Which states don't have Firefighter License Plates?

This is a simple awareness post that in my opinion, can be very useful for half the countries fire departments at a minimum... Only 43 out of 50 states have the option to purchase specialized fire department vehicle license plates for their personal vehicles. In many cases, money spent for these special license plates are earmarked for specific charities or things designed to help out fallen firefighters families. For those 7 states that do not have a vanity plate for firefighters, I ask why not? Again, this is another way to get both recognition in a quiet / non-emergency lights and whacker looking vehicles kind of a way. And you might be able to help someone out. Just a thought...  


Another option that to be frank, surprised me was the lack of dedicated license plates identifying volunteer firefighters. Only New Mexico appears to have a license plate that is for volunteer firefighters. Considering that the majority of firefighters are volunteer department related, seems to me that this would be appropriate, but that's just my opinion. Chances are, you might not have even thought about it until now... And, maybe folks might not want to be differentiated from volunteer verses full time paid, not that it really matters. What's your opinion?


Bonus Question: Which states do not have firefighter license plates?


TCSS, 

CBz

The following states (43) have firefighter license plates.†

  1. Alabama
  2. Arizona
  3. Arkansas
  4. California
  5. Colorado
  6. Connecticut
  7. Delaware
  8. Florida
  9. Georgia
  10. Hawaii
  11. Idaho
  12. Illinois
  13. Indiana
  14. Iowa
  15. Kentucky
  16. Louisiana
  17. Maryland
  18. Massachusetts
  19. Maine
  20. Maryland
  21. Michigan
  22. Minnesota
  23. Mississippi
  24. Montana
  25. New Jersey
  26. New Mexico
  27. New York
  28. Nevada
  29. North Carolina
  30. Ohio
  31. Oklahoma
  32. Oregon
  33. Pennsylvania
  34. South Carolina
  35. South Dakota
  36. Tennessee
  37. Texas
  38. Utah
  39. Virginia
  40. Washington
  41. West Virginia
  42. Wisconsin
  43. Wyoming

† There is of course a chance that my research was not exactly thorough. I admit it right up front, but this is as good as I can do without additional input from others. Please let me know if your state is already providing the option for firefighters to purchase firefighter vanity plates.














































  




 




 















Note: Thank you "PL8MAN" Buddy Harris!  Please note that Buddy is trying to complete his collection of fire department license plates for real...   Click here to see more license plates, but none of the ones that are still missing from this discussion post.


Updated: April 10, 2010


Views: 12923

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on April 10, 2010 at 3:21pm
Speaking about Jeeze... what fun is a post if you can't get a little group involvement. This post as you have probably noted by now, will change as input comes in. When I started this "I'm retired now and can do silly things kind of a post...", I never had a clue that there were so many examples. And as you know Chief, I'm a graphics kind of instructor / company officer. And how cool to be able to maybe see that all 50 states have plates. Now what I was also thinking was that just maybe, our brothers and sisters from around the world might share any kind of specialized license plates for firefighters... CBz
Permalink Reply by MInnFIrefighter on April 10, 2010 at 3:44pm
Pointless
Permalink Reply by Marvin Hawk on April 10, 2010 at 3:57pm
New York actually has four plates that FF's can get
The Volunteer plate which runs $43.00 initially with no annual renewal
Two Career Plates 'Bravest" "Firefighter" which run $105 initially then $31.25 a year
and the FASNY plate which runs $65.00 initially and $31.25 a year
Both the Career plate and the FASNY plate fees included a fund raiser type payment back to the organizations $5 for FASNY and $45 for two of the UFA's charities.
Attached is the Volley plate, the old Statue of Liberty ones were better.
Attachments:
Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on April 10, 2010 at 3:59pm
Well done Ladd! You connived us all into getting involved again. Silly of me to even think you messed up. Your the Pied Piper again Ladd!
Permalink Reply by Joe Brewer on April 10, 2010 at 5:01pm
The way the state of tennessee works is if your able to run lights and sirens in your POV you need a plate. Our plates are free of charge as long as your on an FD roster. So on my truck I had to get that plate so I could use my lights and siren. Its a really good idea so if you dont have a plate to show what you are and your running lights then you can be ticketed.
Permalink Reply by Ron Ayotte on April 10, 2010 at 5:55pm
Go to www.mass.gov/RMV

There is a firefighters memorial plate, but anyone can get one of those.. a portion of the proceeds goes to the firefighter memorial fund.
Permalink Reply by Marc on April 10, 2010 at 6:31pm
43 out of 50 isnt bad. I think the problem is people actualy useing them/buying them
Having them is great, but if they wont be used, whats the point.
Permalink Reply by Capt. Jeff Lee on April 10, 2010 at 7:41pm
But notice, this plate says Oregon Professional Firefighters. Oregon does NOT offer one for the volunteers wich it should as we are the majority in the state!
Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on April 11, 2010 at 1:30am
"Only" 86% of the states have a firefighter license plate?

That doesn't exactly sound like a crisis.

Just my $0.02.
Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on April 11, 2010 at 8:31am
Yes, New York does indeed have them....BUT...we have to pay for them ourselves.......
Permalink Reply by Kern Hicks on April 11, 2010 at 10:18am
According to this series of images, KY,NY,WV,NV,SC and TX Differentiate between paid and Volunteer FF's. NM has a Vol plate for auto and motorcycle.
In my opinion, I would prefer simple FF plate for active FF's . You can have you do not have to be paid to be professional.
I really like the requirement of FF plates on POV's that allow light and sirens like Tennessee. I got stopped by an SO wondering why I was running with lights and siren.
Permalink Reply by ashfire on April 11, 2010 at 4:39pm
Our fire company chief's vehicles run around with regular state tags instead of local government or county station tags and because both vehicles show no f.d. markings or visable running lights are subject to being stopped by police or getting speed or red light camera pictures even thou they are Crown Vics. Our chief has this thing about not standing out when he is riding around using the car.
We have had cars in the past that were marked had roof lights and station or local gov tags but not for sometime since the 90s.

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