- License plates help law enforcement track and identify the owner of a vehicle. Because of this, license plates are required on the back of every motor vehicle on public roads. With so many vehicles, it's a huge task to produce the necessary plates for each one. Many of these plates are made in correctional institutions across the United States as part of a prison work program. However, many cities are starting to contract out the manufacturing of plates to private companies.
- License plates are made from sheets of aluminum. These sheets are then coated in a special highly reflective product that allows the numbers to be read by law enforcement officers at all times of the day.
- Though many people prefer the basic design chosen by the state they live in, novelty plates are also available for purchase. Novelty plates can usually be bought from your state department of motor vehicles for an additional cost. Some customized plates are also available for those who have served in the armed forces, have survived major events such as the attack on Pearl Harbor, or for those who have won a nationally recognized honor such as the Purple Heart.
- There are two main methods for making license plates. The first has been used since the beginnings of the license plate. This process involves inserting blank metal sheets into a special license plate press. When the press is closed, the appropriate writing is stamped into the metal plate. The plate is removed and painted with a single background color. A roller then passes over the top of the plate at just the right height to only color the raised lettering. The entire plate is then treated with a highly reflective coding to finish it off.
- The second method for making license plates is becoming increasingly more popular and involves much newer technology. During this process, a pre-printed sheet with all of the necessary colors and writing is placed into the press. This pre-printed sheet is also already coated in the reflective coating.The press then raises the lettering to look the same as the plates produced by the first method. Then a different type of ink is rolled over the raised lettering. This gives the new plates a better reflective capability than the old method and allows law enforcement to better see and read the plates. This method creates better plates, but it is also more expensive to manufacture. These prices are passed along to the driver when he needs to license his vehicle or buy new plates.
