HAM License Plates

[c-mama]

Hey guys,

I was searching for license plates for my new truck - happened upon this site and they have plates related to HAM radio. Thought I'd pass the info along if you are interested...

http://license-plate-world.com/ham1.htm

[uhlawpup]

Unfortunally, in Texas, we have front and rear license plates, and a $200 fine if we don't display both of them... (sigh)

[lymph]

I used to have a ham license plate (my call) when I was in Michigan. I think it cost an extra couple bucks and you have to show your ham ticket to qualify. When I moved to Washington and tried to get one, nobody knew what I was talking about (even though they're offered) and I finally learned that I'd have to go all the way to Olympia to get one. :( Not worth it -- now I just have plain ol' license plates.

[phone*guy]

Originally posted by uhlawpup
Unfortunally, in Texas, we have front and rear license plates, and a $200 fine if we don't display both of them... (sigh)

Same thing here in Kaliforniastan. Though you can get a personalized plate with your HAM call sign.

[Mingus Jim]

When living in IL, I had ham plates. When IL used to issue new physical plates every year, it cost $3.00 extra for call sign plates. When the state went to muliti-year plates, it stopped charging the extra $3.00. The plates were to be for five years, but it was, I believe, 12 - 15 years before the state started replacing them.

My replacements were due the year we moved to Arizona. I got a notice in the mail that my plates would be coming. I sent e-mail telling the secretary of state's office that I lived in AZ and had no use for IL plates. I got a response telling me that the could not be cancelled, so just throw them away when I got them. So, I now have a souvenier: two brand new IL call sign plates still wrapped in the original plastic wrap.

With vehicle registration so high here in AZ (well, registration is only $18.00, but the vehicle tax is over $300 for my 2001 Ford Explorer), I didn't get call sign plates as I was darned if I was going to pay an extra $25.00 a year (it is not just a one time charge, even though the plates are multi-year) extra.

However, I found out one can get a front call sign plate for $13.00, which I did. The choice is the standard 'scene' plate with the mountians and suguaros on it or a copper plate - just a plain, copper colored plate. The plates are made by the same prisoners who make the 'real' plates from the very same stock, in the case of the scene plate. The only difference with the scene plate is the border is colored and the lettering is a different color.

Here's the real plate (http://www.commspeed.net/wb9vgj/license/license2.jpg).

Here's the call sign plate (http://www.commspeed.net/wb9vgj/license/license1.jpg).

[k8ysv]

Thanks for the link Crochetmama! We have to have both plates here in Ohio too, but the BMV here offers Ham Radio specialty plates. You take in a copy of your license and they assign the letters to you. For a nominal fee of course (ten bucks extra).

I not only get the Jeep wave now, but the Ham Radio wave too ;f

[KA3N]

Just a rear plate needed in PA..

[Vic303]

Originally posted by uhlawpup
Unfortunally, in Texas, we have front and rear license plates, and a $200 fine if we don't display both of them... (sigh) Yeah, but you can get official f/r callsign plates in TX. They're just not 'decorative'...

[Mingus Jim]

Originally posted by KA3N
Just a rear plate needed in PA.. One thing I forgot in my earlier post. Although AZ is a one-plate state, if one gets the real call sign plates, one gets two plates. However, I don't think it is required by law to display the front plate; one of my fellow ARES/RACES emergency coordinators sometimes has his call sign plate on front and sometimes an ARES plate.

[sensei]

I'm in Texas.

I have my call sign for my license plates. Says Amateur Radio Operator on plates.

Cost me $2.00 per year.

sensei

[N1PJ]

I also have a ham plate.
In MA they use the same style as the regular plates. The only difference is a lightning bolt between the prefix and the suffix of the call.
The lightning bolt tends to mess up people running the plates. The inspection garage didn't know how to run the plate when I first brought my vehicle in to be inspected. They told me I wasn't in the registry. They didn't know to use a forward slash where the lightning bolt was. As soon as they did that the machine printed my new inspection sticker. Over the scanner I once heard the police radio in my plates for a general check, when dispatch came back they said no matching record.
73's

N1PJ

[Mallan]

Utah charges $10 to make the plates which are then treated as normal plates there after. We are supposed to use both front and rear.

73's AC7DM

[GSD17]

we only have rear plates here in Alabama, but we have a special HAM plate you can get instead of the normal one

[Geko45]

If any of ya'll are ever in England, stop by The Texas Embassy for a bite to eat. My Dad's Texas rado operator plate is mounted on the wall mixed in with all the others. It's WB5HVH. As a side note, the restaarant is named The Texas Embassy because the location actually was Texas' embassy to England when we were an independent country.

Yes, I've got radio operator plates on my vehicle, front and back (Texas). Next time I jump the pond, I'm taking one of mine to put on that wall next to my Dad's.

[WestTexasGT]

I don't have call plates yet, I had them on my first car, then on my truck it took over a year to get it all straightened out and we sold it before they even got here. Now with the mustang I predict similar problems, but I'll get them on eventually I hope;)

[sacluded]

I don't have my call plates. To me all a call plate does is advertise that I have expensive gear in my vehicle. Not only that but anybody can jump on the internet and look up my call, find my address, and then go take my expensive equipment form my vehicle. Not worth it to me. Maybe I'm just paranoid....

[Grog]

Originally posted by sacluded
Maybe I'm just paranoid....

Sounds like it.

As far as expensive gear, all I have in my truck is a two meter and a scanner. Total cost of $190 if stolen. There are more acts of random crime than being targeted for a "CB". Look at all the company cars with radio gear in them, they don't get ripped off. The man in charge of radio gear where I work has more gear $$$ in his truck than what it's worth :)

P.S. They only get your address if you have your real address listed with the FCC ;f

[Mgdell]

If any of you are in Iceland. Go to the Hard Rock Cafe in Reyjakvic... Look for a Green on white Idaho plate with my call on it "N7LMJ" on the wall..

[saber]

lymph,

All you need to do to get Ham plates is mail the
application along with a one-time fee ($20??) and a
copy of your ticket to the DOL. It's available online.

http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/420499.pdf

There is no additional charge each year for the plates.
The DOL should be able to answer your questions.

jeff
KY7G

[beachside39]

I can't imagine paying $16 for a custom plate with my call letters on it.

I've had state-issued call plates from Michigan and Florida since 1960. Florida only charges $5 extra every few years when they want to stamp a new plate. Not a bad deal.

[ff19106]

Im livin in the great State of Georgia!

Where they really like us and give us a choice to purchase Vanity Amateur Radio Operator Plates.

Today Im at the Firehouse working but tomorrow I will take a pic and upload it for you.

The plates are pretty cool.

[Eddie C.]

I have a Connecticut Ham Call license plate. I paid extra for it as it's also a "Save the Sound" plate (Long Island Sound). It cost me an extra $70.00 but a good portion of it went to preserving Long Island Sounds Water.


73's,
Eddie C.
N1KGN
www.441700.com

[greenlead]

There is no extra fee here! Did I mention that I love Indiana???

My dad has his call on his car. When I get my license (and a car), I will definitely do it.

Here's the Indiana Code dealing with the issue:

IC 9-18-23
Chapter 23. Amateur Radio Operator License Plates

IC 9-18-23-1
Eligibility
Sec. 1. The bureau shall issue a license plate to a person who:
(1) owns a motor vehicle or recreational vehicle;
(2) is a resident of Indiana; and
(3) holds an unrevoked and unexpired official amateur radio station and operator's license issued by the Federal Communications Commission;
upon receiving an application accompanied by proof of ownership of the amateur radio station and operator's license.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.125-1995, SEC.5.

IC 9-18-23-2
Design and manufacture; official amateur radio call letters
Sec. 2. (a) The bureau shall design and manufacture amateur radio operator license plates as needed to administer this chapter.
(b) A license plate issued under this chapter shall be imprinted with the official amateur radio call letters assigned to the applicant by the Federal Communications Commission.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.

IC 9-18-23-3
Weight restriction
Sec. 3. The bureau shall register under this chapter passenger cars and trucks with declared gross weights of not more than eleven thousand (11,000) pounds.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.

IC 9-18-23-4
Registration taxes, fees, and requirements; applicability
Sec. 4. This chapter does not exempt an applicant from the motor vehicle excise tax under IC 6-6-5 or any fee or requirement for registration under this title.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.

IC 9-18-23-5
Rules
Sec. 5. The bureau shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 necessary to administer this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.


Oh, and just to throw this in:
IC 36-7-5.2
Chapter 5.2. Regulation of Amateur Radio Antennas

IC 36-7-5.2-1
Limited federal preemption
Sec. 1. A municipality or county may not enact or enforce an ordinance, a resolution, or an order that does not comply with the ruling of the Federal Communications Commission in "Amateur Radio Preemption, 101 FCC 2d 952 (1985)" or a regulation related to the amateur radio service adopted under 47 CFR Part 97.
As added by P.L.109-2003, SEC.1.

IC 36-7-5.2-2
Municipal or county ordinance
Sec. 2. If a municipality or county adopts an ordinance, a resolution, or an order involving the placement, screening, or height of an amateur radio antenna based on health, safety, or aesthetic conditions, the ordinance, resolution, or order must:
(1) reasonably accommodate amateur radio communications; and
(2) represent the minimal regulation practicable to accomplish the municipality's or county's legitimate purpose.
As added by P.L.109-2003, SEC.1.

IC 36-7-5.2-3
Historic district
Sec. 3. This chapter does not prohibit a municipality or county from taking action to protect or preserve a historic, a historical, or an architectural district that is established by the municipality or county or under state or federal law.
As added by P.L.109-2003, SEC.1.

[beachside39]

I have my call on a Florida plate on the rear and an ARRL plate on the front. I've had state-issued ham plates on all my cars since 1960.