September 2, 2016

License plate counting

Here's a game to play when you are out and about.  This is a very long-term game that will probably take a few years to complete, especially if you choose one of the hard game options.  It is based on the convention that a large number of automobile license plates in the US are of the form AAA000 or similar with a three-character string of letters and a three-digit number.  With so many more cars on the road now, there are fewer and fewer 6-character plates like these issued, but there is enough variety that the game is still viable.

The goal

This California plate counts for 172 on the
regular goal, HUA on the hard goal,
A17 and 172 on the true nerd goal, or
even A172 on the extra hard true nerd goal.
Spot a license plate for each of the three-digit numbers sequentially from 000 through 999. The series to find is: 000, 001, 002, 003, 004, etc...
Hard goal: Spot a license plate for each of the three-letter combinations sequentially from AAA through ZZZ. The series to find is AAA, AAB, AAC, AAD, AAE, ... AAZ, ABA, ABB, ABC, ABD, ... AZZ, BAA, BAB, BAC, BAD, etc...
True nerd goal: Spot the sequence using hexadecimal numbers.  The series to find is 000, 001, 002, ... 009, 00A, 00B, 00C, 00D, 00E, 00F, 010, 011, ... 01F, 0A0, 0A1, etc...
Extra hard true nerd goal: Spot the sequence using four-digit hexadecimal numbers.
Quickstart option: Spot plates for single characters in your chosen sequence, then two characters then three characters.  For example on the regular goal, find 0 through 9 then find 10 through 99 then find 100 through 999.

Rules

This plate from Dubai would count for
120, 200, 002 and 028
  • All vehicle license plates are valid for this game, regardless of issuing authority or type of vehicle.
  • Only the license number on the plate is to be used for the game; the issuing authority name, slogan, registration expiration date and any other text do not count.
  • A sequence of plates can be spotted out of order only if all of the plates in the sequence are spotted on the same day. Typically this means one solar day cycle (sunrise to sunrise); use your best judgement on the exact time parameters.
  • The exact string of characters must be on the license plate in the same order as they are sought (so for example, the string "407" on a license plate is not valid for finding the number "047")
  • Punctuation, whitespace and any non alphanumeric characters on license plates can be ignored.
  • The same license plate can be used for multiple entries in any sequence.
  • An expired license plate still counts for this game.
  • Except for the quickstart option, every plate used must explicitly show the three-character entry that is claimed for the sequence.
  • A license plate that has been removed from a vehicle and mounted on a wall as decoration can be used for this game.  As long as it is a real vehicle license plate, it counts regardless of where you see it.

Further thoughts

This Illinois plate would count for
282, 826, 266 and 662
This game favors those who go outside more often, especially to those who travel by road a lot. But don't forget to look around you in every parking lot; walking from your vehicle to your errand destination gives you extra time to look with less danger of getting into an accident (but still watch out for moving vehicles at all times).

It can be difficult to remember which number or character sequence you are on, so keep a small notepaper handy where you can write down your current number.  Check your note before you get on the road to remind yourself of the string you are seeking, then when you find it, write it down and update your tally note when it is safe to do so.

Remember to look at motorcycles and moped plates.  As it says in the rules, a license plate on any vehicle counts.  Also remember to look at vehicles that are pulling trailers.  Often the trailer will have a license plate that is separate and different from the plate on the vehicle pulling it.

Temporary registrations can be used as well because they will often show a registration number the same way a permanent license plate does.

Don't trespass to see any license plate.  Getting further in this game is not worth the hassle of an arrest or ticket.  If you can't see a plate, skip it and move on to looking at the next vehicle's plate.

Finally, if you're finding it difficult to read license plates because they are out of focus when they are more than one car length away from you, consider making an appointment with a reputable optometrist.  You should be able to read plates that are farther away if the vehicle owner has not made any efforts to obscure the plate.  Your vision is important, so take care of it.

Bonuses

Although this game is played "on the honor system," you can consider giving yourself a bonus for every license plate that you find and are able to photograph. You don't need to post your photographs anywhere, just keep them in your archives for what you feel is a reasonable amount of time.  Remember, you're not trying to prove anything with these photos.

For another bonus, try finding license plates that are only on certain types of vehicles.  You don't need to keep this type restriction through the whole series, but challenge yourself to find the next number, for example, on a commercial vehicle.

Notes

All license plate images on this post are sourced from Wikimedia Commons with suitable licenses for republishing as follows:
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