SVP Plate Review & Reflection: December 2022

Happy New Year, everybody.

Time, oh time, where did you go? For better or for worse, December rarely feels like a full 31 days. Much like the year it tops off, this month has rushed by at record-breaking speed. Anticipating this, I assumed I’d end up with far fewer vanity plates than I had in November. Finals were around the corner, cold weather was finally coming in, and I was going to be on holiday, a long way from Main Street West, for the bottom half of the month. So it comes as a great surprise that we’re finishing December with a whopping 133 plates, 40 more than the previous tally.

Here’s your month in review, starting with the very model of generosity: fan submissions.

AW DADY, FIREBAL, JENZJEWL, NTWRK 11, SKIPPEE—from Dacey, who has since committed to not taking photos of plates while in the driver’s seat of a powered vehicle.

BCH BUM, CR V, HAPPYLEE, JESUSNME, K N V B—from Griffin. The flow of outside contributions has been phenomenal these past weeks. I’m endlessly grateful, and I can’t wait to see what else you all have got for me.

BALLMAMA—from Maia, a very early supporter of the blog. Have you heard the tale of the Ball Mama?

GOGOGDGT, YA OWE K—from Claire, on different banks of the great highway river that is our part of the country.

PENNERRR—from Gwynn. The space-filler letter repetition is but one of the many highlights of platespotting.

1BEIBER, CJ♔6, ♥GRABRU, SMASH 0—from Tess, and her friend out west. The first plate here is decidedly not spelled the same way as the family name of one famous Justin. What we have here would be pronounced “BYE-ber”.

SKYYNYRD, UH OHHHH—from Mitch. I’d never lay eyes on such memorable plates if it weren’t for each of you.

NSA CHMP—from my dad. Question for the fans: what word is CHMP meant to represent here? Is it CHAMP, CHIMP, CHOMP, or CHUMP? Share your opinion in the comments below.

BIDDYBAG, GREATFUL, JENN KEV, POOB, RDMN21—from Natasha. POOB and BIDDYBAG are the funniest plates I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in a while.

I SELIT—from Jan. Is this the plate of local real estate legend Rob Golfi? Current mythology provides no definite answer. Only time will tell.

Some honourable mentions:

1 BART, 8UDDY, APRIL 13, BEARSRUS, CITYBHOY, DAYZDUKE, FNORD, GITDURTY, IRRIG8, ITSALOT, J1NGL3S, KPMVNFWD, LA BOEM, MYT FYNE, ODAT 1, OLE OWL, PHLEX, SCRTGRDN, SUPERGMA, UUNEEK, YAYA LIZ, YES2LESS

The problem of duplicates hangs like a thick haze over my head. I knew upon seeing BEJOLLY at the usual spot that it looked familiar. Wise as I was to be wary, the potential repeat was of the slight variant B JOLLY, recorded as such this autumn. Did I see the same plate, and just write it down in two ways? It’s definitely possible. An even earlier plate, however—BE MERRY—supports another theory. People (if you’re obliged to call Ontarians “people”) are just so enthusiastic about the holidays that there has to be some a bit of similarity sometimes. You can only spread joy from your bumper in so many ways.

It’s been a blessing having so many submissions come in this month. I came into December feeling fully unmotivated about recording plates. Imagine wanting to retire so early in one’s career! Your efforts, tied with the fact that I’ve been between suburbs and highways since the 15th, has made December 2022 a period of tremendous license plate profit. I never thought I’d make it over 100 before the end of the year, and I barely would have on my own. Thank you to everyone who’s kept an eye on the road for me. With your invaluable help, new heights are being reached every day.

Is there a personalized license plate in your life that has yet to be documented here? Why? Submit all the plates you see to yours truly, and they WILL be featured in the next review. You and I both have got nothing to lose. Now, with that said, have an outstanding new year. I’ll see you all soon.