Speaking of Idaho will change to a subscription service beginning January 1. If you're interested in getting a fresh Idaho history newsletter every week in your email box, click here for more details.
Humans, silly things, love owning something rare. When it comes to license plates, low numbers are in high demand by collectors. The number 1 is particularly sought after. In Massachusetts, low-number plates are in such demand that they hold a lottery for them. The governor of Illinois got in hot water in 2003 for passing out low-numbered plates to political cronies. That who-you-know aspect of low-numbered plates has been common in many jurisdictions, leading to the belief by some that police would tend to let drivers with low-numbered plates slide on minor traffic infractions. Who would want to ruffle the feathers of some VIP?
There could be a little truth to that. Certain VIPs get special plates. Governors in Idaho started getting their own number 1 plates back in 1957.
In 1977, Idaho State Trooper Rich Wills pulled over a car going 61 in a 35-mph construction zone. When he hit the lights, he didn’t notice that the license plate had only the numeral 1 on it. Yes, it was the governor. Governor John Evans wasn’t driving. His press secretary, Steve Leroy, was. Leroy was pushing the speed limit a tad in order to get the governor to a speech on time. Trooper Wills gave Leroy a quick lecture about slowing down and sent the men on their way.
Wills got a little grief in the press over the incident. It hardly ruined his life, though. He spent years with the state police before becoming a state representative.
But, what’s so special about low-numbered plates? The number 1 is no rarer than the number 3315, when it comes to plates. Humans. Silly things.
There could be a little truth to that. Certain VIPs get special plates. Governors in Idaho started getting their own number 1 plates back in 1957.
In 1977, Idaho State Trooper Rich Wills pulled over a car going 61 in a 35-mph construction zone. When he hit the lights, he didn’t notice that the license plate had only the numeral 1 on it. Yes, it was the governor. Governor John Evans wasn’t driving. His press secretary, Steve Leroy, was. Leroy was pushing the speed limit a tad in order to get the governor to a speech on time. Trooper Wills gave Leroy a quick lecture about slowing down and sent the men on their way.
Wills got a little grief in the press over the incident. It hardly ruined his life, though. He spent years with the state police before becoming a state representative.
But, what’s so special about low-numbered plates? The number 1 is no rarer than the number 3315, when it comes to plates. Humans. Silly things.