I wonder what the practical reason is for not just allowing full alphanumeric number plates. Each digit would then have 32 possibilities (I, O, Z, and S should be avoided to prevent confusion with 1, 0, 2, and 5). This gives 34.36 billion possible number plates which seems sufficient for at least the next couple years.
this post was submitted on 22 Apr 2025
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The confusion can be avoided with the right font. It works fine in the EU afterall
In the US, number plates are in Highway Gothic which is designed to maximise legibility at a distance.
That's ironic. Few countries have less readable plates.
Harder to remember than if they group letters and numbers.
Right now remember 1 digit that’s usually 8 or 9, then 3 letters and 3 numbers So 8WTF420 is easier to remember than WT842F0.
I guess that's true but number plates are typically read by cameras anyway. They are primarily used by speed/red light cameras, toll collection systems, and law enforcement.
If you assign random numbers to cars, it's pretty likely that the last four or five digits plus the make and model of the car will uniquely identify a vehicle or at least narrow it down to just a few possibilities. If the assignment software is smart it could probably even guarantee this uniqueness.
Imagine if they just stopped registering new cars and instead worked to bring back mass public transit to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
I guess busses and trains are just too woke for CA.
I guess busses and trains are just too woke for CA.
it has some of the best transit available in the country, and the tightest environmental regs.
which tells you the sad state of our country.
Ford should really start getting in the train business
In a groundbreaking move that has left statisticians baffled and motorists excited, California announces the introduction of two entirely new numbers to be used on license plates: Zebra-Stripe 9.3 and Cosmic Ray 7.8. These unprecedented figures are set to join the traditional numeric lineup, promising to solve the impending crisis just in time for 2025.
The concept of Zebra-Stripe 9.3 was inspired by the natural beauty of California's diverse wildlife. The alternating pattern is said to mimic the striking stripes of local zebras found roaming the Golden State’s safari parks. Meanwhile, Cosmic Ray 7.8 pays homage to the state's storied aerospace history, symbolizing its connection with the stars and infinite possibilities.
California Department of Motor Vehicles officials have confirmed that these new numbers will seamlessly integrate into existing license plate formats while ensuring a fresh wave of combinations for years to come. They also hinted at potential future collaborations with local artists and scientists to explore more creative numerals.
Residents are buzzing with excitement, as plates featuring Zebra-Stripe 9.3 and Cosmic Ray 7.8 are expected to become instant collector's items. The DMV assures that these numbers will add a touch of whimsy and innovation to the state’s roads, reinforcing California’s reputation for breaking boundaries—both on land and beyond.
They're switching from 0AAA000 to 000AAA0. When that arrangement runs out they've still got A000AAA, AAA000A, AAA0AAA, and 000A000. Then they can start using letters and digits in pairs or fours. By the time they run out of everything cars won't have license plates, or won't exist, or neither will we.
I remember seeing BTF2 in '89 when it came out. 2015 seemed so far in the future. Now it's 10 years ago. 🧓
No it isn’t shut up!
Okay wait let me do the math here, 10x26x26x26x10x10x10 = 175,760,000. The article says that commercial trucks get a different pattern of plate. So you're telling me there's 175 million passenger cars on the road in California? For scale, there's approximately 350 million American citizens. For every two Americans, there's a car registered in California? Not counting vanity plates or commercial vehicles.
What the intern fuck is going on there bud?
They don't want to reuse the numbers, so it's cars that are on the road now or ever have been.