Decisions to replace plates more frequently — here and in other states — have largely been based on dubious safety claims.
But legislators ignore that fact, because everyone benefits from a state law requiring car owners to replace their license plates every few years. Everyone, that is, except the drivers paying the bill. Their money is lining the pockets of 3M, the State Patrol, and a private prison industries contractor, all of whom lobbied for legislation requiring you to buy license plates more frequently than necessary.
It’s a classic case of behind-the-scenes lobbying and background dealing with a single purpose: Dipping into your pocketbook. And like all truly great scams, you can’t avoid being ripped off, because the law forces you to hand over your money. Now, the state is fixing to change the law again — to sell even more license plates to a captive driving public. And lest you think this is about anything other than money, read this:
“A set of license plates will still cost $24, which includes a $4 ‘reflectivity fee.’ If you want to keep your plates and move them to a different vehicle, you will still have to pay $10. The [proposed] law also resets the registration schedule of the vehicle every time there is a transaction, so you can no longer buy a vehicle and wait to re-register it until after the previous owner’s paid year has expired. It all means more money for 3M, more money for state agencies and more money for Correctional Industries. … Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island, said lawmakers explored ways in recent years to get rid of the 
replacement rule but always backed off because it generated so much revenue for the state.”
(Hat tip to Seattle Times investigative reporting.)