Keeping Track of CAL PL8S Can Be Confusing 4SURE

Dear Street Smart:

How many different types of license plates are there in California?

Leslie N. Herschler Garden Grove

The license plate spectrum is broad in California, stretching from the plates issued to Pearl Harbor survivors to the plates that may soon be issued to alumni of certain colleges. Exactly how many types there are is hard to say, because the Department of Motor Vehicles is in the midst of updating its license plate guidebook. Safe to say, there are more than 25.

Personalized plates are the most popular, non-standard plate issued in the state. According to the DMV, about 6% of California’s 23 million vehicles have these plates, which are officially known as “environmental license plates.” That’s because the $41 cost of the plate and the renewal charge of $25 per year go into a state fund to protect the environment.

Lesser known is probably the “constable” plate, which is issued to sheriff-like officers who work in mostly rural areas. Only 23 of these plates have been issued to constables who use their own vehicles for work.

Ham radio operators are the largest particular group of people with specialized plates--18,885 currently issued, as of March. Operators have long been able to get plates with their call letters, which typically begin with W and a number, followed by several letters.

Veterans may soon overtake the radio operators, as new plates have recently been authorized for those who survived Pearl Harbor, earned a medal of valor or received a Purple Heart. Others are available for former Prisoners of War and disabled veterans.

Alumni of certain colleges may also soon sport a plate with their college logo. If a college can get 5,000 people in one year to say they want the plates, the DMV will produce them. The plates became available at the beginning of this year, but, so far, no college has gathered enough applications.

How do we end up with all these special interest plates? Generally, a group will approach a state representative (who have their own plates) and get the legislator to sponsor a bill authorizing a unique plate. Once approved, the DMV begins issuing them.

Of course, you can always settle for the DMV’s standard issue plate. Currently, it comes with a white reflectorized background and blue lettering. “We call it the generic plate,” said Deborah Ralls, who manages the DMV department that issues specialized plates.

It wasn’t always so generic. The “setting sun” plate that figures so prominently in the opening of “L.A. Law” was discontinued in 1988 because the graphic was deemed too expensive to produce.

For more information about special plates, contact your local DMV office.

Dear Street Smart

I occasionally take the Riverside Freeway eastbound out of town on the weekends. I leave late in the evening, but I still hit heavy traffic near Santa Ana Freeway. It continues for about 17 miles until after Gypsum Canyon Road, where the jam-up “mysteriously” disappears and traffic starts to flow freely.

After studying this phenomenon a little, I found the cause is that many commuters skirt heavy freeway traffic by taking Santa Ana Canyon Road, which parallels the Riverside Freeway for a couple of miles. They re-enter the freeway at the Gypsum Canyon entrance.

This trick may gain some motorists a few minutes, but when this heavy flow of cars gets back on at Gypsum Canyon, they cause a bottleneck that backs up traffic for miles for the rest of us.

The obvious solution is to meter the eastbound on-ramp at Gypsum Canyon. This would solve or greatly improve a major Southland traffic problem the next day.

With the millions being spent on Riverside Freeway for toll lanes, why do I, an occasional motorist, have to tell them about a 10-cent solution to a million-dollar problem?

Paul Rappo La Palma

Caltrans agrees with your assessment of what’s causing the congestion. “He’s got a good point. It’s probably one of the reasons, if not the main reason,” said spokesman Steve Saville.

Unfortunately, the solution will be delayed. A crew is expanding the Gypsum Canyon ramp to two lanes on the westbound side of the freeway and installing a meter. Once work finishes in late summer or early fall, the eastbound side should be next, Saville said.

Why was the westbound side done first? Saville said that’s just how things were scheduled. Too bad they can’t give you the meter that our next letter writer wants removed.

Dear Street Smart:

I am annoyed and unnecessarily delayed every morning as I am entering the southbound San Diego Freeway at University Avenue in Irvine. Why in the world is the meter on until 9 a.m., as there is barely any traffic southbound at that time, and any time earlier.

I have to admit that I am often tempted to ignore the red light, as do many other motorists.

Can you contact Caltrans and have them correct this obvious error?

Jacques Beser Newport Beach

You’re not the only one who has found some meters to be seemingly useless, but there’s a purpose that’s not readily apparent, Caltrans spokesman Saville said. That meter is trying to keep traffic from overwhelming the El Toro Y further down the freeway, he explained. While it may be smooth sailing near University, Caltrans hopes a short meter delay there will help prevent a worse delay after you enter the freeway.

Aside from that, you may be a victim of circumstance. That meter should be going off right around 9 a.m., Saville said.

“There’s a good chance that five minutes more and the meter wouldn’t be on,” Saville said.

Lots of License Plates

State legislators, wounded veterans, even some college alumni may be eligible for a unique license plate from the state. California has more than 25 special varieties. Three examples: Historical Vehicle: Issued to vehicles built after 1922 and which are at least 25 years old. Cost is $25. Vehicles built before 1922 can have similar “Horseless Carriage” plate. Both are for parade use only. Pearl Harbor Survivor: Must have been stationed in area during attack. More than 2,000 currently issued. Cost is $36. Other veteran plates include Purple Heart ones and those for medals of valor, which depict the decorations. Constable: Issued to constables and deputies upon request, for personal vehicles used in law enforcement. Only 23 are currently issued in the state. Constables, similar to sheriffs, work mostly in rural areas.

Source: California Department of Motor Vehicles

Special License Plates

Not all vehicles in California have a standard license plate, currently seven blue characters on a white reflectorized background. Some descriptions of the more common, non-standard plates:

Plates for Veterans

Purple Heart: For those with proof of award--3,650 currently issued. Has picture of medal followed by four numbers and the letters PH. Cost: $36

Legion of Valor: Just approved for those with Army Distinguished Service Cross; Navy or Air Force Cross; Army, Navy or Air Force Medal of Honor. Plate to have picture of medal. Cost: $36.

Pearl Harbor survivor: For those stationed in Pearl Harbor or within three-mile radius of the base during hours of the attack--2,252 currently issued. Cost: $36.

Congressional Medal of Honor: Issued to medal recipients. Says “Congressional Medal of Honor” and carries digits.

Disabled veteran: Issued to disabled or blind veterans on request. Begins with DV, followed by five characters. Has some parking privileges.

Prisoner of War: Begins with letters POW followed by four numbers.

Plates for Officials and Others

State vehicles: Plate begins with the letter E, for fee exempt, inside a diamond. Followed by six digits.

Government vehicles: Plate begins with the letter E inside a hexagon, followed by six digits. Issued to city, county and federal vehicles.

State representatives: State senator plate begins with S; Assembly plate begins with A. Both followed by district number. Small R after number indicates retiree.

Federal representatives: Either says United States Senate or U.S. Congress, followed by Senate or congressional district number.

Honorary Consul Corps: Issued to U.S. citizens who represent another country--162 currently issued. Says “Hon Consul Corp” followed by four digits. Cost: $36, $20 renewal fee a year.

Commemorative and Other Plates

Environmental or “Personalized”: Most popular non-standard plate in the state--1,403,807 currently issued. Cost: $41, plus $25 renewal fee each year.

Olympic Training Center: Supports building California’s center in San Diego--3,378 currently. Has an Olympic logo and either five or six personalized or sequential characters. Cost is $100.

1984 Olympic plate: Was issued in 1984 and begins with LA or US, then five characters.

Bill of Rights: Was issued between July, 1990, and the end of 1991, for bicentennial. Has picture of Liberty Bell between fourth and fifth character--727 currently.

Collegiate: Will be issued to colleges that gather 5,000 applications in a calendar year. Will have logo on the left and six personalized or sequential characters. Cost: $50, $90 if personalized.

Antique motorcycle: For those built 1942 or before--462 currently issued. Cost: $15.

Press photographer: For newspaper or TV photographers--1,046 currently issued. Plate begins with PP inside a triangle, followed by four digits. Cost: $20.

Ham radio operator: For holders of FCC amateur radio station license--18,881 currently issued. Largest group of special plates issued to a particular group of civilians in state. Has call letters on plate, typically W6 followed by letters. Cost: $21.

Auto dealer: Plate says “Dealer” or “DLR”’ with digits. Used for moving vehicles on public streets. Similar plates for manufacturers, dismantlers and distributors.

Note: Information as of March, 1992; fees subject to change

Source: California Department of Motor Vehicles