Show HN: Test your license plate identification skills

by forthwallon 5/21/2025, 6:52 PMwith 14 comments

Earlier this week on HN I came across a dataset that had a bunch of approved/rejected California license plates, so I made it into a game! Enjoy

by aaronbrethorston 5/21/2025, 7:59 PM

    LUV CBDS

    YOUR ARE WRONG!!!

    REJECTED | Reason: CBD=CANNABIDIOL, A COMPOUND OF MARIJUANA LIKE THC.
Well, that's silly seeing how CBD is available OTC basically everywhere (thanks to Mitch McConnell and the law of unintended consequences https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-mitch-mcconnell-acc...)

by EvanAndersonon 5/21/2025, 8:12 PM

Several years ago I received a letter from the Ohio BMV asking me to explain my vanity tag. I always wondered if somebody complained about it. I bet my explanation ended up in a database not unlike the one this game is based-on.

(My explanation to the BMV was that it was my favorite prime number less than 32,000...)

by swalshon 5/21/2025, 7:54 PM

This game feels like someone trying to RLHF some license plate model

by tbihlon 5/22/2025, 12:42 AM

Virginia has a national park license plate with a picture of a black bear. I recently saw it, vanity letters, "AHHBEAR", googly eye glued to the bear.

by jony1266on 5/21/2025, 7:27 PM

LOL this is so fun -- esp because these are real license plates that got approved + rejected...

where did you get the data for the license plates from?

by purplezooeyon 5/23/2025, 12:52 PM

Strangely addicting :)

by croisillonon 5/21/2025, 7:51 PM

i don't get it?

CHULO62

APPROVED | Reason: CHULO=PIMP

by ovulatoron 5/21/2025, 8:50 PM

YOUR ARE WRONG!!!

REJECTED | Reason: POOP