Received ticket on my license plate in a state I wasn’t in

[Anonymous]

Not sure why it took so long to clarify the details, but correct me if this is wrong. The photo in the citation is not your car, but has a plate with the same number as yours. The plate may or may not be from the same state. What state is your plate?

License plate numbers aren’t like phone numbers. Some states have the same license plate coding system. Ex ny and mi and many other states are abc 1234. Some just generate numbers randomly. Both cases can rarely result in duplications.

So either the photo is of a car with the same plate number and different state and they mistakenly sent the notice to you, or, someone duped your plate. It’s less likely that someone copied your plate with a ghost plate, but I guess not impossible.

https://turnto10.com/i-team/nbc-10-i-team-duplicate-license-plates-cause-problems-for-drivers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why it took so long to clarify the details, but correct me if this is wrong. The photo in the citation is not your car, but has a plate with the same number as yours. The plate may or may not be from the same state. What state is your plate?

License plate numbers aren’t like phone numbers. Some states have the same license plate coding system. Ex ny and mi and many other states are abc 1234. Some just generate numbers randomly. Both cases can rarely result in duplications.

So either the photo is of a car with the same plate number and different state and they mistakenly sent the notice to you, or, someone duped your plate. It’s less likely that someone copied your plate with a ghost plate, but I guess not impossible.

https://turnto10.com/i-team/nbc-10-i-team-duplicate-license-plates-cause-problems-for-drivers

OP here. The picture is of a Land Rover; I have a Subaru Impreza. Zooming in on the picture, it does look like the same license plate that is on my car/registration. The numbers/letters certainly are the same. The picture is in black and white, which makes things more difficult (and zoom only works so well). Holding the picture up to my license plate, it does look like a Maryland plate (where I live). I have to assume it is either a fake or the MVA somehow gave the same plate out to someone else? I am planning on contacting the MVA this week as well as FDOT (who issued the ticket).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why it took so long to clarify the details, but correct me if this is wrong. The photo in the citation is not your car, but has a plate with the same number as yours. The plate may or may not be from the same state. What state is your plate?

License plate numbers aren’t like phone numbers. Some states have the same license plate coding system. Ex ny and mi and many other states are abc 1234. Some just generate numbers randomly. Both cases can rarely result in duplications.

So either the photo is of a car with the same plate number and different state and they mistakenly sent the notice to you, or, someone duped your plate. It’s less likely that someone copied your plate with a ghost plate, but I guess not impossible.

https://turnto10.com/i-team/nbc-10-i-team-duplicate-license-plates-cause-problems-for-drivers

OP here. The picture is of a Land Rover; I have a Subaru Impreza. Zooming in on the picture, it does look like the same license plate that is on my car/registration. The numbers/letters certainly are the same. The picture is in black and white, which makes things more difficult (and zoom only works so well). Holding the picture up to my license plate, it does look like a Maryland plate (where I live). I have to assume it is either a fake or the MVA somehow gave the same plate out to someone else? I am planning on contacting the MVA this week as well as FDOT (who issued the ticket).

Yes either a fake or they gave the same plate out. Someone also could have altered a plate, happens all the time in ny when people try to avoid tolls/parking tickets. Most states have 6 digit plates, and according to Wikipedia, MD is the only state with 7 digits in the format 1AB2345. Most of the others are ABC1234.

I’m sure this is annoying for you, but it’s kind of a fun mystery. Please update here when you hear back!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why it took so long to clarify the details, but correct me if this is wrong. The photo in the citation is not your car, but has a plate with the same number as yours. The plate may or may not be from the same state. What state is your plate?

License plate numbers aren’t like phone numbers. Some states have the same license plate coding system. Ex ny and mi and many other states are abc 1234. Some just generate numbers randomly. Both cases can rarely result in duplications.

So either the photo is of a car with the same plate number and different state and they mistakenly sent the notice to you, or, someone duped your plate. It’s less likely that someone copied your plate with a ghost plate, but I guess not impossible.

https://turnto10.com/i-team/nbc-10-i-team-duplicate-license-plates-cause-problems-for-drivers

OP here. The picture is of a Land Rover; I have a Subaru Impreza. Zooming in on the picture, it does look like the same license plate that is on my car/registration. The numbers/letters certainly are the same. The picture is in black and white, which makes things more difficult (and zoom only works so well). Holding the picture up to my license plate, it does look like a Maryland plate (where I live). I have to assume it is either a fake or the MVA somehow gave the same plate out to someone else? I am planning on contacting the MVA this week as well as FDOT (who issued the ticket).

Yes either a fake or they gave the same plate out. Someone also could have altered a plate, happens all the time in ny when people try to avoid tolls/parking tickets. Most states have 6 digit plates, and according to Wikipedia, MD is the only state with 7 digits in the format 1AB2345. Most of the others are ABC1234.

I’m sure this is annoying for you, but it’s kind of a fun mystery. Please update here when you hear back!

Thanks, I will. I was also advised to contact the Maryland State Police, though I'm not sure why. I'm at least planning on getting new plates, but hopefully the MVA will be helpful beyond that.

[Anonymous]

OP with (not much of) an update. Went to the MVA; they gave me new plates (well, charged me $20). It sounds like my plates were the only ones out there, so I guess the Florida car had fake plates. I still have to dispute the toll charge with FDOT; hopefully showing the registration will be enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP with (not much of) an update. Went to the MVA; they gave me new plates (well, charged me $20). It sounds like my plates were the only ones out there, so I guess the Florida car had fake plates. I still have to dispute the toll charge with FDOT; hopefully showing the registration will be enough.

Don’t forget to update your plates with EZ Pass (or the video by toll for Maryland) and any parking apps!

[Anonymous]

Years ago I had plates that did not match my registration unbeknownst to me. I could have gotten tickets but I never received them because my registration is linked to my account, not the plates number. Only when I returned the plates to the DMV did I and the person accepting them realize they did not match my registration. Had the plates close to 10 years. So check your registration card to see if they match.

[Anonymous]

DH had the same thing happen a few years ago. Someone printed fake plates that were the same as his and we got a ticket. We appealed through Florida and never paid the ticket. DH kept his license plates (which are custom and he didn’t want to give up). I can’t quite remember details but once we’d done whatever Florida DOT asked (sent a copy of fhe registration to show that those license plates were attached to our car I think), we never had another issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you certain the ticket is for a toll violation in Florida? Or is it just that the billing company is in Florida? Does it show a picture of the car? (When I get a bill for using route 200, it shows a picture of my car on the road.) Are you sure it's not a weird scam? By all means, verify the authenticity of the sender. Is there a state sanctioned website where they want you to pay? Verify the URL to make sure it's not a scam.

There is a picture of an suv with “Land Rover” in clear letters across the front. My car is a Subaru Impreza. Tried calling the number and seems to be legit.

Relax. We had the same thing happen in DC, red tape, capital of the world, and sent a picture of our car and license plate, and they realized it was a mistake. We did not have to pay a ticket.

[Anonymous]

Sorry that happened to you, OP. What a pain! I would contact the number on your ticket and do whatever they tell you to do - likely send them a copy of your registration, because it has the make of your vehicle. I'm sure this is not the first time this has happened. They must have a procedure in place.