Lyfting Me Up

Onward and upward…

Black License Plates

There is a new invasive species moving into Colorado. Rumors of its coming have been circulating for months. My first sighting of its arrival took place a few weeks ago. I am not sure why I still often look at the ‘plates’ on other cars. I find out-of-state plates a source of both curiosity and irritation—‘please feel free to visit but enjoy your ride home’. I am not a big fan of personalized plates, but I am a sucker for trying to figure out everything from the narcissistic gloats to secret codes. The arrival of the BLACK PLATE seemed like the worst idea since New Coke.

As a kid I remember the iconic Skier Plate. As a native Coloradan the 14 year-old in me knew that boring plates from Texas were just that. Black Plates—come on—who came up with this idea? Now I see them everywhere. The mountain silhouette plates that would alternate from the Rockies on the bottom to the top, said something that no other state could boast about. We are the envy of the US. Nebraska has to run tourism adds touting “Nebraska, It’s Not for Everybody”. States like Indiana boast of a once a year car race. We have the Rockies. Black Plates???

Here is a fun geography fact. Think of Colorado as a wrinkled sheet. If it were completely flattened out, guess what state it would completely cover—Texas. Yes, our surface area is huge, it’s just vertical and our license plates reminded us of this. Now we have boring, and I do mean boring black plates. I guess you can still pay extra for your own special plates but the standard issue black is not going away.

A number of years ago my dad wanted me to get Pioneer plates. I resisted. “Mark you qualify for them, I will pay for them”. Well, in 2014 when I bought my favorite Lyft car, RED, I decided in honor of my dad I would apply for the Pioneer plates. I got them and sported them proudly. I still do. Pioneer plates are reserved for those whose roots predate 1900 in Colorado. With the invasion of black plates my resolve to sport them has strengthened.

I have a friend who said to me, “Mark, good ideas are a dime a dozen. The difference between a good idea and its implementation is about a whole lot of work”. I am not sure that is the same about a bad idea. “Hey, I have an idea, lets dump the 50–year—plus mountain theme on our plates and just go black and white”.

I am a fan of black and white photography; we owned Dalmatians, and I can even tolerate Magpies… but sheesh these plates are probably putting the inmates who are making them to sleep.

Onward and Upward,

Mark

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lyftingmeup

I love life. I am a very fortunate man. I have spent my life doing the things I love to do. I am now finding a passion for my life in retirement by driving for Lyft. I am a father of 4 and grandfather of 7.

4 responses to “Black License Plates”

  1. Tails Around the Ranch Avatar
    Tails Around the Ranch

    You’re so right…these ‘legacy’ plates are hideous. Even the red ones, but especially the 1939 black ones. Come on Colorado…you can do better.
    {Wouldn’t it be grand to think they could be a new way to identify newcomers so native residents can school them on proper car etiquette (turn signals, etc.), but that’s probably not likely. Now if only authorities would ticket those out-of-staters who moved here 2 years ago and are still driving (i.e. tearing up our roads) without getting the required Colorado registration.} And don’t get me started on all those driving around on expired plates. Sigh

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  2. Ken Thompson Avatar
    Ken Thompson

    So, I bought a new white car with a black grille and black trim. I’d seen the black plates on other similarly colored vehicles and thought it was a good look.

    I have NOTHING against the iconic green and white mountain skyline plates. They were (and still are) always a source of pride whilst spending a good amount of my life living among the ‘okies’. (And that’s a term of endearment considering I married an okie and even helped produce one!) Some day, when I own a differently colored vehicle, I will proudly sport the mountain skyline plates once more!

    BUT, the deciding factor in my black-plate-decision was learning that the additional $25 fee I paid supports the Colorado Disability Funding Committee. So, however offended you feel by all of those license plates your seeing, you can at least appreciate the $25 per plate going to a good cause. Maybe make some tally marks in the dust on the dashboard! That would be fun! (at a stop light, of course!)
    -kt-

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    1. lyftingmeup Avatar
      lyftingmeup

      Ok— you have earned the privilege of a “vintage” plate.

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  3. Ken Thompson Avatar
    Ken Thompson

    (Edit) * “you’re”

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