Iowa And Illinois, Watch Out For ‘Whiskey Plates’ On The Roads

Stay safe on your road trips this holiday season!

We have enough to deal with on road trips. Even going home solo for Thanksgiving, I've got a ratchet car to pray gets me there, phone navigation on my own, there's plenty to keep me busy. If you're traveling with your family, that's only amplified.

via GIPHY

We all played the 'license plate game' on road trips and there's a certain license plate in the Midwest to look out for.

Meet The 'Whiskey Plate'

Several Midwestern states, including Minnesota and Ohio, have license plates called 'whiskey plates' that look like this:

The plates in Minnesota often begin with the letter W (why it's called a 'whiskey plate'). For Ohio drivers, they're called 'party plates' and are yellow and look like this:

Police officers will be watching cars with these license plates more closely.

Both plates signify a prior DUI/DWI conviction.

It may indicate a previous license suspension, a recent DUI charge, or a DUI charge with a minor in the car. Getting the plates is contingent on whatever the situation is/was for the driver charged with the DUI.

As you're road-tripping for the holidays, if you see a car with either of these plates swerving through lanes a lot or driving erratically, back off of it. The driver could be impaired.

At the same time, if you see one of these plates, it won't automatically signify a terrible driver, but it will remind everyone of their stupid decision.