Thoughts on the Protect and Serve vanity plate?

Submitted by shanghainese88 t3_z1vi7r in boston

Hi Everyone, I just bought a new car and thinking about getting this Protect and Serve vanity plate. In the past seven years, I have had three speeding tickets (two by staties and one by Weston PD, all allegedly <20mph over the speed limit) and fought off two in traffic court. Never had any accidents. Simply hoping this plate will buy me some goodwill. My question is will this plate attract unwanted attention in Boston? I park on the streets in Cambridge and Boston often because of work and weekend restaurant visits. The last thing I want is for someone to key my car while I'm away because of my vanity plate. Thank you, everyone!

https://preview.redd.it/kxndh4zkli1a1.png?width=300&format=png&auto=webp&s=26647337675d79de0c81156e7183714e06110ebe

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boreas907 t1_ixczmga wrote

Like a thin blue line sticker, I'll just assume you're an asshole when I see it but do nothing about it.

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shanghainese88 OP t1_ixd1b6m wrote

What can I do to persuade like minded people I’m not? Stop Asian hate sticker? I’m Asian and the micro aggressions I get since COVID has been annoying too.

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erogone775 t1_ixd3zzq wrote

Don't put cop shit on your car, its that simple. You can either pander to cops to make them nicer, and make everyone else think you're an asshole. Or you can just pay your speeding tickets, theres no doing both.

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SpindriftRascal t1_ixd3qim wrote

In general, the MPA sticker is the only one cops put on their own cars, because almost no one recognizes it except other cops.

The MSP stickers tend to be for family members.

The thin blue line stickers are for racists.

I don’t know a single cop who has the PS plate.

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-Im-A-Little-Teapot_ t1_ixejll5 wrote

It's actually illegal to display an MPA sticker on your vehicle unless you're a union member. IIRC, they're numbered and the people responsible for handing them out are cautious about whom they give them to.

It has nothing to do with impersonating a police officer. Its about protecting the union seal. And yes, there are cops that are anal about it and will have you remove it and/or write you up for it.

Section 69. Whoever, not being a member of a society, association or labor union, for the purpose of representing that he is a member thereof, wilfully wears or uses the insignia, ribbon, badge, rosette, button or emblem thereof, if it has been registered in the office of the state secretary, shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one month, or both.

&#x200B;

>The thin blue line stickers are for racists.

That's the stupidest, most ignorant comment I've read all day <eye roll>

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SpindriftRascal t1_ixem634 wrote

About the thin blue line sticker? You may disagree, but there’s nothing ignorant about my statement or my position. I spent decades in law enforcement. I know what the line is. I’ve lost friends.

The symbol used to stand as a mark of respect for fallen officers, as an expression of support for our brethren, as a way of recognizing the critical role police officers play in keeping the forces of evil at bay. But not anymore it doesn’t.

After the Black Lives Matter protests, the blue line sticker became an anti-BLM sticker. It has been utterly co-opted by people who would like to say black lives don’t matter, but use this symbol instead. Yes, I know cops who still have the stickers. But I also know cops who’ve taken them off.

The thin blue line sticker has been completely taken over by white supremacists. No one sees it and thinks they should support police. They see it and think the driver is a racist.

Feel free to disagree, but I stand by what I wrote. And it doesn’t come from a position of ignorance.

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-Im-A-Little-Teapot_ t1_ixeowo4 wrote

So, in your opinion, anyone that displays a thin blue line sticker on their vehicle is automatically a racist?

Family members, friends, people who wrongfully think it will help get them out of a ticket?

I know cops that wouldn't display any of that stuff on their vehicles either because they couldn't be bothered with it, or out of concern of calling too much attention to themselves and/or become targets.

A position of ignorance? If not that, its at least a very fucked up, narrow minded way of thinking.

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SpindriftRascal t1_ixetn2c wrote

I don’t think so. It’s very hard to be unaware of what that sticker now means today. Sure, there are always exceptions. As I started out my first comment, “In general….”

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Yak_Rodeo t1_ixd09wo wrote

my buddy is a statie and said no actual cop or firefighter gets the protect snd serve/firefighter license plates and thats where he gets the most contraband, specifically because people think it will buy them good will lol

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PizzaParrot t1_ixd5xe2 wrote

I don't know about the staties but I have a bunch of firefighter friends who have the firefighter plate

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Yak_Rodeo t1_ixd7jbv wrote

every kid i grew up with in the city that became a ff has a veteran license plate because thats the only way you can get into the fire dept in boston haha

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PizzaParrot t1_ixdfqf5 wrote

No shit, is this Boston proper? I'm talking about the sorrounding cities and it's mostly just my townie buddies haha

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Yak_Rodeo t1_ixe0682 wrote

yeah i think so, its super competitive here i think because of the “prestige” of it like fdny or lafd

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PizzaParrot t1_ixfltvt wrote

Ah no shit, I never even considered that part of it

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Dontleave t1_ixd6mgv wrote

Yeah firefighters love that license plate on their big ole pickup trucks

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IamUnamused t1_ixd5z2k wrote

I don't often comment on dumb as fuck posts, but this is dumb as fuck

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No_Judge_3817 t1_ixd4uxz wrote

Weird, in like ten years of living in Boston I feel like I've never seen one of those

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Maxpowr9 t1_ixdat7g wrote

I have seen like a couple "Choose Life" License Plates and they're just as cringey.

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lelduderino t1_ixe0m0m wrote

I've seen them, but apparently not closely enough.

I always thought that was a pilgrim hat and had something to do with Plymouth/Pilgrims, in addition to the other Plymouth plate we've got.

Never could figure out what the S was supposed to be for, though.

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GWS2004 t1_ixd4ykx wrote

No, if you're having a hard time with these jerks, DON'T give them any more $$$ or support.

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RailRoad_Candy t1_ixdj00p wrote

You are more likely to be pulled over with a thin blue line sticker in your window than without. Now consider what you're thinking about doing, and you're not a cop. Yeah...bad idea dude....it looks like you're running drugs or something...got tied up women in the back...you get my point.

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ohhowexciting t1_ixenen6 wrote

IMO it's only cons in either direction. If anything, police scrutinize these things more cause it's people looking for a pass. The general public probably won't care enough to do anything 99.9% of the time, but why make your car more identifiable or risk it at all if there's no benefit? Why pay more for the plate? Buy a radar detector instead if you really want. Honestly I find mine not even that useful here cause "reasonable" speeding is expected and fine on highways if you're otherwise not doing wild shit. Mine beeps a lot on thickly settled surface roads where I wouldn't speed anyway.

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herdswords t1_ixfqzai wrote

You would be getting it for the wrong reason. I’d get something else unless you have family in law enforcement. Kinda psychotic trying to blend in like that. A lot of good charities to choose from that would still get you goodwill. It would also take a real sicko to give someone grief over what license plate they are rocking.

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sailortitan t1_ixdd09j wrote

My rule of thumb in Boston is that if you do something people find heinously annoying, rude, or morally unacceptable, 99% of people won't do anything because they're too polite. But that 1% will do something, and that something will be a day-ruiner--yelling and swearing at you, destroying your property, or occasionally violence. There is a not-insignificant portion of people in Boston-Cambridge, especially younger people, for whom seeing this license plate will not engender good feelings toward you.

Personally, I think it is likely that if you get this someone in Boston or Cambridge will eventually key your car. It might not happen right away, a year or more could go by, but probability will array itself to find that 1% eventually.

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jamesland7 t1_ixdpeab wrote

I've literally never cared about people's license plates. A good thing about us lefties, is we aren't violently inclined. We might roll our eyes or make a snide remark to ourselves, but we have no inclination to anger and violence the way some other political affiliations do.

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amwestover t1_ixh1a1g wrote

You might also burn down your own neighborhoods!

LOL I loved the unbelievable lack of self awareness of your post. Good laugh!

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jamesland7 t1_ixhmcrc wrote

ah yes, all of those famous Cambridge and Somerville riots we heard so much about.

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Namgodtoh t1_ixdu1ds wrote

I would make sure to have it say DFND50, you know "defend 5-0"

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Proof-Variation7005 t1_ixd7h4w wrote

I think the chances of positive goodwill from a police officer are far dwarfed by the chances someone sees your plate and decides to fuck with your car. Not worth it.

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coldsnap123 t1_ixfd4og wrote

Why did you waste time even thinking about this? Just drive like you’re supposed to and be calm and courteous if you ever do get pulled over.

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amwestover t1_ixh15uo wrote

If you think supporting law and order will make you a target where you live, then you likely live in a really shitty place.

Instead of spending money on a vanity plate, the money’s probably better spent moving to a better place.

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shanghainese88 OP t1_ixinf65 wrote

My city is good and I have a garage. It’s the mean streets of Boston that I’m worried about.

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amwestover t1_ixituni wrote

That I empathize with, I have to drive in a couple days a week for work. I always park in covered garages. If you only need to park a couple days a week I’d suggest something like SpotHero which I find gets me lower rates. If you need to park a lot, monthly passes are probably more economical.

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shanghainese88 OP t1_ixjkyxm wrote

Great feedback from both sides folks. Thank you. I will go with a whale vanity plate instead.

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erogone775 t1_ixczwma wrote

I mean it'll totally work to make the cops nicer to you, I've got a friend that has a state police sticker and they just let him go no matter what absurd shit he does.

On the other hand, your right to be a bit concerned, it's a great way to make absolutely no friends in Cambridge or Boston. I doubt you'd get key'd(people don't hate cops that much), but you'll definitely get some less than nice looks.

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animal_moth3r_ t1_ixe80vm wrote

People definitely hate cops that much…spend some time in the communities that are harassed by the police and you’ll learn that very quickly. Having been the subject of harassment/brutality/profiling myself, I still try to give most cops the benefit of the doubt because I believe in humanity. I am proven wrong a discouraging amount.

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erogone775 t1_ixeq3j2 wrote

Oh I mean the hate for cops is real and very well deserved. Lots of people have lots of good reasons to hate cops.

Its just I'd be pretty surprised if someone key'd a car just because of a cop sticker on it. Peoples hate for cops doesn't yet extend to vandalism of anything pro cop, or at least not commonly.

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shanghainese88 OP t1_ixd0ves wrote

Yes thank you. I had a non Boston local PD sticker on my previous car and I noticed I get honked a lot more in Boston and Cambridge.

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PikantnySos t1_ixd8ied wrote

This is called stolen valor. Look it up

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shanghainese88 OP t1_ixeb1nt wrote

Sir you have this confused with the MA POLICE plate. Those blue plates are Law enforcement only. The protect and serve vanity plate is available for all Massachusetts residents.

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