I was offered a vanity license plate during a visit to my local DMV. Had one in the past and thought it was interesting that I still qualified for what they called a ‘Professional Series’ plate available to MD’s, PE’s, CPA’s, and other licensed professionals including Architects. The DMV lady and I had a little fun looking at options but glitched when she realized my full-size pickup truck was a commercial vehicle by only 7 pounds. ‘No problem’ she said as vanity plates were also available for commercial vehicles. But the computer glitched again without explanation. Expressing some brief frustration, she contacted her department at the state capital to which my new friend was informed they where having the same strange glitch at their end. A little research at the main office and we get word on what they found. Believe or not, a professional organization called the American Institute of Architects (Yup – the AIA) has requested professional series commercial plates such as those for pickup trucks (aka – some of the most popular vehicles sold in the US) be restricted from being available to Architects. Passenger cars are OK, but a work truck that might need to carry something like specialty lifts and scaffolds, ladders, thermal imaging equipment, safety equipment, etc. are no longer appropriate for the profession?
How bizarre that apparently a profession rooted in a Master Builder heritage no longer wants to be professionally associated with driving a vehicle typically associated with building? Decided to just keep the random plate I already had. But as for the Architecture culture… Oh well, I still believe in them even if they don’t quite believe in themselves yet.