WHEREAS, the maintenance of the highest standards for motor vehicle highway traffic safety and the enforcement of a strict crime control program are extremely important for law enforcement officers who steadfastly patrol the four million miles of highways and roads within the United States; and

WHEREAS, heightened national security concerns and procedures emphasize the need for fast and reliable identification of vehicles by law enforcement officers and citizens alike; and

WHEREAS, traffic enforcement activities have proved to be invaluable in the detection and apprehension of individuals involved in terrorist activities; all means of initial identification, including front and rear fully reflective license plates, are essential; and

WHEREAS, motor vehicle thefts occur at the rate of 3,200 a day or 134 every hour, resulting in 1.1 million vehicles stolen annually, as reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Report; and

WHEREAS, the monetary losses from motor vehicle thefts exceed $7.5 billion annually, in addition to the resulting costs to citizens whose taxes support the law enforcement agencies responsible for recovering these vehicles; and

WHEREAS, motor vehicles are used in 70 percent of all of the serious crimes committed in the United States and the quick discovery of such vehicles can help solve these crimes; and

WHEREAS, front and rear, fully-reflective license plates are essential in the quick and accurate identification of motor vehicles even at highway speeds, especially since law enforcement officers often meet stolen vehicles on the highway, as well as overtaking them; and

WHEREAS, front and rear, fully-reflective license plates serve as a significant safety device, warning motorists of the presence of a vehicle that is disabled or that otherwise lacks sufficient headlights or taillights to be observed at a safe distance and in a timely manner; and

WHEREAS, it is important to keep license plates legible, and maintain the reflective qualities which are relied on by police and citizens alike for law enforcement and traffic safety; and

WHEREAS, reissuance of license plates serves as a deterrent to those who would avoid registration and payment of motor vehicle fees; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), recognizing that the efficient and reliable identification of vehicles is a critical element of national and state security procedures, supports the issuance of fully-reflective, front and rear license plates with clearly identifiable registration numbers and state of registration, and urges that states periodically issue new plates to maintain effective vehicle identification and to protect the security and integrity of the vehicle registration process.