North Maple Rag

Or maybe it's Oakland. Either way, someone stole one of my license plates. Just went up, unscrewed the screws and walked away with my plate (and the screws). I suspect it was a college kid who was amused by my South Dakota plates. Amusement is fine, taking the plate isn't. I'm currently waiting for the Berkeley police to call me back so that I can fully report the missing plate, just in case it is now sitting on a car that's leaving a crime scene rather than decorating the wall of some undergrad's bedroom. My parents are alterting the South Dakota authorities so that the records there can be updated as well. I expect I'll have to get all new plates which poses two problems: 1) I'll have to pay for all new plates which will really piss me off, and 2) I'll have to memorize all new license plate numbers which, despite the fact that I tend to have a pretty good memory, has proven difficult in the past.

The worst part is that half of my car is now bare. I know some states only require one plate, but SoDak requires two and I like that. The SoDak plates give me a certain freedom -- when I execute a slightly ill-advised or illegal driving manuever, I can simply point to the plates and imply that I'm fresh off the farm. Disingenuous? Yes, but helpful nonetheless. And now, I can only do that half the time. Damn college kids.


UPDATE: I now have a case number and the police officer who filed my report assured me I'm now exempt from any liability if someone commits a crime while driving a car bearing my plates. Ahh liability, that officer sure know how to sweet-talk a law student.


* Please excuse my swearing.