[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by MRM

Sounds a bit like an urban legend. If someone wanted to steal gas they would just cover their plate or tape off part of the numbers so it looked real from a distance. The plates have to match the car, anyway, so there isn't much danger you'll get stuck paying for someone else's gas. Besides, who would call the police to file a report for a missing plate? Wouldn't they assume it just fell off and go to the DMV for a replacement?

I had my rear tag stolen at the Atlanta airport once. I don't know how long I drove around before I noticed...week or two. Someone actually took my tag off an replaced it with another. I think the scam is that they have a reader that looks at your plate on the way in. They look on the way out and compare to the ticket. Maybe they "losted" their ticket and took my tag since my car was there less than theirs. I did call the police and I think I went to the station...at least the DMV. The police called me a couple of months later to ask if I found my plate. WTF? Isn't that their job?