Numbers, letters mix it up on new Nevada license plates

Have you ever looked at something you see every day and get the feeling that what you’re looking at is somehow different?

A lot of people may have gotten that feeling recently when they’ve hit the road and seen some recently issued Nevada license plates.

Take Warrior reader Sue for example:

“I’ve seen several license plates with two digits, then the letter A followed by three more digits, like 23A 456. Are these just new issues and they’ve run out of combinations or does it denote something else?”

Exactamundo, Sue. The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles ran out of numbers so it developed a new sequence.

I did a double take when I looked at a plate on the car in front of me and noticed that the traditional sequence of three letters followed by three numerals wasn’t there. Then I saw the two numerals with the A and figured I had tumbled into a “Twilight Zone” episode.

Here’s the answer from Kevin Malone of the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.

“We simply ran out of numbers,” Malone said. “The old system was 111 AAA, which was established in 1982 and had approximately 12 million possible combinations.

“The new system is 11A 111,” he said. “This will give us approximately 34 million combinations.”

For those of you calculating the exact number of combinations possible, keep in mind that not every three-letter combination could be used (use your imagination on this).

And, obviously, the 11A 111 example cited by Malone isn’t the only letter in the mix.

“It goes 00A 000 to 00A 999, 01A 000 to 01A 999, 02A 000 … 99A 999 to 00B 000,” he said. “Each letter gives us 2.3 million combinations.”

And once 99A 999 is issued, “we will go from 99Z 999 to 000 A00.”

So with 34 million combinations out there, we should be able to go awhile before some new sequence has to be dreamed up. That should take long enough for all those Californians wanting to move here to get here.

Of course, it might be sooner if all those people driving on their old state’s plates got around to changing over.

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

Every once in a while, the stars align and separate Warrior readers ask questions about the same area. From Warrior reader James:

“A while ago, the overpass was opened and connected Cactus Avenue and Rainbow Boulevard. But the small portion between Cactus and Mountains Edge Parkway on Rainbow is still not connected and not completed. Many residents in the Mountains Edge area and in the Southern Highlands area can benefit if this portion opened.

“Also traffic congestion around Cactus and Jones and Decatur boulevards could be reduced by the opening of this portion.”

Warrior reader Larry was a little more succinct:

“Do you know when South Rainbow past Blue Diamond Road will go all the way through?”

The answer to both inquiries is early next year.

“A developer is currently working on a portion of Rainbow south of Mountains Edge Parkway,” said Dan Kulin, a spokesman for Clark County.

“There is also a county project to complete Rainbow from Blue Diamond to Erie Avenue, which will include the areas you are asking about. Parts of this project will require widening existing sections of Rainbow, while in some areas there is no pavement at this time. The project is expected to begin construction early next year.”

ANOTHER ‘THREE-QUARTERS’

Last week, city officials offered some history about the so-called “three-quarters traffic signal” at Jones Boulevard and Azure Drive.

It’s an intersection that forces motorists to make a left or right turn onto Jones and discourages going straight on Azure.

I remarked that I thought it was the only intersection of its kind in Southern Nevada, but that a reader would probably let me know if I was wrong.

Alert Warrior reader Lou came in with the report that a similar intersection exists at North Hualapai Way and West Dorrell Lane.

It’s similar to the Jones-Azure intersection, except that there’s no traffic signal. A concrete median guides eastbound Dorrell motorists to turn north or south on Hualapai, but not go straight through.

The traffic flow could change in the future because Dorrell east of Hualapai heads into a neighborhood under construction.

The characteristic I found somewhat unusual is that eastbound Dorrell motorists see not one, not two, not three but FOUR stop signs at the intersection.

I think the city is serious here. Stop.

THUMBS UP FOR DASH PASS

The DMV Dash Pass program has had its ups and downs.

Dash Pass is the technology through which a DMV customer can get in line electronically with a text message, phone call or through online messaging. The customers get reply messages indicating when their turn is coming up.

Recently, I’ve received numerous messages about the system being down or broken. But Warrior reader Patricia had this to say:

“I renewed my driver’s license. Using the Dash Pass system I was in and out in short order. I also got a REAL ID. I took a tax form in instead of a Social Security card. Service was good and the people pleasant. I’ve lived in Las Vegas since 1969 and this was the best DMV experience I’ve had. My question is can Dash Pass be used for services other than getting a driver’s license?”

From Kevin Malone of the DMV: “Dash Pass is used to check in for all DMV services offered to the general public: driver’s license, vehicle registration, special plates, license reinstatements, etc.”

Questions and comments should be sent to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com. Please include your phone number. Follow the Road Warrior on Twitter @RJroadwarrior.