America's car owners are a clever bunch. More than 7000
entered our competition for funny or unusual license plates. Here
are the 10 winners, picked for humor, charm and originality. (A
special flick of the high beams to North Carolina, which produced
two winners.) Congratulation to all!
1. IRIGHTI (New Jersey) Puzzled by this one from Meretta J.
Marks of Plainsboro, N.J.? When you get it, the message will hit
you just above the nose.
2. RUD14ME? (North Carolina) The perennial cruiser's question,
from Lauren Ivy Tambrino, a student at Elon College in North
Carolina.
3. HAHAHAHA (New York) Is this hearty mirth from Patricia M.
Cruz of Coram, N.Y., demented raving or spunky attitude? You
decide.
4. XQQSME (Massachusetts) Courtesy on the road is
appreciated. This entry from Dorothy Blackman of Longmeadow,
Mass., struck us as... well... qute.
5. IM12XL (Oregon) This plate from Morgan W. F. Dickerson of
Portland, Ore., can be read two ways. Morgan insists that the
proper reading is not "I'm 12 extra-large."
6. ULIV 1S (Arkansas) Words of wisdom and a safety reminder
are combined on one plate from Carrie Perrien of Rogers, Ark.
7. AXN28 D+ (North Carolina) An upbeat message from Georgia
Claxton of Greenville, N.C., and the title of a hit song from 1944.
8. VAN GO (Oklahoma) Paula A. Langston of Oklahoma City
brings a daub of culture to the road -- and her vehicle.
9. H20-U-UP-2 (Virginia) A question that parents are always
asking their kids, from Frank Conrad of Springfield, Va.
10. TI-3VOM (Missouri) In the rearview mirror, slowpokes may
see this blunt message from Laurie Calamici of O'Fallon, Mo.