And that's that.
Tomorrow the ham radio tag comes off the truck and goes up on the wall in the shack. A radio callsign has been following me around from back there for better than 20 years.
No more.
I can save $350 over the next ten years without running the plates. That's enough to pick up something really nice at a ham fest.
Getting the new tag required an emissions test, lots of money, and all had to be done today after work and before 5:00 pm as tomorrow is my birthday and they fine you for being late on the tags. So I'm already copping an attitude.
The final straw was the lady asked for a copy of my ham license, which I did not have with me. So I said, "Nevermind, give me a regular plate and my $35 back." And she did.
I guess there is some advantage to NOT advertising your call. And the plate will look great on the hamshack wall. If I pull the one off the front I can increase airflow to the tranny cooler.
We came a long way from no $20 plate fee to $20 plus $35 status tag fee. That's a $55 swing. Just can't do that. ($20 would be reasonable) And the contract between be and the State of Georgia where they can use my vehicle and radio equipment in case of emergency, in exchange for a free radio tag, is dissolved.
But the taxes on the trailer and truck are good for another year.
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