[Spectre_Cdn]

ICBC: Province running out of six-character licence plate numbers

NORTH VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - ICBC says the province is quickly running out of licence plate combinations, but they've come up with a solution. And you don't have to know your A-B-C's (or 1-2-3's) to figure it out. You can expect to see changes to B.C. plates rolled out over the next few years.

With the amount of new plates being issued, Adam Grossman with ICBC expects there won't be any more "three letter, three number" combinations by 2013. After much research, a solution has been found, but plates will still be six characters. "Typically where we see three letters, followed by three numbers--we're actually going to be seeing a sequence of two letters and a number, followed by two numbers and a letter."

Grossman says ICBC looked at moving to seven character combinations like Ontario and Alberta, but found it would be a costly switch, and would interfere with administrative systems for brokers that are built for the six character system.

Seven character combinations would also require smaller numbers and letters, making plates harder for police to read.


No more 888 ___, 168 ___, 338 ___ plates ;)

[LiquidTurbo]

People who think of the 888 plate as the biggest deal in the world need to be slapped in the head. It's a god damn license plate.. not some sort of life or death situation.

[TOPEC]

so its' going to be XX# ##X?
thats looks so shitty.

[Gumby]

As if the Olympic license plates aren't difficult to read... #cashgrab

[Greenstoner]

does that mean everyone has to change their plate ? And most likely paying fee on top for new plate?

Cash fucking grab

[Vinny G]

People who think of the 888 plate as the biggest deal in the world need to be slapped in the head. It's a god damn license plate.. not some sort of life or death situation.

Well, the "types of people" who go for those 888 plates need as much luck as they can get when it comes to driving anyways...

Nonetheless, only idiots waste time caring about what their license plate says. Especially the 'tards who spend hours of their life looking for 888 plates :facepalm:

[Great68]

does that mean everyone has to change their plate ? And most likely paying fee on top for new plate?

Cash fucking grab

No, it just means that new plates will start to resemble postal codes.

[Greenstoner]

im also hoping they dont put stupid design on the plate...
i like the ones right now, plain and simple..


i got a feeling they will putting some sort of totem poles or native logo on there

[vafanculo]

lol...if i see a totem pole on my plate im going to start asking the government for a tax break.

[CP.AR]

No, it just means that new plates will start to resemble postal codes.

lol it'll be so great to get H0H 0H0 or your own postal code

[johny]

how can they be out of plates when they just switched the # / letter order a couple years ago? they should have lots left.

[valent|n0]

AB1 12A
BV1 23C

I got bored so I try to visualize it by creating this
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/355/96206333.jpg

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

People who think of the 888 plate as the biggest deal in the world need to be slapped in the head. It's a god damn license plate.. not some sort of life or death situation.

what about those with the custom plates

[hk20000]

custom plates are always going to be custom...

[alex.w *//]

i think cali has the weirdest licence plates

http://www.classiccarmall.net/lpg/palbums/US-License-Plates/california.jpg
http://image40.webshots.com/41/4/41/23/376244123hLKGuI_fs.jpg

[LiquidTurbo]

^

Cali's plates have to look so weird because of the sheer volume of car there. In BC, its unfortunate that we are going towards that direction because its going to make it harder to report license plates..

ABC 123 is a lot easier to remember than the Cali plate..

[fishing666]

why are we running out of license plates!??!!?

we should just have 4 letters followed by 3 numbers
and the 4 letters must include 1 vowel.

ez to remember..many combinations..insurance companies rich enough to change their data systems..problem solved!

[Soundy]

Even when you start going to all possible combinations of letters and numbers, six characters gives you ONLY 2,176,782,336 possible options.

[Noizz]

Even when you start going to all possible combinations of letters and numbers, six characters gives you ONLY 2,176,782,336 possible options.
Which means that we have almost used up 17,576,000 combination already. That's a lot of cars!

I got curious and searched for licensed vehicles in BC; there are only 2,044,431 licensed passenger vehicles in BC. Unless there are rules to what combination of letters and numbers you can use, how can we be running out of combinations with AAA 000 already? http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/data/dd/handout/mvlic.pdf

[CP.AR]

lol combinatorics

[hongy]

Fuck combinatorics, that thing almost made me fail math 12.

[Soundy]

Which means that we have almost used up 17,576,000 combination already. That's a lot of cars!

That's just for "AAA ###"... remember they've started using "### AAA" the last few years.

And don't forget commercial plates, which use "#### AA" and now "AA ####"

[slammer111]

Ontario's system is great. Slapping an A in front makes it WAY easier to memorize.

This system is only going to increase the total amount of plates (not including those truck ones) by 50% (ie 3:2) from what's currently available, then they'll need to introduce another format in like 10 years again. :rolleyes: Very short-sighted thinking by ICBC. Soon our plates are going to look like messed-up postal codes and nobody is going to remember what the hell their plate #s are. I already have trouble memorizing the plate on my motorcycle and that's also 6 characters.

By adding a letter in front, you just increased the number of combinations by 2500% (ie 26:1) over the existing system. ICBC fail.

[The_AK]

II1 11I

most awesome

[Qmx323]

By adding a letter in front, you just increased the number of combinations by 2500% (ie 26:1) over the existing system. ICBC fail.


Did u read the OP's article

making the plates 7 letters would

Grossman says ICBC looked at moving to seven character combinations like Ontario and Alberta, but found it would be a costly switch, and would interfere with administrative systems for brokers that are built for the six character system.

[slammer111]

II1 11I

most awesomeThat will never happen as I and O are not allowed on BC plates. ;)

Did u read the OP's article

making the plates 7 letters would^ Yes, I read that, and what I'm saying is that ICBC should suck it up and cough up the dough to make their system that much more futureproof. They'll just run out of the new format again in <10 years.

[RRxtar]

my god this thread makes me hate so many retarded members on revscene. sweet fucking hell


im going back to the sports forum

[J____]

SS5 55S would be best.

[ASG111]

SS5 55S would be best.

too much maximum tune for you

[!SG]

IB6 UB9

[TRD Rs200]

DC2 EG9

too much maximum tune for you

there is no such thing as too much MT!!!

[Harvey Specter]

I wouldn't mind if BC got rid of the front plate but that'll never happen.

[hotjoint]

cool

[twitchyzero]

they should just add 778 in front of new license plates
done and done

[AzNightmare]

Damn, it's gonna be harder to remember plates now.

[Soundy]

That will never happen as I and O are not allowed on BC plates. ;)

^ Yes, I read that, and what I'm saying is that ICBC should suck it up and cough up the dough to make their system that much more futureproof. They'll just run out of the new format again in <10 years.

Adding a single letter to the current 3+3 (and excluding I and 0) gives you 25^4 * 9^3, or 284,765,625.

Allowing all variations of 25 letters and 9 digits in six spaces = 25^6 * 9^6 = 177,978,515,625

Seems to me just removing the restrictions on how the six characters are arranged is a lot more futureproof than keeping the current arrangement but adding one character to the front.

Or maybe my math is off?

Even if you assume other "similar" letters and numbers are excluded (like 5 and S), simply allowing all possible arrangements of six characters gives you FAR FAR more possibilities.

[Greenstoner]

Damn, it's gonna be harder to remember plates now.

Not that hard, its similiar to postal code
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[mugentsx]

AA8-88A

[Phil@rise]

Adding a single letter to the current 3+3 (and excluding I and 0) gives you 25^4 * 9^3, or 284,765,625.

Allowing all variations of 25 letters and 9 digits in six spaces = 25^6 * 9^6 = 177,978,515,625

Seems to me just removing the restrictions on how the six characters are arranged is a lot more futureproof than keeping the current arrangement but adding one character to the front.

Or maybe my math is off?

Even if you assume other "similar" letters and numbers are excluded (like 5 and S), simply allowing all possible arrangements of six characters gives you FAR FAR more possibilities.

What?

[!LittleDragon]

http://gallery.drfaulken.com/d/230-1/a55-rgy.jpg

[optiblue]

damn... I want a new plate so people will find it harder to remember!

[AzNightmare]

Not that hard, its similiar to postal code
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

And who really remembers zip codes?

The reason why this fails is because people cannot make words or something
they can pronounce of these new plates.

Current plates have 3 Letters in a row
which people don't realize how much easier it is to remember that
than to see 2 letters, broken with a number, then 2 more numbers, and a letter
following that.

[lgman]

what I'm saying is that ICBC should suck it up and cough up the dough to make their system that much more futureproof. They'll just run out of the new format again in <10 years.
:thumbsup:Agreed

Everytime you cancel or surrender your plates back. That's it. number is destroyed never to be used again. I don't understand why ICBC doesn't just give the option to attach the plate with the person's DL# so no matter what happens to the car the plates will stay (terminated or unrenewed). Lot less waste and less hassle.

[Soundy]

...what I'm saying is that ICBC should suck it up and cough up the dough to make their system that much more futureproof. They'll just run out of the new format again in <10 years.

:thumbsup:Agreed

Everytime you cancel or surrender your plates back. That's it. number is destroyed never to be used again.

And why would they shell out to retool everything when the current six-character format potentially allows up to *OVER TWO BILLION* combinations?

I don't understand why ICBC doesn't just give the option to attach the plate with the person's DL# so no matter what happens to the car the plates will stay (terminated or unrenewed). Lot less waste and less hassle.

And what happens if the plates are lost or stolen? You get new plates issued with the same number... and then there are potentially two vehicles running around with your plate number, which has now been entered into the police database as stolen. You really want to get pulled over every second block to have the cops confirm that you're not the thief?

What if you get a parking ticket and decide it's cheaper to just get new plates than to pay it (as seems to be common practice among RSers)?

Anyway, DL numbers are 7 digits, which kind of goes against the "retooling" argument.

[sunny_j]

I wouldn't mind if BC got rid of the front plate but that'll never happen.

start a petition:)

i would like it gone too

[Shun Izaki]

thank god for custom plates...

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs102.snc3/15020_382754102010_504437010_4009024_5500612_n.jpg

[TRDood]

:thumbsup:Agreed

Everytime you cancel or surrender your plates back. That's it. number is destroyed never to be used again. I don't understand why ICBC doesn't just give the option to attach the plate with the person's DL# so no matter what happens to the car the plates will stay (terminated or unrenewed). Lot less waste and less hassle.

thats exactly what i was thinking. ontario has this system and i think it works quite well.

asfor stolen plates, your DL must match the plate. so if a cop pulls you over they are going to match your papers and plate on their computer system.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[TRDood]

sorry missed soundy's argument in the previos post. if a plate gets stolen or "missing" then just simply issue a new number.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[Soundy]

sorry missed soundy's argument in the previos post. if a plate gets stolen or "missing" then just simply issue a new number.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

And a new DL number too?

DLs, in BC at least, are 7 digits, numerical only. That's only 10 million possible combinations... vs. two billion with the current format.

And how about if you own two cars? You going to have two cars with the same plates? What about company cars that are owned by a corporation, not a person? What about rentals? Sorry, this idea fails on EVERY level.

[Soundy]

asfor stolen plates, your DL must match the plate. so if a cop pulls you over they are going to match your papers and plate on their computer system.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

So.... your plates get stolen. You report them stolen. They're tagged in the police database as being stolen. The cops drive around with their nifty new camera-equipped cars that automatically read plates. Every time they see your car, the system throws up a flag, and you get pulled over.

Then you come on RS and complain about cops not having anything better to do than pull you over twice a day.