Old License Plates

[Buff]

I've got a small collection of license plates that I've gathered across the years. Usually because I got a new car and just got a new plate as I needed the old car for a bit longer or something of the sorts.

I don't want to keep them anymore, is there a safe way to dispose of them? Do I just toss them out? Do I have to worry about it coming back to haunt me if somebody goes through my trash and takes them for their own illegal usage? Am I over paranoid?

[@theCBE]

I think you may be able to turn them into the registry and get some money back for them.

[MelBridgeman]

sell them, there are license plate collectors out there, put them on ebay or craig's list....and yes you are over paraniod...

[ricosuave]

if they are the older style black and gold sell em (hint, i am looking for a 1969) but if they are the current ones, they are tied to you and you should destroy or reuse them

Technically, plates belong to the registries, thus the government.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by ricosuave

if they are the older style black and gold sell em (hint, i am looking for a 1969) but if they are the current ones, they are ties to you and you should destroy or reuse them

i have 69's...pretty sure, back in calgary tommorrow will check, pretty sure i have a few, PM me

[habernac]

I'm a collector, Buff, I'll take them off your hands.

[disco_inferno]

do you have a 'georgia' plate reading 'CNH 320' or "BAN-ONE"?

if so.....shotgun.

[Hack&Lube]

You are fine if somebody takes and then uses them for nefarious purposes because taking anything from somebody's trash is actually against the law.

[droopydrew19]

You can only return them to a registry for a partial refund within the same yearly registration cycle.

After that they will only just dispose of them for you.

[Crispy's Critter]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

You are fine if somebody takes and then uses them for nefarious purposes because taking anything from somebody's trash is actually against the law.

Unfortunately not so. I made the mistake one time of throwing out a plate without completely wrecking it, just folded it in half. Someone took it either out of my garbage or found it at the dump, used it to rob a 7-11, and abandoned the car with the plate on it. The car was stolen, and both the owner of the car and myself were questioned numerous times until they found the actual robbers. The cops then advised me to always take unused plates back to the registry to be destroyed/recycled. Not sure how often this would happen, (I seem to be incredibly "lucky" and have this kind of crap happen all the time ) but it can, so I never take any chances with old plates anymore.

[Buff]

I once had my license plate stolen. I reported it and then a few weeks later the police pulled over a guy who had my stolen plates on the vehicle he was driving. I had to take a day off of work to go to court to testify about the loss of my plate, and that I did not know the person who was in possesion of my plates, and that I did not give said person the plate. It was a waste of time and a huge inconvenience. The guy was alleging that he met me at the bar and that I gave him the plate on that same night, but he lost my contact info so he could give the plate back. He got off with possesion of the stolen plates, had to answer for something else, and I was inconvenienced by having to spend half a day in court waiting around for nothing... just because my plate was stolen off my car while I was at work.

[ricosuave]

I'm sorry, I am a little confused...

You first post worries about what could happen and if you're being paranoid, but then your last post basically confirms the kind of stuff you may have to deal with if you don't dispose of them properly???

[Buff]

Originally Posted by ricosuave

I'm sorry, I am a little confused...

You first post worries about what could happen and if you're being paranoid, but then your last post basically confirms the kind of stuff you may have to deal with if you don't dispose of them properly???

I am wondering the proper way to get rid of the plates so I don't have to go through what I did before. I also wondered if I was paranoid due to my previous experience.

[4X4]

One day I parked my truck at my g/f's house, right in front of her car, on the street. I run inside, grab her keys, jump in her car and take it to the gas station to do the whole gas/check oil/check tires/check all fluids thing. I come back 15 minutes later and park behind my truck and my plate is gone. Broad daylight in Stanley Park area.
Call the cops and report it stolen, they tell me they'll let me know whenever they find it. Meanwhile, I had to go buy another license plate.
3 days later they busted the jerk robbing a gas station in Red Deer. They called me and asked if I wanted the plate back (I declined) and otherwise told me that was that. I didn't have to go to court or anything. Probably because I reported it stolen.

I forgot to mention that the guy used it on the exact same vehicle as mine. The f'er probably saw me driving along and stalked me until I parked.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by 4X4

One day I parked my truck at my g/f's house, right in front of her car, on the street. I run inside, grab her keys, jump in her car and take it to the gas station to do the whole gas/check oil/check tires/check all fluids thing. I come back 15 minutes later and park behind my truck and my plate is gone. Broad daylight in Stanley Park area.
Call the cops and report it stolen, they tell me they'll let me know whenever they find it. Meanwhile, I had to go buy another license plate.
3 days later they busted the jerk robbing a gas station in Red Deer. They called me and asked if I wanted the plate back (I declined) and otherwise told me that was that. I didn't have to go to court or anything. Probably because I reported it stolen.

I forgot to mention that the guy used it on the exact same vehicle as mine. The f'er probably saw me driving along and stalked me until I parked.

Yer lucky. I did report mine stolen and I did have to go to court.

[GrrlGoalie33]

I would dispose of it through the registeries.

I had an old car, hadn't had it registered in 7 years or so, someone was involved in a hit and run in Edmonton with a car that resembled the one that my plate was registered to and I was called and questioned by the cops about the event.

Play it safe and recycle it properly.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by 4X4

One day I parked my truck at my g/f's house, right in front of her car, on the street. I run inside, grab her keys, jump in her car and take it to the gas station to do the whole gas/check oil/check tires/check all fluids thing. I come back 15 minutes later and park behind my truck and my plate is gone. Broad daylight in Stanley Park area.
Call the cops and report it stolen, they tell me they'll let me know whenever they find it. Meanwhile, I had to go buy another license plate.
3 days later they busted the jerk robbing a gas station in Red Deer. They called me and asked if I wanted the plate back (I declined) and otherwise told me that was that. I didn't have to go to court or anything. Probably because I reported it stolen.

I forgot to mention that the guy used it on the exact same vehicle as mine. The f'er probably saw me driving along and stalked me until I parked.

Creepy

[Tower]

Originally Posted by 4X4

One day I parked my truck at my g/f's house, right in front of her car, on the street. I run inside, grab her keys, jump in her car and take it to the gas station to do the whole gas/check oil/check tires/check all fluids thing. I come back 15 minutes later and park behind my truck and my plate is gone. Broad daylight in Stanley Park area.
Call the cops and report it stolen, they tell me they'll let me know whenever they find it. Meanwhile, I had to go buy another license plate.
3 days later they busted the jerk robbing a gas station in Red Deer. They called me and asked if I wanted the plate back (I declined) and otherwise told me that was that. I didn't have to go to court or anything. Probably because I reported it stolen.

I forgot to mention that the guy used it on the exact same vehicle as mine. The f'er probably saw me driving along and stalked me until I parked.

That's why I drive my 1969 Mercedes Gullwing or my laughing clown NASCAR... car. Don't see many of those around!