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From: rturner@amc-hq.arpa (Richard G. Turner //CCTO USARI//)
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: Re:  Automobile Ham call sign plates
Message-ID: <8459@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 22-Feb-85 09:20:20 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.8459
Posted: Fri Feb 22 09:20:20 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 26-Feb-85 20:42:46 EST
Sender: news@brl-tgr.ARPA
Lines: 24

The situation you describe, where Amateur Plates are considered public
service plates, is true for Virginia.  Virginia requires (or still did the
last time I checked) that a vehicle carrying an Amateur Radio plate have
working communications gear.  You were also required to turn in your plates
if you were without such gear for longer than 90 days.  The law wouldn't
allow holders of Novice licenses to obtain Amateur plates because of their
perceived inability to provide mobile communications... even though I have
run into at least one Ham who did mobile CW.

The Virginia State Police WILL use you in an emergency situation if they
see Amateur Plates on your car.  One of our club members, coming upon a
traffic accident, was signaled to the side of the road by one of Virginia's
finest.  He expected to be asked for communications help, but was asked to
help push one of the vehicles out of the roadway.

That's public service!

					-rick

ps. I wasn't able to convince my mailer to send directly to the MIT-*
addressees that posted the original messages concerning amateur plates
as vanity plates.

					-rt