A License Plate Story

 

This story has its origins in Albuquerque. One Saturday Donna and I were in our Corolla, returning from grocery shopping. About a block from our condo building a cop was standing in the street, flagging cars into a middle school parking lot. Another cop walked up to my window. He said the Albuquerque Police were working to prevent auto thefts by installing theft-proof screws on license plates. He asked if we’d like one on our plate. With auto theft being the #1 occupation in Albuquerque, it sounded like a good idea. Thieves can switch plates on a car. Then when cops are cruising and calling in a plate, the switched plate does not show as stolen. The cop installed the theft proof screw, and we returned to our home.

What the cop didn’t say is that the screw isn’t just theft proof, it’s everyone proof. 

When I got my Wisconsin license plates, it dawned on me that I didn’t have a way to remove this screw. I figured I’d have to take it to an auto mechanic to have it removed. Kate went online to research removal of theft proof screws. There is a wealth of information, outlining different methods of removal. Kate found a kit that we could purchase at a local Menard’s. We packed up my power drill and headed over to the store. We bought the kit, along with some new screws. I said we could do the work once we returned to our garage, but Kate wanted to do it in the Menard’s parking lot. She wanted to make sure it was going to work. If it didn’t work she would find some other way of removing the screw. This is a key aspect of Kate’s character; this persistence, this tenacity, sticking with a project until it is completed. If you are a project, Kate is your formidable adversary. She will triumph.

So we’re kneeling down in the Menard’s parking lot with my power drill and this screw removal kit. And a how-to YouTube video on Kate’s phone. We tried this and that, but the gizmo kept sliding off the screw head. Behind us we heard a voice, “Are you winning?” We turned our heads to see a guy standing in back of us. I said, “Not really.” He was wearing a shirt with a logo that read ‘True Construction.’ He said, “Let’s take a look.” He knelt down to assess the project. A minute later he had removed the screw. And a minute after that he had attached the new plates.

Kate and I thanked him for his generous offer of assistance. If he hadn’t walked by I think we would have spent the rest of the day trying to remove the screw.

Here is Robert’s website:

https://www.trueconstruction.com/remodeling___renovations

Side story. While we were parked in the Menard’s lot, the man parked next to the Corolla walked over and began to speak to me in a thick Jamaican accent, “Is this a ‘95 or ‘96?” I said, “1997.” He said, “Great car, mon. In Jamaica these are used as taxis. They run forever. Is it for sale?” I said, “No, I’m not selling it.” He slowly walked around the Corolla, inspecting the condition of it. Then he said, “It’s not for sale?” I said, “Not for sale.” He wished me a good day, got in his car and drove away.

Maybe I should install a theft proof screw on the license plate.