Custom HWP car number plate

[Calaber]

Okay, today I saw an unusual number plate on a HWP car.

It was a blue plate, with "RBT" lettering.

Now, in NSW, specific lettering and coloured plates cost bux. For a private owner, the cost for this combination would be hundreds of dollars per year in addition to your rego.

I imagine that the police would get this plate combo for a substantially reduced cost,
perhaps cost free. What I can't understand is why a police car would have such plates. And, as "RBT" can only be issued to one vehicle, what other combinations are running around out there on HWP cars, and why?

Has anybody else seen similar plates on cars in NSW, or perhaps other states?

[Ado]

Look at the booze buses on Vic,most have custom plates.Our money well spent NOT.

[hakhawk]

Look at the booze buses on Vic,most have custom plates.Our money well spent NOT.

think it costs much to physically make the plates? i highly doubt the govt would be paying $400-500 for each custom plated police vehicle.

but i guess its another reason to whinge about them spending our money, so have at it

[keza87]

I have seen a HWP heading up the F3 with HWP ??? (don't remember the numbers) but they are getting around

[Zeussy]

Yeah, I have seen that car once, thought it was a bit over the top...
I'm sure any one would be able to work out they are performing an RBT, by the LED display screen on the top of their vehicles, (which scolls through saying "RBT in progress" - or something to that effect) the little man standing there with his flashy orange light saber and the thing in his hand...

Oh well, what can I say, even the cops like customising cars!!

[Calaber]

I have seen a HWP heading up the F3 with HWP ??? (don't remember the numbers) but they are getting around

Hi Keza

This might be before your time, but in the mid to late 70's, when the NSW Special Traffic Patrol was renamed the Highway Patrol, the standard pursuit cars were Chargers, and all of them had "HWP XXX" (XXX being numbers) plates as a publicity gimmick. They were also all white, but with full markings, roof lights etc.

[Rossbx]

Calaber, I could be wrong but in the early days when they had number plates with "HWP XXX" on them, it could have represented the vehicle fleet (HWP) and number of the vehicle (XXX). It is a common practice even today with trucking companies and coach fleets to have uniform custom or even standard issue number plates with the letters first followed by the fleet number.

Like you say though, it is a bit weird for them to just have the letters only

[STEALTHY™]

I have seen a HWP heading up the F3 with HWP ??? (don't remember the numbers) but they are getting around

They all have HWP 123

Just like ambulances have AMB 123, tow trucks have ATT 123 (Accident tow truck i assume)

[Rossbx]

OK thats weird... I stand corrected LOL

[ibt18u]

hey guys around my area there use to be under cover police car in the are it was a fpv dark tints and yes it had custom plates they were random though i did notice somthing odd though
there was a sticker on the back,it said triple o racing in like running writing.full on.

[Zeussy]

They all have HWP 123

Just like ambulances have AMB 123, tow trucks have ATT 123 (Accident tow truck i assume)

Not in NSW...
Unless this is a new thing?

[STEALTHY™]

Not in NSW...
Unless this is a new thing?

Old thing actually. I saw ambulances when i was there about 4 years ago, so that gave me the impression it was Aus wide, not just SA. Likewise the tow truck that picked me up on the way home on that same trip...lol had ATT, so i thought it was normal.

[Zeussy]

Old thing actually. I saw ambulances when i was there about 4 years ago, so that gave me the impression it was Aus wide, not just SA. Likewise the tow truck that picked me up on the way home on that same trip...lol had ATT, so i thought it was normal.

Ahh ok, might be, I haven't noticed thats all...

*** Note to self: Next Ambo I drive past, check the number plates! lol,

Not sure bout the towies either, I try to steer clear of them!

[STEALTHY™]

Ahh ok, might be, I haven't noticed thats all...

*** Note to self: Next Ambo I drive past, check the number plates! lol,

Not sure bout the towies either, I try to steer clear of them!

I can safely say my car has been on every tray top in SA. And 3 interstate ones lol

[Zeussy]

I can safely say my car has been on every tray top in SA. And 3 interstate ones lol

Ahh no way, lol. When I had the VH on the road, (quite a few years ago) I knew a towie, on a first name basis.. lol

The last time I used one, was to and from the 'Booth', lol, $50 each way, for like a 5 min trip.. (probly resonable, but it was an expense I didn't count on )

[Calaber]

They all have HWP 123

Just like ambulances have AMB 123, tow trucks have ATT 123 (Accident tow truck i assume)

Stealthy

Not in NSW. Our ambulances just have any old plates, nothing special. Tow trucks ditto. Fire brigade vehicles have a special type of plate for that type of vehicle, not a normal rego plate.

[Calaber]

hey guys around my area there use to be under cover police car in the are it was a fpv dark tints and yes it had custom plates they were random though i did notice somthing odd though
there was a sticker on the back,it said triple o racing in like running writing.full on.

That sort of thing would be used to reinforce the anonymity of the car and separate it from the general police fleet vehicles. The trouble is, once those little facts are known generally, the car isn't quite so anonymous any more.

In NSW, if a special operation is underway, it is quite common for local dealers to be approached by the police for the loan of a car which is not normally used by police, such as Mazda 6 or Subaru LIberty. When I worked for the Force, we often did that sort of thing and local dealers were very supportive of lending us the vehicles, even changing the cars if the operation carried on for a long time, so that the crims didn't get to know which cars the police were using.

[Calaber]

I can safely say my car has been on every tray top in SA. And 3 interstate ones lol

Hmmm, bit lacking in the reliability department, eh? (joke)

[Torquative]

guys, tow trucks all start with TT - Tow Truck, its a place specific for Tow Trucks!

Ambulances are normal run of the mill plates.

I dont know how HWP cars work. Ive seena few HWP XXX. There is the odd car getting around with black/white plates with the initials of a HWP officer whose been killed in the line of duty.

Why do they do it? I suppose it costs nothing, after all tis the Government (like a parking officer ticketig a cop car for being parked on a footpath, it gets written off by the state debt recovery office)... and it also gets ya talking about it, doesnt it

[STEALTHY™]

Hmmm, bit lacking in the reliability department, eh? (joke)

Not at all. Its a burnout car, you expect breakages

[ibt18u]

That sort of thing would be used to reinforce the anonymity of the car and separate it from the general police fleet vehicles. The trouble is, once those little facts are known generally, the car isn't quite so anonymous any more.

In NSW, if a special operation is underway, it is quite common for local dealers to be approached by the police for the loan of a car which is not normally used by police, such as Mazda 6 or Subaru LIberty. When I worked for the Force, we often did that sort of thing and local dealers were very supportive of lending us the vehicles, even changing the cars if the operation carried on for a long time, so that the crims didn't get to know which cars the police were using.

yeah thats the point i got,my gf's dad owns a few dealerships and they help emergincy services alot but yeah it was only around for like 8 months

[azkwazere]

think it costs much to physically make the plates? i highly doubt the govt would be paying $400-500 for each custom plated police vehicle.

but i guess its another reason to whinge about them spending our money, so have at it

If you have a look on vic roads you can have both plates remade for $100... i'd imagine that includes all your admin and postage so your looking at like $60 to have them made (lets jsut say)... the other $400 is for the licensing of it all... seeing as the police are special, and government run, it costs them no more to have cool plates.

THis is a silly thread...

[STEALTHY™]

Its $50 (or used to be) to get a set of plates remade in SA.

[STEALTHY™]

Stealthy

Not in NSW. Our ambulances just have any old plates, nothing special. Tow trucks ditto. Fire brigade vehicles have a special type of plate for that type of vehicle, not a normal rego plate.

I guess the couple of days i was there 4 years ago, i happened to see 2 SA ambulances in metro Sydney.

[Calaber]

Not at all. Its a burnout car, you expect breakages

Not the VP then ?