keep it. An old plate on a newer vehicle can be legitimate.

It does have a good array of plates though and could certainly come in handy. Good post.

Well I cracked the case tonight, it's Montana:

Default Montana Plate Current | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/swift/257320854/in/set-72157594307397573)

I still say the state looks red IRL

Good work! See post 3. :) okay, not exactly the same.

Post 6 is good too.

Good work! See post 3. :) okay, not exactly the same.

Post 6 is good too.

It would have been hard to figure based on mental picture. Again IRL the state looks red but apparently it's orange. I saw it tonight on a parked vehicle, that was definitely the plate and it said Montana.

The questions remains how are that many people from Montana traveling through a 7 square mile area of PA?