PSA: One in 10 Illinois license plates may be defective
Wondering what exactly constitutes as a 'defective' license plate? So were we. Apparently, roughly 1.1 million license plates were issued in Illinois between 2001 and 2003 with a reflective coating that can bubble and peel away. This causes multiple side effects, some of them worse than others – the plates can rust, which is bad... but it also makes them more difficult to read by police officers. Ticket... what ticket? Not surprisingly, the Illinois Secretary of State's office is concerned.
According to the Chicago Tribune, a million-plus letters were sent out in 2004 urging drivers to get the plates replaced but only 1,000 people responded to the free upgrade. Obviously, a more forceful tactic was required. Since March of this year, a million more letters have reportedly been sent out with the message: "in order to remain in compliance with Illinois law, it may be necessary to replace your license plate if it develops bubbles or rust around the letters.... failure to do so could result in a citation."
If you aren't one of the 211,000 people who responded to this latest letter and you've got a rusty Illinois license plate that you'd like to replace, click here.
[Source: Chicago Tribune]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Avinash machado 6:53AM (8/06/2009)
Spammers get lost.
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Dave 6:53AM (8/06/2009)
That's one of the things that has always made me cringe. A beautiful new car with a rusty old Jersey plate from the early 80's! Just pay the extra for the new plate! It makes all the difference in the world in your car's appearance.
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PiCASSO 7:28AM (8/06/2009)
Couldn't agree with you more... seen way too many washed and waxed cars with plates that came off a rust bucket.
Whitmo 7:30AM (8/06/2009)
According to the letter I received, the plates will be replaced at no charge after they determine if your's is defective. Hard to believe Illinois will do anything for free, huh?
Niki 3:21PM (8/06/2009)
In my state they just give them away! They send me new ones every time they decide to change the design. Its its a personalized plate the letters/numbers never change. If its a normal plate they send you a completely different one in the mail when you pay for your yearly registration. If you buy a new car youre forced to get new plates anyway when you register. In my state there are probably very little few plates from 2001-2003 that are still being used.
Albert 7:35AM (8/06/2009)
What does the state expect since the plates are made in a prison. I live in Maryland and have faulty plates with bad paint also. Mine are about due for renewal and hope the Baltimore Mayor, Sheila Dixon doesn't go to prison before mine are made since she can't spell.
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Liquid 7:41AM (8/06/2009)
Last year Michigan made everybody get new plates when they renewed their registration, in order to obsolete the classic white-on-blue color scheme. Why doesn't IL just roll out new plates? Jeez, I gotta engineer everything.............
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Jim 8:17AM (8/06/2009)
Illinois just rolled out a new plate design within the past 10 years. The one pictures in the Original Post contains the current image. Before we had plain white with red or blue "Illinois" lettering. This all operates outside of those who wish to spend more on basically a vehicle tax to "decorate" their car with University of Illinois or zomg REDBIRD LAND OF LINCOLN PRAIRIELAND WE LOVE ROD etc, etc.
Ron 10:29AM (8/06/2009)
No kidding. My plates have been rusting away for several years now. I complained to the Secretary of State's office and said that I could replace them for an extra $5.00 apiece. Screw 'em, I'll let them rust and peel the paint off until they replace them this year as then they will do it with my renewal. I've still got the plates with the Big Mac on them.
For what they soak us for plates, we should be getting new plates every year!
Tiberius1701 8:18AM (8/06/2009)
Hmmm...Illinois...defective plates made in prison...defective community organizer...do I see a pattern developing here.
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jack 9:28AM (8/06/2009)
Maybe the one plate in ten was secretly imported from Kenya?
Otis 11:09AM (8/06/2009)
No..but they may have spent some time in a Muslim School somewhere..(tongue planted firmly in cheek. Sorry, not a Birther.)
Joe K. 11:09AM (8/06/2009)
@Jack: But has a sticker on it that says made in Hawaii.
(I'm making a joke, not subscribing to a conspiracy theory)
Kumar 8:58AM (8/06/2009)
What's the point for most Chicago drivers? They'll be plastered on both bumpers within a week of parallel parking anyway.
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Ken 8:59AM (8/06/2009)
I have Nevada plates from ~2003, and the same is happening to mine, as well as a lot of others I see on the road.
Same company/material?
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8complex 9:03AM (8/06/2009)
I got one of those letters, but my front plate had sat in a box since I got it as I didn't want to modify my brand new plate to unobtrustively fit my bumper again. Got a warning ticket on it one day last year and decided to change it. My car isn't as happy, but at least the state is. :rolleyes:
My plates (both front and rear) are in great shape, so of course I'm not about to respond to the state's letters. I expect that if my plates rust in 5 years, though, that the state should replace them for free still. We'll see about that one.
One of the side notes here is that Illinois is one of the few states in the area that require a front plate -- a definite thorn in the side of those enthusiasts in the area that don't want to drill into their front bumpers to add a plate.
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MikeW 9:53AM (8/06/2009)
I wonder how many crimes have been thwarted or solved because of the front plate?
Now balance that against the reduced mileage (aerodynamics) and general car to car, and car to person damage.
I think it is time for the front plates to go. (but they make such wonderful LASER/radar bull's-eye)
Kumar 10:02AM (8/06/2009)
I think that, if anything, more states will adopt policies for front plates. Yes, they cost more to outfit on all vehicles, but the police will probably be the ones pushing it. More states will start using automated systems of reading license plates, to they will be more efficient if they can read plates of oncoming traffic too. I think most states using this now are just doing it for back taxes, but some have probably moved on to looking for people with warrants, expired registrations, etc.
Would I like a plate on the front?...not so much. But if it makes traffic enforcement easier so that the police can focus on more pressing matters, I'd be for it.
Joe K. 11:13AM (8/06/2009)
In NJ the only people I know who make use of my front plate is the local wrench monkey shop, as I pull up they already know my name and last service in their computer...
Will 9:22AM (8/06/2009)
I thought your example spelled "Rusty Pelt." I imagined it belonging to a redheaded "entertainer."
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