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: 12678

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Can be displayed by any EMT or Paramedic.
seeing the discussion here, I have to add my 2 cents. being a firefighter in Indiana, there are many of us that don't agree with how our state moderates these plates.

in our state, the argument is that just because you have this plate, does not mean you are a firefighter. these plates are available to anyone, whether they be supporters of firefighters, and actual firefighter, either career or volunteer.

while its great that people can support us, we've also run into individuals that use the plates to "squirrel" calls, show up on scenes that they have no business at, and even impersonations.

other than IAFF plates, which our state no longer provide or make available,
this is a problem for many in our state.

and when our state decides to change their plates, they don't allow you to keep the ones that you already have.

I also don't agree with "professional firefighter" being on the plate. either career or volunteer, you have professional people, and non professional people. and the argument with career individuals is that they should be the only ones to have the plates.

just my observations
oui, ils sont réels licence plaques
In colorado You have to have a letter from your department stating that you are a firefighter in good standing in order to receive your plates. You also have to be on the title of the car. The only ones with the plates that are not current ff's are either spouses of ff's or retired ff's that still have the plates.

TCSS
Canadian?
Saskatchewan does not have a Firefighter plate
to my knowledge
what about the rest of the country?
The same rule applies in Georgia.


Greenman
I checked around and Indiana has two separate license plates for Firefighters: one for Career ("professional" to anyone outside of the Firefighting world), and one for Volunteers (Should we call them "Pro bono publico," Latin for "for the public good")

Check with your BMV office about applying for the right one.


Under Indiana state law a Firefighter is:

IC 9-18-34-1
"Indiana firefighter" defined
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "Indiana firefighter" means a
person who is:
(1) a full-time, salaried firefighter; or
(2) a volunteer firefighter (as defined in IC 36-8-12-2).
As added by P.L.118-1998, SEC.15.

and

IC 9-18-34-3
Eligibility
Sec. 3. A person who is an Indiana firefighter and who is eligible
to register a vehicle under this title is eligible to receive at least one
(1) Indiana firefighter license plate upon doing the following:
(1) Completing an application for an Indiana firefighter license
plate.
(2) Paying the appropriate fee under section 4 of this chapter

So only actual firefighters can get these two license plates.

Greenman
Michigan has 2 plates, 1 paid, and 1 for Voly. I had to show proof of being a firefighter.
Massachusetts has a Firefighter MEMORIAL plate. We have introduced legislation again this session 2011 -2012 for a Firefighter plate.Check out: http://www.facebook.com/pages/An-Actual-Firefighter-License-Plate-f...

I know this is a very old thread but I guess my post is worth a shot. I collect Firefighter License Plates and I am always looking for new ones. If anyone can help out please send me an e-mail via photofires@aol.com

Brian Duddy

I was reading some of the info about how people other than firefighters or ems personnel were getting tags. This should be regulated by the fire or rescue company and by a state association involved with the emergency services of the state.

They should keep track of who is a member of their organization and if members  leave and should have their tags pulled by the state so that they don' t misrepresent their organization. As my dept's tag chairman I can obtain the paperwork from our county or state rep during a county meeting. I request a copy of the  members auto registration and the money to pay for the need paperwork which the member either sends in to the state motor vehicle administration headquarters or they can pickup at a MVA office.

.

Brain about your request. I know it will be a while in Maryland. We have been using the same tags for years because they keep renewing them. The one thing is that the state requires that if you change tags or have them removed from your vehicle you have to turn in the tags.

When the state decides to design a new tag and start to issue them then we won't have to worry about turning in tags.

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