The state-issued metal license plate that has adorned cars since Massachusetts issued the first one in 1903 (“1”) may eventually go the way of hand cranks and rumble seats. The California legislature this year approved a pilot program to allow about 160,000 vehicle owners to display alternative plates, including “wireless-capable” (electronic) ones.
The electronic plates would allow the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to update license plates remotely, reducing the processing and mailing costs DMV now incurs in mailing registration cards and license plate stickers. A legislative bill analysis states that the law does not allow license plates to display anything other than the existing state license plate. It may be possible, however for future plates to display such messages as “stolen” or “expired.”
Because of privacy concerns, the measure, signed into law in October, (1) limits the amount of data that the DMV or license plate provider can exchange with electronic plates and (2) bars DMV from receiving or retaining any information relating to a participating vehicle’s movement, location, or use.
The bill requires DMV to complete the pilot project by January 1, 2017 and report to the legislature by July 1, 2018.
More information on the measure is available at:
News articles on the electronic plates can be found at:
