California DMV - Amateur Radio Plates - No Space Issue

Ham radio operators beware if you plan on ordering new license plates with your call sign. The California Department of Motor Vehicles will add a "space" following the "6" in your call sign. Don't even bother trying to get them to change. They have no intentions to do so.

I have wasted so much time trying to them to remove the space from mine. The staff at your local DMV probably won't know anything about the issue either and won't be able to tell you upfront when you file the paperwork.

I wish that California would adopt what other states have done and put a graphic on the plates to clearly indicate that they are amateur radio plates. This way no confusion will occur and our call signs will look like they should. No Space!

For a response from DMV, go to the following blog or read the text below.

http://nospacehamplates.blogspot.com/2007/12/dmvs-dec-27-2007-response-to-marvin.html

DMV's Dec. 27, 2007 Response to Marvin Munster
This is in response to your letter dated December 13, 2007, regarding the spacing of your Amateur Radio (HAM) call letters on your license plates.

California Vehicle Code Section 5005 allows the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue special plates in lieu of the regular license plates to a vehicle owned by persons holding an Amateur Radio license issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). These special license plates display the official Amateur Radio call letters of the applicant as assigned by the FCC.

The Department has been issuing HAM license plates since 1953 when the statute was first enacted. The placement or spacing of letters and numbers composed of the HAM license was originally determined by the FCC. Although the department is required by law to issue HAM license plates with specific call letters, spacing is not addressed in the statute and the department can exercise its administrative authority in this regard.

The Department adopted the spacing in order for law enforcement to differentiate between HAM license plates and other series license plates. Unlike other states, California does not distinguish the HAM license plates with a symbol or wording indicating the plate is a HAM plate.

In April 2007, it was brought to our attention that the HAM license plates were being ordered and issued without the proper spacing. The problem has since been corrected; however, those HAM plates issued with no spaces will remain valid until the plates are lost or damaged and duplicates are requested. The Department has received several complaints, regarding the spacing of HAM license plates ordered by applicants. Thoughts of eliminating the spaces have been reviewed, but we must take into consideration the other series license plates and the distinction that HAM license plates will no longer have.

Sincerely,

MARIO BALBIANI, Program Manager
Registration Policy Development
Department OF Motor Vehicles
Registration Operations Division
P.O. Box 825393
Sacramento, CA 94232-5393