Merced, CA (October 13, 2025) — In a traffic stop that left officers more amused than alarmed, a driver in Merced was pulled over recently for displaying a makeshift license plate that was hand-drawn on what appeared to be paper or cardboard.
According to a social media post by CHP Merced, Officer Thornton initiated the stop after noticing an irregularity with the rear plate. Upon closer inspection, what looked like a legal plate turned out to be a drawing, and the driver admitted that the original plate had been lost.
CHP later shared the incident online, acknowledging the creativity while reminding motorists that using a fake or homemade plate is not permissible. The agency encouraged drivers to request a replacement plate through the Department of Motor Vehicles rather than resorting to “art supplies.”
A related Instagram post from CHP Merced describes how officers located the vehicle following a “be on the lookout” (BOLO) alert, then discovered the hand-drawn plate.
Under California law, vehicles must display valid, state-issued license plates. A homemade or falsified plate is illegal and can subject the driver to citations, fines, or vehicle impoundment. While CHP’s post took a lighthearted tone, the message was firm: follow the legal process for replacing lost plates.
