NCJ Number
208052
Date Published
2004
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This paper argues that the current North Carolina system of temporary license tags increases safety risks for police officers, facilitates criminal activities, causes revenue losses, and costs insurers and law-abiding citizens millions of dollars.
Abstract
Temporary license tags are used to identify vehicles for short periods during transition periods for ownership. Although North Carolina's temporary tags are limited to 30 days, police sometimes refer to them as "30-year tags," as they fraudulently become "permanent" license plates acquired at minimal cost. Temporary tags are also used to mask the identity of the car or driver. Temporary tags can be forged with the simplest of modern copiers, and nothing on the tag states that forgery or alteration is illegal. Only a pen, pencil, or marker is used to write in the data on temporary tags; no standard is enforced, and it is virtually impossible to read the most clearly printed data in the small space provided. Further, license plate frames obstruct all information that is supposed to be written in to identify a vehicle. Although the large primary number can be read from a distance, it cannot be used to identify a vehicle because of the poor administrative systems for issuing and tracking temporary tags. These and other features of the temporary tag system in North Carolina make it vulnerable to abuse and more difficult for police officers to identify vehicles, not to mention the significant loss of vehicle-related taxes. This article explains how a temporary tag system can be rendered unnecessary and how an existing one can be made less vulnerable to abuse. 5 figures and 5 notes