It wasn’t the license FRiend, it was the inspection sticker.
In my area it was whether the last digit of the tag number was odd or even. I remember that well because my tag number at that time was the single number 4.
In PA it was the license plate FRiend
I remember renting cars for my wedding party and making sure we had enough even and odd license plates to get everyone around
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_454893.html
It was last digit of the license plate, I had cars and trucks registed in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi, none of which had a inspection law.