US$600k for a licence plate?

It has been almost a year since I was in the Middle East, and staying on top of their news isn’t always easy. But the report that someone paid the State more than $600k for a licence plate is interesting for what it says about ourselves:

In a statement, the RTA said that Dubai Vehicle licensing plate (I 44) was sold for AED2.3m (US$626,207) and topped the list of distinguished number plates offered in Auction 64 held on October 3 at Al Mina Hall, Jumeirah Beach Residence.

“The auction was extremely populous as the total attendance exceeded 400 and the hall was full of potential bidders. This huge turnout is attributed to the opening of registration for the auction in four points: Deira Traffic, RTA Main Customer Service Center, and Aswaq Al Mizhar, besides the Auction Hall on the day of the Auction” said Ahmed Hashim Bahrouzyan, CEO of RTA Licensing Agency.

“The total proceeds of the Auction reached Dhs15,359,000 led by the number plate (I 44) which was sold for Dhs2.3m, followed by (E 17) sold for Dhs2.1m, and (G 1111) which fetched AED1.1m.”

Why anyone would pay half a million U.S. dollars for “E 17” specifically I don’t know; perhaps they already owned E 1 to E 16 and recently added another vehicle to the collection.

Former federal P.C. Leader Robert L. Stanfield had RLS 500 for his Ottawa sedan back in the early 70s. There was some play on the Daytona 500 there, but I never really understood what that had to do with Canadian politics. Perhaps RLS 001 was already gone. A fellow student at Humberside Collegiate got RELAAXX when the band Frankie Goes To Hollywood was at their peak of popularity.

You don’t see this type of government auction in Canada. Although wireless spectrum does to the highest offer, consumers aren’t asked to jump through similar financial hoops over licence plates, or anything else for that matter, beyond seized property.

But that reinforces an idea I’ve been thinking about. No, not the DVP toll road idea (see prior posts “Bring on the toll roads” Sept 10-07 and “Globe columnist joins the toll road gang” Nov 25-07) but something almost as good.

Stay tuned.

MRM