History of Kansas License Plates
The idea of the license plate as an identification is not a new one. The Romans, in the heyday of their empire, numbered their chariots and other conveyances as a means of identification, perhaps setting the trend for their later day counterparts – the horseless carriage.
Auto license plates have seen many changes in appearance since the first vehicle registration law was enacted in New York in 1901. The law did not specify plates as we know them today, but required the placement of the separate initials of the owner’s name (and a little later the use of numbers), on the back of the vehicle, in a conspicuous place. The owners, left to their own individuality and ingenuity in the displaying of their early licenses, often painted the numbers directly onto the car, and sometimes the owners put bronze house numbers on a thick shingle and hung the “plates” from the car’s rear axle. Such materials as wood, leather, flattened tin cans, oak slabs, and even saddle cloth were used. A scant few years after the first license numbers were assigned, individual states started manufacturing and issuing the license plates, standardizing within the states, the shape, size, and color.
In 1907, California started a new trend by using the plates as an advertisement for the state by putting a picture of a golden poppy, the state flower, on the plates. Since then, other states have followed suit, and products and features that have been advertised include pelicans by Louisiana, codfish by Massachusetts, grapefruit by Florida, corn by Iowa, wheat by Kansas, beef by Nebraska, and potatoes by Idaho.
Some humans and/or animals have been used in license plate design. Examples include Wyoming’s “Stub” Farlow plate, a famous rodeo star riding his bucking bronco, “Deadman,” a famous rodeo horse. Four men have appeared on the South Dakota plate. They are the four past United States presidents who are carved on Mount Rushmore.
A bison, the state animal of Kansas, appeared on Kansas’ 2005 personalized license plate.
Many states today have a slogan on the plate. Arizona, for example, proclaims itself as the “Grand Canyon State.” Wisconsin is “America’s Dairyland,” and New Jersey’s plate says it is “The Garden State.”
Several unique materials have been used in the manufacture of plates. Arizona for a short time issued plates on burnished copper to advertise its large production of copper. Illinois made plates during World War II of a soybean-base plastic but was forced to discontinue use of the material when a cow took a bite out of one of the plates.
Kansas license tags are made of aluminum, covered by a synthetic “sheeting” material made of seven different layers, including one layer of tiny glass beads, which provide the reflectivity in the plates required by law. This “sheeting”, produced by the state’s sheeting vendor, is sent to the Center Industries Corp. in Wichita, Kansas, where it is applied to the aluminum, cut into 6” x 12” plate blanks, then it is placed in a 75 ton press to emboss the appropriate number/letter combination. The plates then ride through a paint roller to apply paint onto the number/letter combination. After drying during a forty five minutes ride through an oven, the plates are packed and shipped to your local county treasurer’s office.
Kansas License Plates
In Kansas, prior to 1913, license plates were handled on a municipal basis. The fee was $5.00, $4.25 went to the city clerk of the immediate area and $.75 to the Secretary of State. The car owner had to fasten the metal numbers onto a piece of leather and attach it to the car. The same tag number was retained by the owner whether a new car was purchased, or the owner kept the old one. All the motorist had to do was to pay the fee to keep the plate and there was no necessity to change. These were call “Pre-State” tags.
With the passage of the Registration Act in 1913, metal tags were issued for the first time. They were not dated and had no county designation; however, the colors were changed annually and the position of the “KAN” was moved about from time to time.
1921, the Kansas State Prison inmates started making plates and the date was placed on them. In 1930 the county designations appeared on Kansas license plates for the first time, using numbers based on population. Thus Wyandotte became #1, Sedgwick #2, and Shawnee #3, etc. 1930 – 1955 plates were issued in pairs except for 1944, 1945, and 1949.
1943 no license plates were issued because of the war and the shortage of metal.
A small, metal, expiration year tab was attached to the plate used the previous year.
1945 the smallest tag ever issued appeared on motor cars.
1949, the slogan, “The Wheat State” was added to the bottom of the plate.
1951, the county designation was changed from numerals to letters, thus Wyandotte became WY, Sedgwick – SG, Shawnee – SN, etc.
1951 - 1955, the top right hand corner of the metal plate was cut out to resemble the shape of the state.
1956 – 1980, the top right hand corner of the metal plate was embossed to resemble the shape of the state.
1960 – 1961, the slogan, “Centennial 1961” was place on the bottom of the plate.
In 1964 Kansas adopted the use of a partially reflectorized plate that provided what is considered a dependable night safety device as well as an aid to law enforcement.
1965 – 1970, the slogan, “Midway U S A” appeared on the bottom of the plate.
1971 – 1973, the expiration year appeared at the bottom of the plate Example:
“EXP JUL 71”. Kansas implemented a staggered registration system.
1971 – 1976, “Z” plates were distributed to each treasurer, to be used when stock of a particular month of expiration was temporarily exhausted. Decals with “EXP” followed by the month and year were placed at the bottom to create the particular needed expiration.
1971 – 1988, County designation followed by a letter indicating the month of expiration. The letter corresponded to the first letter of the registrant’s last name.
1974 – 1975, slogan, “Wheat Centennial” added to the bottom of some plates.
1975 – Plate production demands were not being met by prison personnel. Some plates were being produced in Conway, AR. Kansas plate production was moved from the state prison to Center Industries Corp., Wichita, Kansas, based on a change in the law to support tag production by handicapped workers.
1976 – 1980, a year expiration decal was added to the 1976 blue with white letters/numbers base plate, no new designs were issued. Some 1976 plates were issued in pairs, to registrations through the letter “C”. The rest were single plates, based on a change in the law after plates had been ordered in pairs.
1981 – 1982, a year expiration decal was added to the 1981 blue with white letters/numbers base plate displaying wheat stocks over the county designation and expiration letters.
1983 – 1988, a year expiration decal was added to the 1983 white with blue letters/numbers base plate displaying a golden sunflower seal in the upper left hand corner of the plate.
1989, the state re-issued new tags with a “SAM 123” format. The original design had the word “KANSAS” across the top. Due to displeasure with its appearance, the sheeting design was changed to reflect a more legible “KANSAS”. Plates were also given three decals: County situs, year expiration, and month expiration decals. These plates were issued until 1994.
1995, the state re-issued new tags light blue and yellow with wheat stalks in the center.
These tags were issued through 2001.
2002, the state re-issued new tags with the Capitol dome image in the center.
These tags were issued until the summer of 2007.
2007, the counties began issuing new “Ad Astra” tags as they depleted their stock of “dome” image tags. All registered vehicles are required to have the new “Ad Astra” design tag by the end of 2009. This “phase in” method of plate replacement saved the state several million dollars over the previous total re-issue method.
Counties by Number and Situs
| County Situs | Number | County Name | County Situs | Number | County Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WY | 1 | Wyandotte | MR | 54 | Morris |
| SG | 2 | Sedgwick | MC | 55 | Mitchell |
| SN | 3 | Shawnee | OB | 56 | Osborne |
| CR | 4 | Crawford | KM | 57 | Kingman |
| MG | 5 | Montgomery | PL | 58 | Phillips |
| RN | 6 | Reno | SF | 59 | Stafford |
| LV | 7 | Leavenworth | RS | 60 | Russell |
| CL | 8 | Cowley | NT | 61 | Norton |
| BU | 9 | Butler | WB | 62 | Wabaunsee |
| CK | 10 | Cherokee | CO | 63 | Chautauqua |
| LB | 11 | Labette | EW | 64 | Ellsworth |
| SU | 12 | Sumner | OT | 65 | Ottawa |
| LY | 13 | Lyon | LC | 66 | Lincoln |
| SA | 14 | Saline | BA | 67 | Barber |
| AT | 15 | Atchison | EK | 68 | Elk |
| DG | 16 | Douglas | PN | 69 | Pawnee |
| BB | 17 | Bourbon | RO | 70 | Rooks |
| DK | 18 | Dickinson | FI | 71 | Finney |
| JO | 19 | Johnson | WO | 72 | Woodson |
| MS | 20 | Marshall | RH | 73 | Rush |
| FR | 21 | Franklin | DC | 74 | Decatur |
| NO | 22 | Neosho | NS | 75 | Ness |
| MN | 23 | Marion | GH | 76 | Graham |
| AL | 24 | Allen | RA | 77 | Rawlins |
| BR | 25 | Brown | TH | 78 | Thomas |
| MP | 26 | McPherson | ED | 79 | Edwards |
| WL | 27 | Wilson | SH | 80 | Sherman |
| HV | 28 | Harvey | CS | 81 | Chase |
| OS | 29 | Osage | CN | 82 | Cheyenne |
| RL | 30 | Riley | TR | 83 | Trego |
| MI | 31 | Miami | SW | 84 | Seward |
| GW | 32 | Greenwood | KW | 85 | Kiowa |
| BT | 33 | Barton | ME | 86 | Meade |
| NM | 34 | Nemaha | SD | 87 | Sheridan |
| FO | 35 | Ford | GO | 88 | Gove |
| CD | 36 | Cloud | GY | 89 | Gray |
| WS | 37 | Washington | CM | 90 | Comanche |
| EL | 38 | Ellis | CA | 91 | Clark |
| PT | 39 | Pottawatomie | SV | 92 | Stevens |
| RP | 40 | Republic | HG | 93 | Hodgeman |
| CY | 41 | Clay | MT | 94 | Morton |
| JA | 42 | Jackson | LG | 95 | Logan |
| JW | 43 | Jewell | SC | 96 | Scott |
| CF | 44 | Coffey | LE | 97 | Lane |
| DP | 45 | Doniphan | KE | 98 | Kearny |
| JF | 46 | Jefferson | WA | 99 | Wallace |
| GE | 47 | Geary | HM | 100 | Hamilton |
| RC | 48 | Rice | HS | 101 | Haskell |
| LN | 49 | Linn | WH | 102 | Wichita |
| SM | 50 | Smith | GT | 103 | Grant |
| HP | 51 | Harper | ST | 104 | Stanton |
| AN | 52 | Anderson | GL | 105 | Greeley |
| PR | 53 | Pratt |
Regulating the Use of Automobiles
Often referred to as the “Funny Law of Kansas”, this law was approved March 13th and published April 1, 1903
(From Chapter 67, Laws of Kansas, 1903)
An Act in relation to automobiles and motor vehicles, regulating their speed and operation on the public highways in this state, providing for their proper equipment, and providing penalties for the violation thereof.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. That the term "automobile" and "motor vehicle" in this act shall be construed to include all types and grades of motor vehicles propelled by electricity, steam, gasoline, or other source of energy, commonly known as automobiles, motor vehicles, or horseless carriages, using the public highways and not running on rails or tracks. Nothing in this section shall be construed as in any way preventing, obstructing, impeding, embarrassing or in any other manner or form infringing upon the prerogative of any political chauffeur to run an automobilious band-wagon at any rate he sees fit compatible with the safety of the occupants thereof; provided, however, that not less than ten nor more than twenty ropes be allowed at all times to trail behind this vehicle when in motion, in order to permit those who have been so fortunate as to escape with their political lives an opportunity to be dragged to death; and provided further, that whenever a mangled and bleeding political corpse implores for mercy, the driver of the vehicle shall in accordance with the provisions of this bill, "Throw out the lifeline."
Section 2. That this act shall in no case change or repeal in any particular the present laws relating to the operation and management of steam traction-engines of any kind along with public highways, neither shall the present laws in relation to the management of steam traction-engines have any application as to the management and use of automobiles or motor vehicles along the public highways of this state.
Section 3. Every automobile or motor vehicle shall be provided with a suitable bell, horn, or other signal, and be equipped with good and efficient brakes. Every automobile or similar motor vehicle shall be so constructed as to exhibit during the period from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise one or more lamps showing white lights, visible within a reasonable distance in the direction towards which the automobile is proceeding. The lamp or lamps shall be so placed as to be free from obstruction to light from other parts of said automobile or motor vehicles.
Section 4. No person driving or in charge of an automobile or motor vehicle on any street, avenue, parkway or driveway or public highway in this state shall drive or operate the same at any speed at any time greater than is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic and use of the highway, or so as to endanger the life or limb of any person.
Section 5. No automobile or other motor vehicle shall be run on any public highway outside the limits of the thickly settled or business part of any city or town at a speed exceeding twenty miles an hour, and no such vehicle shall be run on any public street or highway within the thickly settled or business part of any city or town at a speed exceeding ten miles an hour.
Section 6. Every person having control or charge of a motor vehicle or automobile shall, whenever upon any public street or highway and approaching any vehicle drawn by a horse or horses, or any horse upon which any person is riding or driving domestic animals, operate, manage and control such motor vehicle, or automobile in such manner as to exercise every reasonable precaution to prevent the frightening of any such horse or horses or domestic animals and to insure the safety and protection of any person riding or drive the same; and if such horse or horses or domestic animals appear restive and frightened, the person in control of such motor vehicles shall reduce the speed thereof, and if practicable turn to the right and give the road, and, if requested by signal or otherwise by the driver of such horse or horses or domestic animals, shall proceed no farther towards such animal or animals, but remain stationary so long as may be necessary to allow such horses or domestic animals to pass. This provision shall apply to automobiles or motor vehicles going either in the same or in the opposite direction.
Section 7. Upon approaching a crossing or intersecting ways, and also in traversing the crossing or intersection the person in control of any automobile or motor vehicle shall run at a rate of speed less than that above specified, and not greater than is reasonable and proper, having regard to the traffic and the use of the intersecting ways.
Section 8. The cities of the first, second and third class of this state shall have power by local ordinance to regulate and control the use and speed of automobiles and motor vehicles within the limits of said cities and prescribe penalties for the violation thereof: such ordinances not to be inconsistent or repugnant with the provisions of this act.
Section 9. Any person failing to comply with the requirements of this act or violating any of its provisions shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction in a court of competent jurisdiction shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.
Section 10. All acts and parts of acts in conflict with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed.
Section 11. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication in the official state paper.
Approved March 13, 1903.
Published in official state paper April 1, 1903.
Excavation of Kansas Capitol Unearths License Plates from 1920
On Tuesday, March 15, 2005, the Director of Vehicles, Carmen Alldritt, received a telephone call from Senator Dennis Wilson, County Treasurer of Johnson County, regarding the excavation currently underway at the Kansas Capitol Building. Senator Wilson indicated that the renovation crew had unearthed a section of the Capitol Building that contained a wooden vault filled with Kansas license tags.
Director Alldritt secured permission to view the license tags at the site of the dig. At the excavation site, several feet below ground level, was a mound of old license plates for autos and motorcycles. When the excavation machinery dug into the Southwest portion of the Capitol building, a wooden vault, now rotten through the years of wet conditions, spilled its contents onto the ground.
The crew retrieved several hundred plates and palletized them for the Division of Vehicles’ staff to sort through. A review of the tags revealed several different types of license tags:
- 1918 - Motorcycle license plates
- 1919 - Motorcycle license plates
- 1920 - Motorcycle license plates
- 1919 - Automobile license plates
- 1920 - Automobile license plates
- 1918 - Motorcycle “L” “Lost” plates
- 1919 - Motorcycle “D” “Dealer” plates in sets of two plates for each dealer number
- 1920 - Auto “D” “Dealer” License plates in sets of three plates for each dealer number
- 1920 - Auto “L” “Lost” license plates
- 1920 - Auto “E” “Exempt” license plates
Most plates are in very poor condition, very rusty from years of wet conditions inside the vault. Many are unreadable. Some have rusted together in large blocks, and some have rusted into several pieces.
These plates were un-issued and in sequential order. Some were still in their original mailing envelopes, which were, for the most part, disintegrated. The return address on the mailing envelopes reads:
L. J. Pettijohn, Secretary of State
The plates will be cleaned and made available to supplement Kansas collections of historical plates and the Kansas Historical Museum. What a wonderful piece of Kansas history, and a fun “find” of Department “treasure”.
1919 Auto Plate
1920 Motorcycle Plate
1920 Dealer Plate
State Capitol Excavation Site
