State Holds License Plate Lottery

wftv ^ | october 29, 2003

[stainlessbanner]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Some lucky Rhode Islanders won the lottery Tuesday -- not for money, but for low-number license plates.

The state's occasional license plate lottery was held at the State House. Gov. Don Carcieri picked the first few winners.

More than 3,000 people entered for a chance at 25 plates. The most coveted was taxi plate 1. A couple of three-digit plates and several four-digit plates were also up for grabs.

"There's a perception that having a low plate on the car means a person is well-connected. Or, that they're from an old-money family," license plate historian Richard Dragon said. "It's something about setting yourself apart out there on the streets where all the cars look alike."

Gov. Lincoln Almond began the license plate lottery tradition in 1995 to give regular citizens a chance at low-number combinations once reserved for patronage.

[giznort]

"There's a perception that having a low plate on the car means a person is well-connected. Or, that they're from an old-money family".......or they're just too stupid to remember a larger number.....

[Ronin]

I saw a license plate here in Japan a while back that I am sure some gal would love to have, but since Japan is metric, it didn't have quite the same giggle factor as it would have had in America.

38-24-36

[bmwcyle]

There just isn't much going on in this state.

[Hatteras]

"There's a perception that having a low plate on the car means a person is well-connected. Or, that they're from an old-money family"

Kind of like having a "Since 1998" Freeper date? Sigh, I'll never be worthy...

[PBRSTREETGANG]

There just isn't much going on in this state.

So, what's your plate number?

[SWake]

Kind of like having a "Since 1998" Freeper date?

Well, that's an idea ... anybody wanna buy a slightly used "since 1998" ID?