A driver in Merced, California, recently caught the attention of the California Highway Patrol after being stopped for displaying a hand-drawn license plate. The incident occurred when a patrol officer noticed the unconventional design and initiated a traffic stop, as detailed in a Facebook post from the California Highway Patrol on October 10.
Upon inspection, the officer discovered that the plate was not only artistic but also illegal. The driver explained that the original license plate had been lost, but this reasoning did not suffice under state law. The California Highway Patrol emphasized, “While we appreciate the effort to stay compliant after losing the original plate, law requires vehicles to display state-issued plates only.”
Instead of creative expression, the driver received a citation for $197. The Highway Patrol advised that replacing lost or stolen plates can easily be done through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), negating the need for any artistic attempts.
Unusual Driving Incidents in California
The state has seen its share of unusual driving scenarios recently. Just a few months prior, in April, another motorist was pulled over in Santa Fe Springs for crossing double lines. What initially seemed like a routine stop soon turned peculiar when the officer noticed the passenger in the vehicle appeared to be a mannequin.
The California Highway Patrol reported that the driver, who had been trying to use the mannequin as a decoy to qualify for carpool lane privileges, was cited for multiple violations. Their post humorously acknowledged the effort, stating, “We’ve got to give it to them, the appearance is next level modeling, but at the end of the day… plastic is plastic.”
These incidents illustrate the lengths to which some drivers will go to circumvent traffic laws. While creativity can sometimes yield amusing results, it is crucial for motorists to adhere to the regulations in place for safety and compliance.
