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23 Comments:
Those "Support Our Troops" plates, every time I see one, reminds me of those website registration tests that verify you're a human if you can read it. Poor design when you have to make effort to make a dissertation as to what letters and numbers are on it.
»» Submitted by »»» s4xton at 8:07 AM on April 28
...a couple corrections:
It's "Mark Simonson."
He never discussed anything about the plates being ugly. He's talking about how the two current special plates are poorly designed.
I'm guessing most people have seen the "Support Our Troops" plate. I see one at least every day.
»» Submitted by »»» s4xton at 8:21 AM on April 28
Prior to moving to Minnesota 8 years ago, one of the things I dreaded was putting that ugly-ass blue and white plate on my (admittedly POS) vehicle. Even my home state of North Dakota has long had a more interesting design for its plates.
The new-ish loon plates are quite nice, but I haven't shelled out for one. Aside from the additional expense, I agree that it looks slightly busy to slap onto a car.
»» Submitted by »»» wtfmn at 9:26 AM on April 28
I had the deer humping plates in 1999. The letters on the plate were "AL" too, which are my initials. They weren't bad.
»» Submitted by »»» s4xton at 9:55 AM on April 28
If you are going to do a comparison wouldn't it be better to use identical conditions? The critical wildlife plate has a tow hitch blocking most of the plate.
Mark need a refresher course on the scientific method.
»» Submitted by Mpls Simpleton at 10:33 AM on April 28
I'm so glad someone else thinks that it looks like the deer are humping too. People told me I was crazy, "but no, seriously guys, look at the plate! deer sex!"
»» Submitted by »»» tmayhem at 10:37 AM on April 28
You math addicts need to get out more.
»» Submitted by »»» richg at 10:58 AM on April 28
Here's a novel idea: why not let...oh, I don't know...a graphic designer design the license plates for our state. Those "support the troops" plates are embarassingly bad in their design. I think in order to get a pair of them, the prospective troop supporter should have to sign a binding contract stating the plates won't be taken on out-of-state road trips of any kind.
Deer humping is exactly what I thought they were as well. That's funny.
I have the loon plates which I liked at first, but now I think they just look cheap.
»» Submitted by »»» moe at 11:31 AM on April 28
Worst license plate I've seen: Kentucky. I thought it was some kind of joke when I first saw it. It looks like it came straight out of Teletubbies.
»» Submitted by »»» yowza at 11:55 AM on April 28
But I really like the idea of some big burly men in Kentucky sporting that happy sunshine license plate.
Oh, at last month's flickr photowalk we were collectively appalled to spot a Wisconsin "endangered resources" license plate on...wait for a it...a Hummer.
»» Submitted by »»» sharyn at 12:22 PM on April 28
If you are going to do a comparison wouldn't it be better to use identical conditions? The critical wildlife plate has a tow hitch blocking most of the plate.
On the standard plates, there is a space in the middle (usually with a small picture of the state) that allows for a hitch with numbers on one side and letters on the other. On the deer humpers, loonies and patriot tags, part of the numbers and letters of the plate can go right in the middle, where a hitch would block. I think that is what he was referring to.
»» Submitted by »»» s4xton at 12:24 PM on April 28
Worst license plate I've seen: Kentucky. I thought it was some kind of joke when I first saw it. It looks like it came straight out of Teletubbies.
You have to admit that it is better than Kentucky's alternative plate designs. Think about it: Can you think of what might be better?
I miss the old Wisconsin plates - obnoxiously bright and plain. Easy to identify from 3 miles away as a cheesehead.
»» Submitted by »»» s4xton at 12:27 PM on April 28
No. Seriously. It's that friendly.
»» Submitted by »»» indie at 1:34 PM on April 28
The Support Our Troops plate is hideous and so jam-packed with Republican campaign symbols it really freaks me out whenever I see one.
That eagle looks like it would be right at home on a WWI German recruiting poster.
»» Submitted by »»» mark at 2:46 PM on April 28
that's a nice little essay, but i wish Mark had talked alittle about the first evolution. 3-MN plaate 1.0 did not have nearly as much babyblue backwash on it, and it was a plate i always liked best.
what really chafed, though, was the state's requirement to replate every three years, for no apparent reason than to pass the bucks on to 3M or whoever won the contract to make the plates.
also, i wonder to what extent 3Ms innovation is responsible for the whole sorry movement, nationwide. every state has these plates now, and i really miss the plain old plates. (course, if you get enough DWIs in Minnesota, you still get one.)
»» Submitted by »»» hans at 3:58 PM on April 28
funny story to add to that last bit about "whiskey plates." according to a friend of mine, if your motor-vehicle happens to be a motorcycle, you have to put the full-sized automobile whiskeyplate on your bike. they don't make 'em for bikes, but they still require 'em. now that does seem like cruel and unusual shaming.
»» Submitted by »»» hans at 4:05 PM on April 28
don'tcha just love all the creative ways people are making money off the war?
i wanna see viles of real Iraqi sand for sale on eBay.
»» Submitted by »»» imagreen at 9:36 AM on April 29
Whiskey License Plates: Discrimination or Not?
Around the country people are driving with different types of license plates: state plates, commercial truck plates, and whiskey plates. People that are convicted of drinking and driving behind the wheel are given different plates by the state of Minnesota, which have a W at the beginning of their license plate for the vehicle. In my argument, I believe that the laws towards these W plates, or Whiskey Plates as they are termed, are a form of discrimination, unjustified the real common law breaker, and falsifies the society of who is being determined as a criminal. Pinpointing people that have whiskey plates is a form of discrimination; giving drunk drivers different types or style of plates. To differentiate people with whiskey plates is discrimination by making a clear distinction of the license plate on a vehicle. The definition of discrimination: 1. To make a clear distinction; distinguish; differentiate. 2. To act on the basis of prejudice. 1. To perceive the distinguishing features of; recognize as distinct. (The American Heritage Dictionary) I disagree with states that are in support of whiskey plates: Florida, Ohio, Minnesota, and possibly soon to be New York. I dont believe people should have to be embarrassed, if they are, anymore than they have to by a DWI and sporting whiskey plates on the convicted persons vehicle.
If and when someone should get pulled over and fails the breathalyzer, having an access amount of alcohol over the state limit, that person will be arrested and brought to jail for breaking the law. In Minnesota, within seven days of the offense, the person convicted of a DWI has to turn in their plates and are issued whiskey plates. In the state of Minnesota, we have the Whiskey plates. They read like this: WKY-123. (Heidi, ACS Blog) Displayed on Minnesota license plates, the beginning letter is a W followed by another letter then four numbers. The convicted person must then wear the whiskey plates on their vehicle for a year. The plates let officials, law enforcement and society, know that you have been convicted of a DWI. How embarrassing for that person with whiskey plates.
From my experience driving with regular Minnesota plates, I generally focus on the road and other drivers, tending not to be distracted. With a simple distraction, such as whiskey plates, I would feel that I was being singled out. A friend of mine, Erin, on the other hand, has whiskey plates and feels that she is being differentiated. Feeling distracted with the embarrassing by the plates, Erin said that it is hard to stay focused driving with the whiskey plates because she feels indifferent. She had also said, Whiskey plates are a form of discrimination because the plates make her feel pointed out by others. Whiskey plates are a distraction that makes Erin feel different and having whiskey plates gives a clear distinction of discrimination. Erin has commented on her emotional status, saying it makes me, as the driver, feel uncomfortable driving with the whiskey plates and not be able to stay focused with the thoughts about what others may say and think. My friend has to drive around for a year with whiskey plates until she is eligible to have them removed and get basic Minnesota plates. It is easy to imagine being her and having to feel the way she does, along with having distinguishable license plates that point an offense.
In New York, Senators Nick Spano and Tom Libous are proposing a measure
that would require repeat DWI offenders to have a special license plate. (Capital News) In Florida, people who are convicted of driving under the influence are being handed out pink plates to distinguish the non-DWI driver or good driver from the DWI driver. Two officials commented on the issue of whiskey plates, "Maybe it will embarrass people and keep them from drinking and driving," Fasano said. It is clear that people convicted of driving while intoxicated should be punished, but is it clear that the driver should be discriminated against for the crime, Larry Spalding says differently. "Pink plates would hold out individuals for punishment as well as ridicule. We are very opposed to it," said Spalding, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union in Florida.
I think the pink plates would be very embarrassing but effective. (Heidi, ACS Blog) People like Heidi, that are for the whiskey plates have a good argument for the plates but fail to provide realistic sense to the drivers with the whiskey plates and for the many other people that drive dangerously on the road or have a horrible record. As one unknown person commented, What about the innocent spouse, friend or child of the driver who takes the car out for a spin? What right does the state have for branding them? If a person is a dangerous driver, take away their license. If they are licensed, let them alone. And leave their property alone. The drivers around the country should all be classified to their driving record if convicted DWI offenders are too with different types and colors of license plates. For example, wreckless drivers, speed-demons who are the ones with excessive moving violations, people that blow stop signs, accident prone, and many more such moving violations. It may seem just, but it is not fair for those that do get whiskey plates and then have to drive with distinguishable plates for a time. How would you feel and what would you do with whiskey plates, as in Florida or Minnesota?
General comments made by people around the United States regarding the
labeling of offenders with whiskey plates:
Wait until some drunk guy gets pulled over by the police and, desperate to avoid an embarrassing pink license plate, hightails it away, leading police on a drunken chase through a residential neighborhood. (Ironman, ACS Blog)
You know what will happen? People who are actually alcoholics and prone to drive drunk are going to switch out their plates with some clunker they keep around and registered, or from a junkyard car. The person who made one stupid mistake and learned from it will be the ones "marked" as "drunks" -thus giving the public and the cops a false sense of security. (Charles, Talk Left)
Discrimination towards DWI offenders should be put to an end, away with the
whiskey plates. Whiskey plates are able to wrongly or rightly judge a person by branding their vehicle. Even though drunk driving is a problem in the country today, people should not have to be classified as being a convicted DWI driver on the road with whiskey plates. There are better ways to punish a driver under the influence of alcohol than having a person put whiskey plates on their vehicle: more jail time, counseling, meetings, etc. Im sure there are many other good examples, but it is wrong to label the DWI offender with different types of plates and not another person with moving violations. It is also wrong to label convicted offenders because of a violation on their vehicle because it deems society to say Hey, look out for that person, she got a DWI. Or should it be that, and Hey, look out for that person, theyre a reckless driver.
Discrimination. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language.
New York: American Heritage, 1969.
Joel. Pink Plate for D.U.I. Offenders. ACSBlog.org. 15 Nov. 2005. Criminal Law.
.
Drunk Driving License Plates. TalkLeft.com. 23 Mar. 2004. The Politics of Crime.
.
»» Submitted by Brett at 8:49 PM on July 27
Yes, it must be embarrassing for other members of the family to have to drive a vehicle bearing whiskey plates. But if they live with someone who has a drinking problem it is probably not the first time they have been embarrassed for, or by, that person. And, I'll bet you a lobster dinner that if, given the choice of having their drinking family member continue to drink, or driving a vehicle with whiskey plates while the drinker was cleaning up his or her act, the innocent family member would choose the short term embarrassment of a whiskey plate.
»» Submitted by Lucy at 7:30 PM on August 21
Here's an idea...don't break the law and the law won't discriminate against you. Drinking and driving is illegal, irresponsible, and dangerous. Don't like the "whiskey" plates? Don't drive. That's the sole reason you got them in the first place...
»» Submitted by Seth at 11:44 AM on November 13
You know..a person does not get a "whiskey" plate until their 2nd DWI. Maybe they should be a little embarrassed! They already got their slap on the wrist with the first one! I say make the plates pink and put a bottle of beer on them...and whenever that person is walking to their car considering drinking and driving again they will think twice!
»» Submitted by Van at 7:20 PM on March 23
I think if your get you 1st or 2nd DWI you should not "get" to drive "your" car, I see too many whiskey plates on Cadillacs, Lincolns, Suburbans. If You do have a valid reason to drive you should have to rent, maintain and insure a 15 year old DOT orange METRO or S10 with 4 inch tall blue letters on the tailgate that say's "I'm a convicted Drunk Driver, and I'm lucky to have not killed someone" and then after the lame sentce of 1 year they get to drive their car. If they get caught again in 10 years they NEVER get their licsense back!
I guess I'm biased because my fiancee was killed by a Drunk Driver. Driving a $40,000 Excursion, all he got was a slap on the wrist, because he had $$$
»» Submitted by KRIS at 5:46 PM on May 31
»»» = registered user. click on it to see the user's profile.
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