From the FAQ:
quote:
From the California DMV website, Frequently asked questions
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/legacyplates/faqs.htm]Q11: Are the Legacy Plates going to look exactly like the license plates issued in the 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's?
A: No. Current law requires license plates to be reflectorized. However, as many characteristics of the older plates will be applied as possible.
I have been told by a friend in the license plate business, that the driving force behind this legislation is 3M, who has the contract for the material required reflectorized plates (required by a law promoted by 3M), and that the company is angling to remove all manufacturing of the license plates from Folsom Prison.
The end result is that these "Legacy plates" will be flat, and eventually all California plates will be flat and manufactured by 3M.
http://www.andrewturnbull.net/plates/flat.htmlquote:
From leewardpro.com
“Easier to read” (flat) digital plates merely a sales claim:
3M, the dominant supplier of digital license plate systems in the United States, as mentioned above, suggests — without providing support — in its sales brochure for 3M’s digital production system that digital plates are easier to read for law enforcement because the alphanumeric on the plate can be larger and bolder. (See near the bottom of page 6 in the brochure PDF.) Nothing in the way of backup for the statement is mentioned, however. One also sees statements from state officials in news reports announcing a state’s forthcoming new digital license plates that they will be easier to read (likely because this is what they have been told by 3M). Without supporting reasoning, though, such statements should be viewed as simply “PR” to counter potential resistance to the new technology.
