Modern technology has made some great strides toward improving the driving experience. Things like interactive map apps make it easier than ever to plan a long-distance road trip or figure out how to avoid rush-hour traffic — and that streaming music service gives you a great array of podcasts to enjoy as you travel. There are in-vehicle DVD players and standard electrical outlets to power handheld electronics, both of which help keep the kids entertained and the arguments at a minimum. While we are still working on ways to improve the flow of traffic, there are plenty of options to improve travel. One of the big innovations there is the advent of the license plate scanner for toll roads. Now, you do not have to fish through a cup holder full of loose change to scrounge up the money to pay a toll. Just drive straight through and your license plate will tell them where to send a bill. But what happens when you have a temporary tag on your brand new car?
The Safety Of Newly Purchased Cars
Until recently, temporary tags were just a piece of paper taped to the back of the car with either the vehicle’s purchase date or the temp tag’s expiration date. That may not sound like a big deal until you consider just how much we rely on individual license plates for tracking, thanks to those technological advances. Think about it this way: If there is no way to track a temporary license plate, how are toll roads supposed to collect the appropriate toll? Many toll roads across the nation have completely done away with cash-collecting toll options and rely entirely on an electronic license plate scanning system. With generic temporary tags, most states have been losing out on millions of dollars in uncollected toll fees.
That may sound like a bit of a hassle, but not a huge hardship for drivers. The underlying issue, though, is more problematic. Not only have toll roads been unable to track these vehicles, the same goes for police. When it comes to vehicle-related crimes, the license plate is a valuable way to track a suspect. However, with a generic temporary tag, there typically is not enough identifying information for police or lawyers to actually solve a case and bring justice. For example, a stolen car with temporary tags is much harder to track and recover. Or, if a recently purchased vehicle is part of a hit-and-run accident, it may be impossible to prove the driver’s culpability in a court of law.
Improving Safety Through Better Temp Tags
The solution most states have reached is to create unique temporary tags each time a car is purchased through a dealer. In recent years, many states have shifted to a statewide registry system that all dealerships are required to use. When a car is purchased, whether it is new or used, the salesperson is responsible for entering both car and driver information into the database. This will generate a unique temporary tag number until a permanent license plate can be obtained.
The other half of improving temporary tags is the material used. Since previous temp tags were not unique, they could be attached to the license plate spot and damage didn’t matter overly much. Most dealerships would use standard printer paper. With this new system rolling out across the nation, the second part of the equation is finding durable but low-cost materials with which to make the new temporary tags. Since the number has to stay legible, a sheet of printer paper will hardly hold up well. This is where waterproof paper steps in to provide the best solution. Instead of worrying about expensive lamination options, TerraSlate waterproof printer paper gives you the flexibility to print temporary tags with a standard laser printer — there’s no need for post-printing finishes to keep the information legible. And, our waterproof paper is also rip-proof, so you can simply use a hole-punch to create screw holes and attach this temporary tag the same way you would a permanent license plate.
Car dealerships, TerraSlate waterproof paper can help you save while keeping you in compliance with temporary tag regulations. Explore our wide array of waterproof printer paper, adhesives, and more online or give us a call for more information.
