Why Did a California Woman Get Tickets From Across the Country for Her Vanity Plate?
Imagine opening your mailbox to find a stack of traffic tickets from states you’ve never even visited. That’s exactly what happened to Suzi Kiefer, a California driver with a personalized “LUVSICK” license plate. Over several months, she received at least 15 tickets from places as far-flung as Illinois and New Jersey. The kicker? None of the cars in those violations were hers. So, what went wrong?
How Can a Fake License Plate Cause Real-World Headaches?
It turns out, the culprit wasn’t a clerical error or a DMV mix-up. Instead, a clothing company called Broken Promises was selling novelty plates online that looked almost identical to Kiefer’s real California plate. These plates swapped out “California” for “Broken Promises” and replaced the registration date with “EMO”—details that should have tipped off any sharp-eyed police officer or traffic camera reviewer. But in practice, those differences went unnoticed. The result? Real tickets for a real person, thanks to a fake plate.
Why Are Novelty Plates Legal—and What’s the Risk?
Novelty plates aren’t illegal in most states. They’re sold as collectibles or quirky accessories, and you’ll find them everywhere from tourist shops to online marketplaces. But when these plates closely mimic real ones, they can be misused—sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. In Kiefer’s case, it appears some drivers used the “LUVSICK” novelty plate to dodge tickets, knowingly or otherwise. Unfortunately, the automated ticketing systems and even some law enforcement officers didn’t spot the fakes, so the tickets landed in Kiefer’s lap.
What Did the Victim Do to Clear Her Name?
Faced with a growing pile of tickets and a bureaucratic nightmare, Kiefer took matters into her own hands. She started by disputing each ticket, pointing out that the vehicles in the photos weren’t her Dodge Magnum. But the real breakthrough came when she traced the source of the fake plates to Broken Promises. With help from a lawyer, she sent a cease-and-desist letter to the company. Eventually, the retailer removed the “LUVSICK” plate from its website, but not before Kiefer spent countless hours clearing her record.
Are Law Enforcement and Ticketing Systems Equipped to Handle These Issues?
This story exposes a real vulnerability in automated ticketing and law enforcement systems. Most red-light and speed cameras rely on optical character recognition (OCR) to read plates, but they aren’t always programmed to spot subtle differences between real and novelty plates. According to a 2023 study by the National Motorists Association, OCR systems can misread or misidentify plates in up to 8% of cases—especially when novelty or altered plates are involved. Human review is supposed to catch these errors, but as Kiefer’s ordeal shows, that’s far from guaranteed.
What Can Drivers Do to Protect Themselves From Similar Problems?
If you have a unique or eye-catching vanity plate, you might want to do a quick online search to see if anyone’s selling a lookalike. If you spot one, reach out to the retailer and, if necessary, consult a lawyer. It’s also wise to keep detailed records of your vehicle’s whereabouts—receipts, toll logs, or even dashcam footage can help prove your innocence if you’re wrongly ticketed. And if you receive a ticket for a place you’ve never been, contest it immediately and request all available evidence.
Could This Happen Again—And What’s Being Done About It?
Unfortunately, as long as novelty plates are legal and enforcement systems remain imperfect, there’s a real chance this could happen to someone else. Some states are considering tighter regulations on novelty plate designs, but enforcement is patchy. Experts recommend that ticketing agencies update their systems to flag plates with obvious discrepancies—like missing state names or fake registration stickers. Until then, stories like Kiefer’s serve as a cautionary tale for anyone with a memorable plate.
The big takeaway? Personalized plates are fun, but they come with risks you might not expect. Staying vigilant, keeping good records, and acting quickly if something seems off can save you a world of hassle. Start with one change this week—maybe a quick search for your plate online—and you’ll likely spot the difference by month’s end.