Montanans travel through Wyoming (Billings, Missoula: sale, colleges, cost)

[Wyoprairie]

I haven't been on this city-data for very long, which is probably a good thing. (Is there a country-data.com?) Anyway since I started pestering my friends in Montana, I thought I would do a good turn
with this new shameless business opportunity-scratch that-I mean helpful service opportunity.

You have this county-number designation system up there, same as we have down here. For the most
part, no big deal, but some of us do know what your numbers mean, i.e. where you are coming from.
And I realize if you are driving through Wyoming with a County 4 for example, this could be a concern.
Well I have a new product for you. (My brain almost overheats with these entrepreneurial ideas-this
one is possibly as good as my Spray On Dirt product for fancy pickup trucks over in Jackson Hole.)

I'm talking snazzy new number 1 decals for your license plates. Just put the 1 to the left of your 4
and Presto! you have gone from Missoula County invader to someone we will invite over for steaks on
the grill so we can jaw at ya about this years Bucking Horse Sale or that new Black Iron Grill place.
Now it's smooth sailing all the way to Boulder! I know, Silver Bow folks are saying, hey what about us?
Well, just add the 1, and suddenly you're cool...we think you are a Malta Mustangs fan. County 6
folks don't have to be as worried-we might figure you are from Churchill after all-but if you want to be
on the safe side, switching to Dawson County is a sure bet.

I am planning to purvey these goods at the Pilot/Flying J/Exxon at the Billings-Lockwood exit, so you
can grab one before heading south. If you go back and forth a lot, you might want to grab a twelve
pack. For the moment, they are only available in white to go with your blue and white plate, which
is actually the nicest of your 318 various license plate options.

[historyfan]

Heaven's no, the black plates are by far the nicest.

[MTSilvertip]

Too funny!

[Wyoprairie]

Originally Posted by historyfan

Heaven's no, the black plates are by far the nicest.

Black plates? You have 319 choices now? Oh wait, I have seen the black ones. I bet they
cost extra.

[NCN]

I have no idea what y'all are talking about but I enjoyed reading the posts. LOL

I especially liked the countrydata.com.

[Wyoprairie]

Hi NCN

It's kinda "inside baseball", but our two states have license plates where there is a number
designation on the left that indicates what county you are from, rather than, for instance,
the name of the county.

Montana has more than twice the counties that Wyoming has, and I know many of them,
but after awhile I run out of fingers and toes.

[historyfan]

Originally Posted by Wyoprairie

Hi NCN

It's kinda "inside baseball", but our two states have license plates where there is a number
designation on the left that indicates what county you are from, rather than, for instance,
the name of the county.

Montana has more than twice the counties that Wyoming has, and I know many of them,
but after awhile I run out of fingers and toes.

https://dojmt.gov/driving/plate-designs-and-fees/

The standard no frills plates (I believe there are 5 designs) have the county numbers. (56 counties) All the commerative ones you are talking about have a different numbering system & then a little county number sticker in the corner. This drives some of the older residents crazy because they no longer know where someone is from by their license plate!?!

These commerative tags cost extra & the extra goes to the non profit organization that it commerates-- so all the colleges, organizations, firefighters, etc. have designs.

[Wyoprairie]

Hah, guess what? A Montana County 56 just passed me yesterday on I-25 coming out of
Cheyenne. I had to look it up. So 56 is Lincoln County (Libby). They were a ways from
home. Since we know which ones are the "lefty counties" they were given a safe passage.

Besides, when you guys are from, let's say, Pondera or McCone, we assume the presence
of equal firepower, so we go back to looking out for Wyoming County 22's or Greenies that
are heading north. This is still "Forever West" country, so travel through WY isn't for
the faint of heart. This ain't Idaho, after all, where they give "taters to out-of-staters."

On license plates: By state statute, our plates must have the "Bucking Horse & Rider"
symbol on them. The background scene is changed every 8 yrs. UW has alumni plates,
but they are brown and gold, with no scenery. They do still have the county number on
them. We don't have many special plates, so I am amazed how many Montana has when
I am up there.

[historyfan]

Originally Posted by Wyoprairie

Hah, guess what? A Montana County 56 just passed me yesterday on I-25 coming out of
Cheyenne. I had to look it up. So 56 is Lincoln County (Libby). They were a ways from
home. Since we know which ones are the "lefty counties" they were given a safe passage.

Besides, when you guys are from, let's say, Pondera or McCone, we assume the presence
of equal firepower, so we go back to looking out for Wyoming County 22's or Greenies that
are heading north. This is still "Forever West" country, so travel through WY isn't for
the faint of heart. This ain't Idaho, after all, where they give "taters to out-of-staters."

On license plates: By state statute, our plates must have the "Bucking Horse & Rider"
symbol on them. The background scene is changed every 8 yrs. UW has alumni plates,
but they are brown and gold, with no scenery. They do still have the county number on
them. We don't have many special plates, so I am amazed how many Montana has when
I am up there.

Jeez, it'd be 600 miles for a Libbyite just to drive across Montana.

[Wyoprairie]

historyfan

Question for ya. Do you happen to know what the C next to the county number means?
In Billings, I see lots of 3C plates, along with the usual three's. I think it's (the 3c) only
on what you said are the standard plates.