MD License Plates

Started by rpkall
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rpkall

rpkall

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What's with the MD license plate?

Is this strictly for docs who need to justify speeding to the hospital ER at 2am to consult on a case? Or can other docs get one of these too? Or is this more about ego, showing everyone on the road what you do for a living?

Thanks for any info. 👍
 
it's mostly about ego. and it will make you a target for more than just a lawsuit.
 
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Bigsheed920 said:
What are the benefits of having a M.D. License plate?
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I know in Manhattan there are MD only street parking areas around some of the hospitals. Having the plate lets you park there.
 
Bigsheed920 said:
What are the benefits of having a M.D. License plate?
Click to expand...

Parking in a no-parking zone. Technically, you have to be on-call to do that, but most traffic agents don't bother writing you a ticket (in NYC, at least)

Also... how about removing the pyramid scheme from your signature? 👎
 
I'm totally getting a vanity liscence plate that says "DOCTOR." Now THAT would be kickass.
 
This rheumatologist I knew had a plate on his Audi A8: JOINTZ.
 
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if a doctor has to rush to get to a hospital for some sort emergency, is there any kind of plate (like the one described above) or some sort of sticker that could prevent the doctor from getting pulled over for speeding? not that doctors should be immune from the lay of the land, but that'd be pretty sweet
 
If you're not in the hospital when there's something that's "crash" it won't make a difference how much you speed to get there.

Most places have enough staff on deck to get through tough spots with really sick patients.

On the other hand if your in a rural practice and need to speed over, just go for it. Andy and Barney won't flag you down if you're going to save a life.

🙂
 
rpkall said:
What's with the MD license plate?

Is this strictly for docs who need to justify speeding to the hospital ER at 2am to consult on a case? Or can other docs get one of these too? Or is this more about ego, showing everyone on the road what you do for a living?

Thanks for any info. 👍
Click to expand...

They call it a VANITY plate for a reason....
 
If it doubles as a free speeding pass, I might be interested, my friends would endlessly clown though so probably not...
 
idq1i said:
You'd have less money to pay tickets. Instant-on radar >>> any radar detector

Darn westchester cops 😡
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yeah, this instant on radar, such as with laser detection, sucks. you pretty much have to hope that your detector picks it up when the cop uses it on the car ahead of you...
 
I'm not sure what an MD degree has to do with anything outside of your hospital/work.

On your car? Pretty random. My guess is that you also have a stethoscope and your graduation tassle hanging from your rear-view mirror.
 
felipe5 said:
if a doctor has to rush to get to a hospital for some sort emergency, is there any kind of plate (like the one described above) or some sort of sticker that could prevent the doctor from getting pulled over for speeding? not that doctors should be immune from the lay of the land, but that'd be pretty sweet
Click to expand...

At graduation, they gave us credit card-sized copies of our diplomas in addition to the massive diploma. We call them our "get-out-of-jail-free" cards and put them by our driver's licenses in the event of being pulled-over.
 
Most states that have MD plates require you to be a licensed physician in that state, not just having the diploma, FYI.
 
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felipe5 said:
if a doctor has to rush to get to a hospital for some sort emergency, is there any kind of plate (like the one described above) or some sort of sticker that could prevent the doctor from getting pulled over for speeding? not that doctors should be immune from the lay of the land, but that'd be pretty sweet
Click to expand...
What in the world are you talking about? Speeding is speeding...the reason it's bad is because it's dangerous for you and other drivers/pedestrians.

Name one reason why you would have to rush into a hospital. If you're at home then your job isn't that critical or someone else is taking call for you.

An MD is just a degree, it doesn't even license you to do anything. Get your head out of your a$$.
 
Speeding is speeding. In many states (certainly was the case in PA where I worked), even emergency vehicles going lights and sirens cannot legally exceed the speed limit.

Are stethoscopes on the mirror done for the same purpose? I've always wondered about that but I only see nurses and CNAs doing that one.
 
I think whats ridiculous is all these:

MD2B__

licence plates floating all around California.
MD2B 09, WANABMD, MD4ME, SURF MD, I MAKUC, RETINA, BRAINMD

Now many of u know where I just vacationed if you see these plates.
 
yeah... my initials are M.D. so I thought I oughtta get MDMD2B and I drive an old Accord so people shouldn't be too interested in breaking into my car... I dunno, I've never really been into the whole vanity plate thing.
 
toofache32 said:
I'm not sure what an MD degree has to do with anything outside of your hospital/work.

On your car? Pretty random. My guess is that you also have a stethoscope and your graduation tassle hanging from your rear-view mirror.
Click to expand...

I have large fuzzy dice that hang proudly like testicles from my rearview mirror.
 
That's a good Cake song, Portier. 🙂

Saw a neuroradiologist with the license plate xraydoc. The funny thing is the guy looks at MRI's all day, not an xray in sight.
 
Basically an MD plate is a plus/minus deal.

On the plus side: some cops WILL cut you a break. I don't have the plate, but have gotten off more than one ticket for being a doc.

Negative: you're probably more likely to get broken into, though what type of car you have is probably more important. The other thing is if you get into an accident, people will automatically assume you're rolling in it and sue the crap out of you.
 
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toofache32 said:
the reason it's bad is because it's dangerous for you and other drivers/pedestrians.
Click to expand...
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

You were right about the rest of it though.
 
toofache32 said:
the reason it's bad is because it's dangerous for you and other drivers/pedestrians.
Click to expand...
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: That's not why they give out speeding tickets.

You were right about the rest of it though.
 
idq1i said:
Parking in a no-parking zone. Technically, you have to be on-call to do that, but most traffic agents don't bother writing you a ticket (in NYC, at least)
Click to expand...


Wha ... ? those ticket people will write you a ticket even as you're standing there. Holy cow - the NYC traffic cops are the most aggressive I have ever seen !!! I got a flippin' ticket once for parking in a valid parking place - on the right day and everything. The just write them and shower the neighborhood. What the heck ...

I think I'll put "Paws" on my license plates. 😀
 
SocialistMD said:
At graduation, they gave us credit card-sized copies of our diplomas in addition to the massive diploma. We call them our "get-out-of-jail-free" cards and put them by our driver's licenses in the event of being pulled-over.
Click to expand...

That's an awesome idea!
 
When I got my first car at 16 my plates were asigned as as MD-369. Sometimes you just get them randomly.
 
toofache32 said:
I'm not sure what an MD degree has to do with anything outside of your hospital/work.

On your car? Pretty random. My guess is that you also have a stethoscope and your graduation tassle hanging from your rear-view mirror.
Click to expand...


That reminds me of something else equally stupid. How about med students who are already sportin some lame doctor-esque gear on their rides.
There are two dorks at my school with license plates that read:

MD 2 BE

and

FUTR MD

that is so ridiculous, but it sure is funny to see for the first time
 
Paws said:
Wha ... ? those ticket people will write you a ticket even as you're standing there. Holy cow - the NYC traffic cops are the most aggressive I have ever seen !!! I got a flippin' ticket once for parking in a valid parking place - on the right day and everything. The just write them and shower the neighborhood. What the heck ...

I think I'll put "Paws" on my license plates. 😀
Click to expand...

Sounds like you are not from NYC. You foreigners seem to have problems interpreting our straight-forward parking regulations 😉
 
03Doc said:
Basically an MD plate is a plus/minus deal.

On the plus side: some cops WILL cut you a break. I don't have the plate, but have gotten off more than one ticket for being a doc.
Click to expand...
Ridiculous concept...why should being an MD get you a break?

Story from MS4 days--
Attending gets pulled over on busy street 1 mile from hospital on way in to rounds at 730 am. Says "I'm late for work at the VA". Cop says "too bad". Attending gets ticket.

Next day, same intersection, same cop--this time it's the hot blonde female intern rushing to get in in time...guess who didn't get a ticket?

We got a lot of laughs out of that one at rounds that day!
 
> Ridiculous concept...why should being an MD get you a break?

Actually, in NYS you can get 'offial' MD plates. They allow you to park in the 'MD only' spots in front of hospitals. Also, if you get pulled over for speeding, a faxed copy to the medical society office can make it go away (if you can somehow tie it to 'attending to a patient'). And while officially they don't allow you to disobey parking rules, the 'real' cops tend to cut you some slack (not the phony parking enforcement type though). In return, they jump to the front of the line if they ever end up in an ED (you know, the nurses and cops thing).

But in the end, the overcharges on your car repair bills probably make up for any benefit you can get out of the official MD plates. The only tangible benefit is parking right in front of the hospital on call.
 
In NJ they have plates for chiropractors, doctors, firemen, EMTs, and I think nurses or something else. The doctor one says Physician down where it usually says Garden State and I think the plate number is like MD1093 or DO0438 or some other random number.
 
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idq1i said:
Sounds like you are not from NYC. You foreigners seem to have problems interpreting our straight-forward parking regulations 😉
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I am so from NYC!! I lived there for a good handful of years. And I am not foreign. What kind of foreign name is Paws, anyway. Sheesh. This was up on Riverside Drive - the best place to park in the city.

License plates for me: now I'm thinking, Paws MD.

🙂
 
I have heard of cases where off-duty EMTs have been sued for driving past an accident and not stopping to help. The people involved in the accident saw the star of life sticker on their car, copied down their license, filed a suit, and won. I’m sure in this day of litigation, the same could happen to a physician with MD tags.
 
kenmc3 said:
I have heard of cases where off-duty EMTs have been sued for driving past an accident and not stopping to help. The people involved in the accident saw the star of life sticker on their car, copied down their license, filed a suit, and won. I’m sure in this day of litigation, the same could happen to a physician with MD tags.
Click to expand...

That sounds improbable and you may have misheard. (If you have additional details please cite to them -- would love to read about such case). While I have no doubt such suits have been "filed", I kind of doubt anyone has "won" such.
The reason "good samaritan laws" exist in many jurisdictions is to encourage off duty physicians and medical personnel to stop and help at accidents, since they in fact have no legal obligation to do so.
 
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