How do the police know what state a license plate is from nowadays?

Question

Back when the world seemed a little more sane, every state had its own unique license plate, and the police could radio in the number and state right away. But now, states have many different designs, and with license place frames covering up half or most of the state name, how in the world do patrol cars recognize what state the car is from??

Answer 1

Most states are fairly easy. Sometimes specialty plates throw a  carve ball, but those are rare. If a frame is covering up enough of the plate that I can't tell what state they are from. I just stop the car.

Answer 2

Many metro police car units today are outfitted with GPS locator devices that show on a map at headquarters the exact location of the police car.  These police cars are also rigged with high res cameras, parabolic high end microphones for audio/video recording and laptop computers directly linked to police headquarters.

These police cars and type in a license plate number---without airing it on police radio---and get ANY information attached to THAT license plate and on the driver assigned to THAT car.  It's being done way more than someone with a police radio scanner realizes---and it throws off the criminal elements who possess such radio scanners.

Answer 3

Some of them memorize it, but if you have a frame they give you a ticket for it, but they do not memorize the designs.

Answer 4

The Secretary of State/DMV does provide a booklet with all plates listed.  The state is marked on the plate, and any license plate frame that covers up any information is in violation.