[InHam] Amateur Radio Plates

[Bob Burns W9RXR]

At 06:25 AM 4/25/2012, Brian wrote:

>I read all that, but I am still unclear as to what changes Duane is 
>wanting to see on the license plate.  Other than a callsign, what is 
>he wanting to see on the plate?

Some sort of wording or symbol that identifies the plate as an 
amateur radio plate.

Illinois amateur radio plates say "HAM RADIO" on them:

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/license_plate_guide/amateur_radio.html

Ohio amateur radio plates say "AMATEUR RADIO" on them:

http://bmv.ohio.gov/sp_amateur_radio.stm


At 08:11 AM 4/25/2012, Mel Crichton wrote:

>I for one am happy to be able to get a plate with my callsign on it 
>for just 8 dollars extra.

I agree. When I moved to Kentucky a few years ago, I didn't 
understand why I saw virtually no amateur radio plates. After doing 
considerable investigation to find out how to get an Kentucky amateur 
radio plate, including asking a few hams, I finally found out that 
Kentucky charged $25 extra rather than the $5-8 I had been used to in Indiana.

>In fact, I'd be happy to keep the same plate year to year and just 
>put a "13" sticker on it like we do for "stock" Indiana license plates.

I agree. I don't understand why Indiana amateur radio plates are 
re-issued every year.

>  But that may take jobs away from folks in the state prison.

I don't think our plates are made by prisoners any more. When Indiana 
first went to the non-embossed plate, they were purchased from a 
contractor in Georgia and that may still be the case.


At 12:52 PM 4/25/2012, Joe Montano wrote:

>We have a perfectly good license plate that announces to the world 
>that the car that the plate is attached to belongs to an amateur 
>radio operator...

Actually, we don't. To non-hams, Indiana amateur radio plates are 
just a personalized plate with a random selection of letters and 
numbers. Hams are callsign focused, so those seemingly random letters 
and numbers make sense. But, non-hams aren't. As noted in another 
post, even many police officers do not recognize our plates as 
amateur radio plates.

Bob...