License Plates as a Political Favor

The Fix: “In several states we’ve researched, low-number plates — the less numerals, the better — are a way to show off your political connections. That’s because in states like New Hampshire, you can’t just walk into a DMV and request one; you have to know someone to give you the plate. It’s supply-and-demand: The more difficult something is to acquire, the more valued it is.”