Let's just say that our brothers out west are blessed that they don't seem to live in the same world we do. They probably don't have enough crime, so that the first thing they see with a painted license plate is that some bloke could repaint it. They probably instead see are the money they are saving by not pounding them out.

Just goes to show you that Texas cons are stronger. And more skilled. Which means of course that our prison guards are doing a better job than yours.

Mississippi's are the same way. It started last year here. My first thought was, "so this explains the fattest state in the nation thing". Glad to know we aren't the only ones.

When I was just a lad growing up in Illinois, our license plates had characters that were stamped out - and we got a new license plate every year! I don't know what this world is coming to. No wonder we have a huge trade deficit.

The heat produced when bending metal causes global warmening! I'm a scientist, so this must be true.

They're still pounding'em out in NC. I guess NC inmates have a choice: Pick up garbage (which they do a lot) or pound out license plates.

We have plenty of crime, and plenty of litterers. It's a symbiotic circle.

They just realized that it's stupid to waste any special effort on vehicle plates when anyone with a screwdriver can have as many different ones as needed.

Theoretically speaking.

Probably an OSHA regulation! Some convict probably got his pinkie caught in the stamping machine and sued!
Flat fingered Leftie, we called him!

Here in Pennsylvania, our criminals stopped making license plates years ago. What with being in public office and all, where would they find the time?

I’ve heard a lot of complaints about inmates lately. C.O.s are constantly talking about how shiv quality is WAY down. I was watching "Lock-Up" the other day and they were saying that cons are so lazy they don’t bother to sharpen their tooth brushes anymore. They just poke each other with blunt tooth brushes until one guy says “Screw it. I’ll be your bit@#, just let me get a nap in first. That fight really took it out of me.”

Stupid, fat, lazy inmates.

Delaware has always had plates like that. In fact, "All plates issued since 1942 can still be used in Delaware with current stickers. Authorized reproductions of porcelain enamel license plates can be obtained through a private vendor[1]], provided they fall within the state's guidelines." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_vehicle_registration_plates_of_Delaware

"Delaware's License plates are neither embossed or debossed. They are created with a silk-screening process and are flat." from http://www.aaroads.com/delaware/license_plates.htm

Its the same way in Alabama now.

You misspelt "Scot".

/Grammar Nazi

I have had plates from three states on my truck so far, California was the only one with raised letters. Its also the only state I know of where fully 15% of the cars on the road don't have any plates at all - just some random piece of paper taped into the window.

Some bean-counting asshat was oblivious to the fact that embossing the plates prevents people from fraudulently modifying them. If there's no stamping, you can make an "I" into a "T," an "L" into a "U," a "1" into a "4," and so on ... totally defeating the value of the plate in identifying a vehicle.

Someone could have asked "What's the stamping for?" But it was easier to just go ahead and foul up a proven, reliable system.

Wait 'til these unaccountable imbeciles are running our Health Care system!

hahaha - Josh that is SO true about CA! They also have like 85 different plate versions, colors, etc.

The prisoners lobbied for paint, because they could huff it. Something about it being a religious experience. Of course the legislature had to cave.

Anyone see how 10,000 plates had to be recalled in SC because they started with the letters "WTF"? Well some kids told their grannie about it, her knickers got twisted, and now the recall.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. What's the big deal? ;>

If they started "WWJD", the ACLU would have gotten involved. I mean really--Who Wants Jack Daniels?