Resident raises concerns about homemade license plates and possible public-safety implications

During public comment at the Aug. 4 meeting, resident Alexis Moore said she conducted informal “market research” photographing cars around the city and found what she described as an increase in handwritten, home-printed or obscured registration tags. Moore said the practice creates a public-safety concern because it obscures state and expiration information and can hinder identification. Moore showed board members photographs she said demonstrated cases where registration tags were partially obscured, homemade, or presented in nonstandard formats. Aldermen thanked her for raising the issue but cautioned that the Board of Aldermen lacked direct enforcement authority over vehicle registration; members suggested Moore refer the matter to the Rutland City Police Department and the police commission. One alderman advised caution in publicly identifying individual vehicles at the podium. Why it matters: The resident framed the issue as a potential public-safety concern involving unidentifiable or misleading registration displays. Board members encouraged the resident to work with police authorities and the police commission to pursue enforcement or public-education options. Discussion vs. decision: No formal board action was taken; aldermen acknowledged the concern and directed the resident to contact law enforcement and the police commission for follow-up.