Symbols on License Plates? Proposed Mass Bill May Make them Law

"Did you catch the license plate?"

That question is normally one of the first asked by police and 911 responders when a crime involving a motor vehicle is reported. Too often, according to supporters of a proposed law that would change the Massachusetts license plate system, callers reporting a crime either fail to catch the whole plate number or can only remember a portion of it. 

Senate Bill 1798, also known as Molly’s Bill, would direct the state issue license plates that combine the traditional letters and numbers already used with "universal, easily distinguishable symbols, such as triangles, squares and other geometric shapes," according to a release from State Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr's, R-Gloucester, office. The bill is named after Molly Bish, a teenager who was abducted while working as a lifeguard in Warren in June of 2000. Molly's remains were found three years later, but her killer has never been identified.

Tarr and John F. Keenan, D-Quincy, are co-sponsoring the bill. They also have support from Rep. Anne B. Gobi, D-Spencer. The bill was the subject of a public hearing before the Joint Committee on Transportation on Oct. 19, 2011. The bill is currently under review by the committee.

The bill would require license plates to pair up to four alpha-numeric characters with one easily recognized symbol. The new format would assist law enforcement officials by making it easier for witnesses to read, identify and remember the license plate of a motor vehicle used in the commission of a crime, the release states.

The new license plate design is the brainchild of Danvers businessman and inventor Gary Richard, who has been working for the better part of the decade to have his idea implemented by the state. He said the idea was languishing in discussion, but new leadership in the Joint Committee on Transportation and the support of the elected officials supporting it has given it new life. Richard said his goal is to have the bill signed by Gov. Deval Patrick on May 25, the National Missing Children Day.

Richard, who created the non-profit EZ-ID to promote the license plate design, said he began work after watching the news on Molly Bish.

"Back when I saw that Molly was abducted, it got my attention, and then Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her own home and I couldn't handle that," Richard told Patch in an interview. "I made a promise to myself to do something about chidhood abduction. I started analyzing abductions, and realized the common threat is the vehicle — abductors don't put their victims on the bus."

Richard explained that the new system would help people remember plates when reporting crimes. First, he said, symbols are easier to recognize and remember than a series of number or letters. Also, because there will be around 20 symbols in use along with the traditional number and letters, there will be more variety in characters for plates, allowing the state to issue shorter plate number of four or five characters (five-character plates will have double letters, such as AA, to make it even easier to remember).

"If you get the color of the car, say a blue SUV, and it has a four-character plate and someone saw 'a diamond and a 5," that narrows it down to about 12 vehicles," he said. "Police will be knocking on their door in a matter of minutes. Also, If people know their plates are more identifiable, that could be a deterrent"

Finally, Richard said the symbols are also easier for children, who may be the lone witness of an abduction, to identify and remember.

The proposed law has support among members of public security. According to Tarr's release, the New England Association of Police Chiefs, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police, the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police, the Massachusetts Fraternal Order of Police, the Molly Bish Foundation and the Pioneer Institute have all endorsed teh bill. The FBI’s CJIS Division has also deemed the EZ-ID proposal to be "a good idea that can work accross the country."

Supporters of Molly’s Bill are urged to call their senator and representative in the state Legislature at (617) 722-2000 or find specific contact information at www.malegislature.gov.

For more information on EZ-ID, visit their web site or check out the non-profit's Facebook page.

What do you think of adding symbols to license plates? Let us know in the comments below.