The history of the real AREA 51 license plate.

Winning the lotto.

In 2015, I purchased a 2012 BMW 335is. I was excited to find a cool personal plate for it. The Nevada DMV website allows you to search for available personal plates. After thinking of some options, I typed in AREA 51. Available. Holy sh**! This can't be real!

Prior to covid, you could go to the DMV, get a ticket, and wait in line. Immediately, after discovering it was available, it felt like winning the lottery, all I had to do was jump in my car and drive to the DMV. So, that's what I did.

When you get to the DMV in Nevada, you wait in line to see an information specialist who will ensure you have all the information needed for the visit and direct you to the right departmnet. I explianed that I was there to register a personal plate to which the person at the information counter replied, "Oh, you know you can just fill out a form online and sent it in?" Yes, I knew that but knew I would lose the plate if I waited. "No, that's okay. I want to do it today" I replied.

Waiting to see the DMV agent was incredible. Is the plate actual available. Can I actually register it? Will someone register it before I do? It was very intense waiting.

I got it. The actual Nevada AREA 51 plate was mine. Little did I know what I actually signed up for...

Popular and cursed.

Little did I know I just purchased one of the most popular license plates in the world. Fake AREA 51 plates are sold at souvineers store throughout Nevada. Thousands of people buy these plates and a fraction of those are dumb enough to attach them to their actual vehicles, drive through a toll, and the owner of the real Nevada AREA 51 plate gets the bill.

Weeks after owning the plate the violations started pouring in. Anywhere there is a toll in the USA, I have a violation from somebody using a fake AREA 51 plate. I estimate that I have received over 350 violations since owning the plate.

For the first 5 years, every violation I recieved would be disputed. The violations would be discharged. In fact, I have never paid a single violation since owning the plate. However, after 5 years of doing this, I became frustrarded. The strategy needed to change.

A must-have for enthusiasts!

John Doe

"

The legal beatdown.

No matter what I did, call the toll agencies, write them letters, plea with them to stop sending me these violations, nothing worked. I could see why the previous person let the plate go. It takes a little sofistication and dedication to own the worlds coolest license plate.

Since I was never going to surrender the plate, I had to change my tune with these agencies. I was always kind and respectful but clearly they were unwilling to respect my rights. I have the right to not be harassed by fredulent debt. These agencies continued to send me debt they knew was fradulent.

It was time to sue them -- or alteast begin the process. The next time I received a violation from one of these companies, I was no longer going to ask for it to be dismissed. I did my research and found the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act which stipulates that it is unlawful for anyone to send freaulent debt.

Since I started sending these agencies cease and desist letters, the violations have stopped coming in. Franky, I kinda miss getting these letters. It was always fun to see new people from new locations using the plate. Every once and a while, a new agency I have never delt with, will send me a notice.

A must-have for enthusiasts!

John Doe

"

The craziest case.

I recevied a voicemail from a detective Craig O'Niell from the Las Vegas Police Department. I was told that I was being investigated in a matter and that it was pertient that I call him back immedately or an arrest warrant would be issued in my name. I called him back to learn that someone using the AREA 51 plate was involved in a hit and run accident. I asked detective O'Niell, "What is the description of the vehicle involved?" He could not answer me. "Well, does it match the description of the vehicle the actual AREA 51 license plate is registered to?" He replied, "no."

I had to explain to him.

A must-have for enthusiasts!

John Doe

"

Turning heads.

Having the real AREA 51 plate turns heads. "Dude, I love the plate." "Is that real?" "How did you get that?"

People are geniunely excited when they see the plate. You will park your car and enevitably someone will be at the back snapping a picture.

Maybe the most flattering instance was the time I was pulled over by a police officer who initially thought I was displaying a fake plate -- I wonder where he got that idea... After he stopped me he ran the actual plate and realized, ah crap, it's real. He approached me and explained he thought I was displaying a fake plate, he didn't think it was real, it was a misunderstanding and that I was free to go. "Cool plate by the way."

"Thanks officer."

A must-have for enthusiasts!

John Doe

"

The next custodian.

Owning this plate is obviously not for everyone. The price you will pay to own one of the coolest, if not the coolest plate in the world is to deal with a little bit of shit now and again. At the end of the day, someone has to do it.

That next someone will continue the legacy of this plate.

A must-have for enthusiasts!

John Doe

"

The requirements.

Since owning this plate, I have formed several strategies for it's safety.

1. The plate is currently registered and owned by a Nevada Limited Liability Company located in Lyon County, Nevada. The advantage of this is 3 fold. 1.) I am legally sheilded from erronous and fake debt that will be issued to the LLC name and not my personal name. 2.) Lyon County does not require annual smog. Annual registration is done at the click of a button each year. 3.) The annual registration costs in Lyon County are almost half of Wahoe County (Reno) and Clark County (Las Vegas).

The new owner is:
- Not required to live in or be a resident of the state of Nevada
- Not required to have a Nevada driver license

A must-have for enthusiasts!

John Doe

"