MERCED, Calif. — A California driver took the phrase “artistic license” a bit too literally when authorities discovered a hand-drawn license plate on his vehicle.
The unusual plate caught the attention of a California Highway Patrol officer, who noticed something amiss and pulled the car over, according to an Oct. 10 Facebook post from the CHP.
Upon closer inspection, the officer confirmed that the plate had been entirely drawn by hand — a clear violation of the law.
“We’ll give this driver points for creativity,” the California Highway Patrol wrote, highlighting the unusual nature of the incident.
California Driver Pulled Over for Using Hand-Drawn License Plate
Most people have gotten behind the wheel knowing they’d be in trouble if they got pulled over.
Maybe they accidentally left their driver’s license at home. Perhaps their registration had expired. Or it could be… pic.twitter.com/Jp1eXOxl4Y
— Tony Seruga (@TonySeruga) October 16, 2025
The driver told authorities that the original license plate had been lost, according to KABC-TV in Los Angeles. However, the explanation did not exempt him from the law.
“While we appreciate the effort to stay compliant after losing the original plate, California law requires vehicles to display state-issued plates only,” the California Highway Patrol stated in its Facebook post.
The post added a note of practical advice: “If your plates are lost or stolen, you can easily get replacements through the DMV instead of breaking out the art supplies.”
The officer cited the Nissan Sentra driver with a $197 ticket, the Los Angeles Times reported.
California, long celebrated for its creative spirit, seems to produce a fair share of unconventional motorists as well. Earlier this year, in Santa Fe Springs, a CHP officer pulled over a vehicle in the carpool lane after noticing a suspicious-looking passenger, the agency noted on Instagram.
California police bust driver with mannequin passenger in carpool lane https://t.co/dlT10c1HkV pic.twitter.com/Jo2q3Ld37U
— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) April 27, 2024
The officer initially stopped the vehicle for crossing double lines. But a closer look at the passenger raised his suspicions.
“The driver was the only occupant in the vehicle with their plastic friend. The goatee was sharp… just a little too sharp,” the California Highway Patrol wrote in a social media post.
Ultimately, the driver was cited for multiple carpool lane violations.
“We’ve gotta give it to them — the appearance is next-level modeling, but at the end of the day… plastic is plastic,” the CHP added on Instagram.