Editing 1105: License Plate
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | [[Cueball]] has obtained a new {{w|Vehicle registration plate|license plate}}. The license plate number one receives is often the next in sequence, available at the time and place of registration. However, in many localities, for an additional fee one can select | + | [[Cueball]] has obtained a new {{w|Vehicle registration plate|license plate}} (known as "license tags" in some areas), which is a plate one must obtain from a government licensing agency to place on a vehicle which permits the vehicle to be driven legally. The plates have a unique identifying number, which often includes some combination of digits and letters. When a crime involving a vehicle is committed, the license plate number (if available) can be used to identify the owner of the vehicle. The license plate number one receives is often the next in sequence, available at the time and place of registration. However, in many localities, for an additional fee one can select his or her own "personalized" license plate number, subject to certain criteria, and availability. |
− | In this comic, Cueball has elected to purchase the personalized license plate number "1I1-III1 | + | In this comic, Cueball has elected to purchase the personalized license plate number "1I1-III1". He believes the ambiguity between the letter I and digit 1 on the plate will make it very difficult for anyone to correctly identify his vehicle if he commits a crime. Some localities have more distinct "1" and "I" characters in their license plate font than others. |
− | + | What Cueball does not count on is that there are few, if any, other people who have chosen license numbers made up entirely of the letter I and digit 1. Thus, when witnesses report a vehicle with a license plate of I's and 1's, the police know exactly who the perpetrator is. Given either Cueball's apparent crime sprees or their realizing immediately upon the license plate's registration what Cueball's intent was, the police have written the address on a {{w|Post-it note}} (self-sticking adhesive notes commonly used for quick handy notetaking) in their car. | |
− | + | The title text appears to be a conversation between Cueball and the police as follows: That the police suspect Cueball of six bank robberies because a car with a license plate of all I's and 1's was used. Cueball responds that all he did was vandalize the library. Cueball does not understand because he was with his car the entire time of the robberies. As he says this, he has an epiphany that "that was clever of her". Although somewhat ambiguous, this appears to suggest that [[Megan]], who Cueball told his plan to in the second panel, may have registered a different personalized license plate with a different combination of I's and 1's and has robbed six banks in an attempt to {{w|frameup|frame}} Cueball, knowing that the police will assume the car is his. | |
Some individuals in [http://imgur.com/jaiblHk New Hampshire] and [https://www.reddit.com/r/xkcd/s/7MGmlV9cDg Kansas] have obtained this license plate. | Some individuals in [http://imgur.com/jaiblHk New Hampshire] and [https://www.reddit.com/r/xkcd/s/7MGmlV9cDg Kansas] have obtained this license plate. | ||
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[Cueball is | + | :[Cueball is holding a license plate up for an out-of-frame Megan to see.] |
:Cueball: Check out my personalized license plate! | :Cueball: Check out my personalized license plate! | ||
− | :Megan | + | :Out-of-frame Megan: "1I1-III1"? |
:Cueball: It's perfect! | :Cueball: It's perfect! | ||
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− | :[ | + | :[Megan is sitting in a chair holding the plate.] |
:Cueball: No one will be able to correctly record my plate number! | :Cueball: No one will be able to correctly record my plate number! | ||
− | + | :I can commit any crime I want! | |
:Megan: Sounds foolproof. | :Megan: Sounds foolproof. | ||
− | :[ | + | :[Scene is two police officers (non-descript Cueball-type character holding a notepad, and Ponytail) interviewing a witness wearing glasses. There is a line of yellow police tape behind them.] |
:Soon: | :Soon: | ||
:Witness: The thief's license plate was all "1"s or something. | :Witness: The thief's license plate was all "1"s or something. | ||
− | : | + | :Cop 1: Oh. ''That'' guy. |
− | :Ponytail: His address is on a | + | :Ponytail cop: His address is on a Post-It in the squad car. |
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Comics with color]] |