Why are NC license plates RED now? (school, university)

[saturnfan]

My plate is from 1991 and the blue has really faded. The reflective coating has also gone away.

Reflective is great to see parked cars and vehicles where tail lights have failed w/o the owner's knowledge.

[Waterboy526]

If they are so worried about seeing things, etc. then how come NC does not require a front license plate (I know a lot of states don't)? As a police officer in VA I was so glad we required front license plates. When writting parking ticket's etc. it was great. Also I've seen instances where the front plate did not match the rear plate and some of those cars has been stolen. It's a dead give away, because it's harder to steal 2 plates when your trying to be quick about it. Also when a car is involved in committing a crime sometimes you can only see the front or the rear, it make's it easier to identify if you could get some of the numbers off of the front plate (if you couldn't see the rear of the car).

[saturnfan]

Saves the state money to only issue one per customer.

[Waterboy526]

Originally Posted by saturnfan

Saves the state money to only issue one per customer.

I understand that, I'm just saying...

I loved it as a LEO, I don't know how other LEO's might feel about that in NC?

[saturnfan]

My daughter worked in Food Lion and the shoplifters would always back away if they saw employees watching them.

Made shoplifting arrests harder.

[miamiblue]

Originally Posted by Waterboy526

If they are so worried about seeing things, etc. then how come NC does not require a front license plate (I know a lot of states don't)? As a police officer in VA I was so glad we required front license plates. When writting parking ticket's etc. it was great. Also I've seen instances where the front plate did not match the rear plate and some of those cars has been stolen. It's a dead give away, because it's harder to steal 2 plates when your trying to be quick about it. Also when a car is involved in committing a crime sometimes you can only see the front or the rear, it make's it easier to identify if you could get some of the numbers off of the front plate (if you couldn't see the rear of the car).

I think there was an initiative to start this up in NC several months ago. It didn't go anywhere, as it was unpopular, and even the rep who started the initiative ended up scrapping it.

I can understand how it could potentially help in some law enforcement scenarios, but I personally can't stand the idea of having to drill holes in the front of my car and have another plate on it.

Back on topic. Coming from a state that reissues license plates (and plate numbers with them) every five years, it is odd to me that there are so many super old plates out there in NC. It is kind of neat to think you could have the same plate number for 20 years. It was always a learning curve to have to re-learn my plate number every 5 years.

You'd think that after all this time they would do something a little more creative than just change the color of the numbering! I personaly don't think the red will hold up as well as the blue, just look at how red cars fade over time...but, I could be wrong!

[Grass Is Greener]

I think the new RED (numbers) license plates are HORRIBLE. I liked the blue a lot better. The red looks just AWFUL. Gosh I am cranky today

[ALT-X]

Originally Posted by Waterboy526

I understand that, I'm just saying...

I loved it as a LEO, I don't know how other LEO's might feel about that in NC?

As an LEO I'd love it if cars had plates on the front. It'd make things somewhat easier while I was working. But away from the job I'm with miamiblue, I hate the idea of it. I'm the type of person that views my cars as more than just basic transportation. Plates on the front ruin cars from an aesthetic standpoint.

[saturnfan]

Agree.

Some front mountings look absolutely awful.

Now, if a proper mounting were designed into the bumpers it would work, but all states would need 2 plates or some owners would gripe.

[groove1]

I had them for about a month before I moved to SC. The red actually matched my car nicely. Some of the olf blue ones from 10 years ago are barely readable. SC's new ones will be purple.