The State - News from July 30, 1985

Thieves are ripping new registration stickers from license plates of California cars to avoid having to obtain smog inspections for their vehicles, the state Department of Motor Vehicles reported. Bob Benson, a DMV official, says it is not difficult to steal the stickers when there are several years’ stickers pasted on top of each other. So motorists due for registration in 1986 will soon be warned to scrape all old stickers off their license plates before putting the new ones on. Use of stolen stickers helps thieves to avoid the smog inspection fee and charges of up to $50 for repair of deficient smog-control equipment.