Bear’s-Eye View of Alameda for April 30, 2023
On the many walks I take around town, my focus is usually looking at houses, squirrels, painted rocks, flowers, squirrels, yard items, etc. Alameda yards have proven to be quite interesting over the years.
While my attention is primarily focused on houses and gardens, I have also been checking out parked cars. In July of 2022, I did a special report on automobile emblems, and for this week’s installment of the Bear’s-Eye View of Alameda, I am posting another special report, this time about out-of-state license plates.
From looking at this collection of images I have assembled, I can confirm that Alameda is a national destination of some renown. Visitors have driven from as far away as Alaska and New York as well as other eastern seaboard states, like North Carolina, to see our fair city.
I noticed that the North Carolina plate has a picture of the Wright Brothers first flying machine and Ohio has the slogan of “Birthplace of Aviation.” I figure the North Carolina connection with the brothers’ first flight taking place at Kitty Hawk, NC, but can anyone explain why Ohio has that birthplace motto?
Some of the plates are quite artistic with multiple color designs. Check out Arizona, Florida, and Utah. Which is your favorite plate?
Oh… for all you wannabe lawyers out there screaming “PRIVACY!” there is no reasonable expectation of privacy in a license plate. I checked with my human companion/lawyer person to get his legal opinion.
He also said that what is protected is the information that is behind that letter/number combination which is stored at the Department of Motor Vehicles. So, unless you have a decoder ring or other gadget, a resident (or canine) cannot easily get access to the personal information of the registered owner of the vehicle.
I know that storage of the data is another big issue. Unfortunately, the images will be around as long as Facebook, Alameda Patch, and Nextdoor continue to exist.
Enjoy the report and be prepared for the winter storm coming in on Tuesday.
Mouf, Roving Reporter
Bear’s-Eye View of Alameda
Mouf and his human companion can be reached via [email protected]. Their stories are collected at AlamedaPost.com/Jeff-Cambra/. All photos by Jeff Cambra.
