Paper License Plates Are a Thing, But Not in This Case

Recently moving back up to the Massachusetts, I have been very apprehensive to get new license plates. Partly of the cost involved, but mostly because I'm pretty sure I'd need to take the day off from work to get it done.

When this photo popped into our inbox, I couldn't help but think about the fact that I need to get my butt to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. I also was curious how something like this is actually OK?

Turns out, it's not.

This picture was taken by one of our listeners, Michelle, and I have to say for a "paper plate' they certainly get all the details in there, with the registration sticker and everything. I'm most impressed they spelled "Massachusetts" correctly. I still depend on auto correct sometimes to get it right.

We obviously blurred out the license plate number for the privacy of the company. Don't want to get anyone in trouble.

How is this a thing, though? Doesn't the RMV provide temporary plates that we can put on the back window of our car? I do not want to be driving around for a week or two with some drawn-on license plate until I get the real deal. Have you ever had to do this? Doesn't the RMV give you plates on the spot?

As it turns out, what this driver did was not exactly 100 percent legal, although he may have thought he was doing the right thing and was a little confused. Per the Mass RMV website:

If you lose your front registration plate, you must create a temporary registration plate displaying the plate number and attach it to the front of the vehicle. The temporary plate must also conform to the requirements for regular number plates.

If you lose your rear registration plate, you must attach the front registration plate to the rear of the vehicle and also request a replacement registration decal. You must also create a temporary registration plate displaying the plate number and attach it to the front of the vehicle.

Hopefully, he got a new plate right away!