Can anyone tell me exactly what the blue stripe on the front plate bracket signifies on many cars in Massachusetts?? As we in MA know, there are two types of license plates. One is the single, green lettered rear plate of years ago that are still on cars. The other is the two-plate red lettered plates. More and more Corvette owners in this state are being stopped and ticketed for not running with their front plate. Yet, I continue to see red plated cars with no front plate but with that blue stripe instead.

Now, I have heard several times that the blue stripe is applied to personal cars belonging to law enforcement officers and family members, and signals to other officers that these cars shouldn't be ticketed. Can someone confirm that?

My issue is...the law says two plates! End of story. Corvette owners are being ticketed more frequently. Double standards??

Elaine

 

Of course there's a double standard. Why else would anyone stick FOP badges in thier cars.

Reguarding Mass, I have no idea.

 

Elaine, I have no direct idea but you might ask JesseJames, he's got all the answers in this area.
May have the screen name wrong, could come up as Jesse James

 

I have never heard of the blue stripe for Law Enforcement Officers for their private vehicles in this state to my knowledge.
Most police officers will not ticket as long as you at least carry the second plate. There are alot of people that are affixing the same plate to 2 vehicles they own. That is why it is enforced. If you can at least produce the plate when stopped you MAY not get a ticket.

Heck, I am running one plate and haven't had a ticket in 35 years

 

Well, these blue stripes are on vehicles that are owned by current and/or past law enforcement officers...I know several of them but can't get an answer from them. And I want to know why that is allowed and yet our Corvettes are still ticketed??

Paul, I speak with complete knowledge as my husband was ticketed TWICE by the same cop in my own town, and he had the plate with him. I am almost 99% sure that this particular guy owns and drive a black SUV with the blue stripe on it.

There is definitely double standards, and I want to know how it is justified.

Elaine

 

Sorry about your husband's tickets. I've been retired for a while but I'll find out if this is something new. PM sent.

 

Regular citizen cant buy one. Only for cops or family members.

http://www.epolicesupply.com/catalog...Line-29-1.html

Apparently FOX news did a story about this in 06 . (read on another forum).
IMHO there is no justification.

 

OK, Talked to a couple of guys still working. It is referred to as the "thin blue line". Just started within the last couple of years. Black plate with blue stripe. Stickers are also available that are black with blue stripe. Used to be that guys would affix MPA (Mass Police Associaition) stickers to their cars.

Anyway, cops don't like to write other cops. That's just the way it is. Is it right, no. But most jobs have perks fair or unfair.

There is also a thin red line for firefighters.

 

Im gonna get pummeled for this but someone needs to bring some sense into this... first off... if ANYONE is ticketed by the same cop on more then one occassion (esp. in a small town) it is def. something to look into as there could very well be some kind of prejudice going on. Then again.. could just be bad luck. But people lets get real here..

life isnt fair.. and as for your compaint of "how is it justified?" well that person puts on a badge and serves your community every day.... one might venture to say that since he is serving and protecting your family.. someone should serve and protect his as well.

Next you are going to complain that the deli worker shouldnt be allowed to take home the ends of the cold cuts, or department store workers shouldnt get employee discounts... hmm what about the GM family and friends auto buying discount? Come on people.. all of us who live in a two license plate state know that we run the risk of being LAWFULLY ticketed. Its a choice you make.

Its the holidays, we are in a recession, and at war... dont you have anything else to pick on?

 

Being in a recession and at war and in the middle of holidays has nothing to do with my logical question. MA law says two plates...it does not say that there are exceptions, yet there are.

Elaine

 

Im not going to argue with you.. was just stating my opinion.

my suggestion to you would be to document your tickets, take photos of these "exception" cars, cite the exact law and then plead your case in front of the magistrate. Who knows maybe justice will prevail

 

"life isnt fair.. and as for your compaint of "how is it justified?" well that person puts on a badge and serves your community every day.... one might venture to say that since he is serving and protecting your family.. someone should serve and protect his as well".


Thats why he/she gets a pay check...it starts with speeding tickets and ends with the "blue line" getting away with murder. And I have LEOs in my family

 

Im not saying that its right.. Im not saying its wrong.. Im not saying there arent cases of abuse either..

What I am saying is:

Have YOU .... YOURSELF... NEVER benefitted from Professional Courtesy.. or been given differentiating treatment because of your status, role, or family makeup? It happens... right or wrong. Sometimes there are just perks of a job and Im sorry but this just seems so trivial to me.

Thank you everyone for reading my two cents.. Hope I didnt ruffle too many feathers.

 

Relax little kitty (me like bad kitties)...I get your point...In the big picture it is trivial...I just want all "perks of the job" to remain trivial ...

 

Those stickers stand for the "Thin Blue Line" or in other words, an announcement that you are police personnel. Here in Jersey cops and family put them on the back of their cars so officers know they are pulling over a cop or family of a cop. Its considered professional courtesy.

 

Deli workers get the ends of the cold cuts???? That's an outrage! J/K

I run two plates in New York so I don't have a problem with the LEO's.

When you have a PBA card that's legit, you get special treatment. I guess that's the way it is.

 

One might wonder why your husband didn't properly affix the plate after the first time he was ticketed. It seems that would have kept him from getting the second ticket.

 

I don't want to get ticketed for no front plate, so you know what I do...................................... ........

I affix the front plate to my car.

 

It's not what you know, it's who you know - not just in Mass or the US, but the entire planet.

That is the way it has been since the dawn of mankind and that is the way it will be until this planet turns to dust.

Is it fair? No. Life is not fair.

 

He was stopped two times in two days!! And you're right...he should have affixed the plate after time #1, but he was hoping it was an isolated incident. The plate went on right after time #2.

Elaine