Steve Jobs is still in the news despite having passed away more than ten years ago. The founder of Apple played such an important role in the technological and business field that any information about his life or his day-to-day life generates a lot of curiosity. An example is the fact that he changed his car every six months and never registered it. But, how is it possible to circulate with a vehicle without a license plate?
The license plate of a car is like the DNI and must be in perfect condition. In Spain, not carrying it properly preventing the correct identification of the car can lead to a penalty of between 200 and 6,000 euros, according to the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT).
According to the agency, not carrying a license plate, placing it somewhere that is not visible or that the plate is not legible is penalized with 200 euros. Manipulating it entails a fine of 6,000 euros and the loss of 6 points from the driving license.
The obligation to circulate with the license plate in the vehicle is not only a current regulation in Spain, since it is also applied in a general way in the United States. Of course, in the state of California, Steve Jobs’ place of residence, there is a legal vacuum on the subject that the founder of Apple knew how to take advantage of. The norm indicates that it is possible to circulate with a new car without registering during the first six months.
This period of time is contemplated to have margin to complete the procedures involved in the acquisition of a new vehicle. That is why if you buy a car every six months it is possible to drive without a license plate, as was the case of the technological guru who died prematurely in 2011, a victim of pancreatic cancer.
According to applesfera.com, Jobs reached an agreement with a California dealer in which a vehicle was delivered every six months. But not just any car, a new Mercedes SL 55 AMG (valued at more than 120,000 euros), an unusual whim for Jobs, famous for his austere way of life despite amassing a great fortune that even led him to have little furniture in his home.
The reason why Jobs insisted on driving without a license plate is unknown. Some point out that this was one more of his eccentricities, while the most popular theory is that it was the strategy of the founder of Apple to avoid being recognized thanks to his car and, thus, get rid of the press.
The legal vacuum that existed in California regarding road traffic has already changed, making it impossible for actions like Jobs’s to be possible now. As of January 1, 2019, all vehicles leaving a California dealership must already carry and display temporary license plates.
The characteristic that these have is that they are made of paper and can only be used for a maximum of 90 days after the date of purchase, or until the final registration is available. Previously, and based on the example of Jobs, the regulations already underwent a first change shortening the time that drivers had to put the license plate on their vehicle, limiting it to 90 days.
The rule has been changing to the point that digital license plates have already been legalized in the state of California. According to the AB 984 law, these license plates are “a legal alternative to the traditional metal plate.” Of course, it is prohibited to add the GPS tracking function in the case of private cars, but it is in the case of fleet vehicles; something that has opened a debate on data protection. In addition, this type of digital registration entails an expense of $19.95 per month for 48 months, or subscribing to a subscription contract for four years for $215.40.
