1893 : Paris issues first license plates
On this day, the world's first automobile license plates were issued in Paris, France. However, plates were not issued in the United States for a few more years, when they were finally instituted as a safety measure. The city of Boston was the first to require its motorists to hold a license and register their vehicle--the owner would make his own plate with the corresponding registration numbers. The rest of Massachusetts soon followed the trend and began issuing registration plates made of iron and covered with a porcelain enamel.
Why am I not surprised that Boston would be the first to insist on license plates on cars. Heh.
Posted by: Teresa at August 14, 2007 09:40 AM