CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Driving around North Carolina it's not unusual to see license plates from other states or even dealer plates. However, a recent social media post is raising questions about a new type of plate that has also been seen around Charlotte.
A Reddit user posted a photo of what appears to be a specialized "private" license plate and asked if it was legal and how someone would get approved for the plate.
The post has over 150 comments and shares with the original poster asking if anyone else had seen this and why someone would use it.
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The plate reads private and has an earth sign on it. VERIFY searched this image online and found a link to Amazon. It's known as a "sovereign citizen" license plate. The plate also reads, "No driver's license or insurance required and not for commerce use or private mode of travel."
So what is a sovereign citizen? The UNC School of Government says it's a catch-all phrase referring to a variety of anti-government people and groups. They adhere to a view that the existing American government is illegitimate and they retain individual common law exempting them from the authority of government institutions.
The school says it's common for those who consider themselves sovereign citizens to issue their own driver's licenses and vehicle tags. It's also not allowed in North Carolina, according to Mauney.
"You have to have an active license tag with current registration on your car or else you're going to get in more trouble for obscuring a tag and a bigger ticket," Mauney said.
North Carolina law also states you cannot cover up or obscure your registration or license plate, otherwise you could get a ticket.
"You're supposed to have your tag properly displayed," Mauney said.
Aycock also confirmed these plates aren't legal in North Carolina. He said all license plates must be state-issued and have an active registration.
The North Carolina DMV offers a list of alternative plates that are allowed but this plate is not on the list.
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
WCNC Charlotte's Verify series is all about trying to make a difference in the Carolinas by making sure the community has the correct information. WCNC Charlotte outlines concisely what we know and what we don't know. Sometimes the answer can be surprising. Watch previous stories where we verify social media claims in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded.