North Carolina Highway Patrol

North Carolina Highway Patrol
In 1929 alone, the Tarheel State saw 690 motor vehicle fatalities on the state's roadways and highways. Traffic control was of such concern that in 1929 the General Assembly passed an act authorizing the establishment of a State Highway Patrol. The new organization was given statutory responsibility to patrol the highways of the state, enforce the motor vehicle laws, and assist the motoring public. The organization was designed as a division of the State Highway Commission. The Highway Commission initially sent ten men (later designated as a captain and nine lieutenants) to Pennsylvania to attend the training school of the Pennsylvania State Police. Their mission was to study law, first aid, light adjustments, vehicle operation, and related subjects for use in North Carolina's first Patrol School. An office was established in Raleigh to serve as state headquarters, and a district office was established in each of the nine highway districts. A lieutenant and three patrolmen were assigned to each district. All patrolmen were issued Harley Davidson motorcycles and the lieutenants drove Model A Ford Coupes.The Patrol commander was issued a Buick automobile. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol's primary mission is to reduce collisions and make the highways of North Carolina as safe as possible. Since 1929 the mission of the Highway Patrol has not changed. From a handful of Highway Patrolmen in 1929 the Highway Patrol now employees 1,455 troopers and 365 Motor Carrier officers to cover more than 78,000 miles of North Carolina roadways. In 2004, the State Highway Patrol arrested 26,005 people for driving while impaired, seized $10 million worth of drugs, and investigated 1,119 fatal collisions on North Carolina highways. The Motor Carrier unit fined thousands of truck drivers for various violations. Troopers and Motor Carrier Enforcement officers also guide traffic during hurricane evacuations or re-route traffic around hazardous chemical spills. The Patrol stands ready, should any act of terrorism occur, to carry out the directives of the Governor. The Highway Patrol has eight Troop locations throughout the state.
North Carolina State Flag That the flag of North Carolina shall consist of a blue union, containing in the center thereof a white star with the letter N in gilt on the left and the letter C in gilt on the right of said star, the circle containing the same to be one-third the width of the union. The fly of the flag shall consist of two equally proportioned bars; the upper bar to be red, the lower bar to be white; that the length of the bars horizontally shall be equal to the perpendicular length of the union, and the total length of the flag shall be one-third more than its width. That above the star in the center of the union there shall be a gilt scroll in semi-circular form, containing in black letters this inscription "May 20th, 1775," and that below the star there shall be a similar scroll containing in black letters the inscription: "April 12th, 1776."
1936 issue- Dark blue over silver. Embossed aluminum. This version was used throughout the 1940's and used concurrent with the 1946 issue into the early 1950's . These earlier versions were manufactured with "36" embossed in the top right corner. As years went on, the "36" had been flattened-out by NCHP garage personnel to extend the usage of the plates into the later years. This particular plate was used as a temporary tag into the 1950's, and was given to the current owner by a retired mechanic supervisor who had retained it for several years. Picture courtesy of Ted Cline	*1935 SHP prefix* Picture courtesy of the North Carolina Highway Patrol
1937 Use of regular issue passenger plate
Trp John T. Jenkins (eventually became NCHP Colonel) shown with 1954 NC R-prefixed passenger license plate. Photo Courtesy of North Carolina Highway Patrol
Retired NCHP Patrolman F. Coleman Simmons pictured with the elusive "SP" (State Patrol) prefixed license plate used on his patrol car in 1956. Photo Courtesy of Jim Thomas
Career collection of license plates used by NCHP Patrolman F. Coleman Simmons from 1956 to 1980. SP (State Patrol) prefix used only in 1956. Random letter-number combination passenger plates used from 1957 until 1977 when the first agency-wide issuance of HP prefixed plates began. Photo Courtesy of Jim Thomas Collection
1975-1976 issue FAA-prefixed passenger license plate. FAB prefixes were also used at that time. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	Photo courtesy of North Carolina Highway Patrol
1977 issue- First year for confirmed HP prefixed NCHP license plates	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
1978 issue-	Picture courtesy of the North Carolina Highway Patrol
*1979 issue- Larger dies used for NORTH CAROLINA*	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
1980 issue- All NCHP plates began at "HP 100" which was assigned to the Commander. This plate was issued to the the Patrol Executive Officer, and second-in-command that year, Lieutenant Jack F. Cardwell who later went on to assume full command of the NCHP.	This plate was assigned to Trp Brenda Price, the NCHP's first ever female trooper who successfully completed Basic Training School and assigned for duty that year. Photo Courtesy of North Carolina Highway Patrol
1981 issue-	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
1982 issue-	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
1983 NCHP is the only SP-HP agency that continues to issue license plates annually. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	1983 issue- First year for graphic "First In Flight" design, and the year that STATE TROOPER replaced STATE PATROL as markings on the rear of NCHP vehicles. Photo Courtesy of North Carolina Highway Patrol
*1984 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1985 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1986 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
1987 issue. This plate was assigned to and used by the Commander of the NCHP at the time, Colonel Jack F. Cardwell.	Picture courtesy of Jay Weinstein
*1988 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1989 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1990 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1991 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1992 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
1993 issue. Last year of the "HP" prefix. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1994-Current issue- 1994 commenced the use of SHP as the prefix for NCHP license plates after a 48 year absence. Thinner dies and longer dash used as a separator.* Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1995 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1996 issue*.	Picture courtesy of Jay Weinstein
*Two 1997 issues- Shows different die types used. Slimmer/thinner dies on bottom.* Courtesy of the John Yeaw Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1998 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*1999 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*2000 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*2001 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*2002 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*2003 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*2004 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*2005 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*2006 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection
*2007 issue*. Plate courtesy of the Robert Ward Collection
Unknown when the NCHP began using these STATE OWNED flag plates on the front of their vehicles, but this one is made of heavy gauge steel and uses long slots, so best guessed at early to mid 1960's.	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
Unknown when the NCHP began using these STATE OWNED flag plates on the front of their vehicles, but this one with a duller green non- reflective background is from the 1970's/80's	Picture courtesy of the North Carolina Highway Patrol
Unknown when the NCHP began using these STATE OWNED flag plates on the front of their vehicles, but this one with a brighter and reflective green background is from the 1990's.	Photo Courtesy of Monty McCord
1979 50th Anniversary booster plate- screened aluminum.	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
1990's-early 2000's Optional Front plate (yellow/ gold in color)	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
1990's-early 2000's Optional Front plate (silver in color)	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
1937 Motorcycle Plate Plate courtesy of the Ted Cline Collection	We are looking for a picture showing this type plate on duty.... *Can you help us?*
*Motorcycle Plate* ~ *Current isssue* HPMU = Highway Patrol Motorcycle Unit
1989 60th Anniversary Promotional "booster" plate. Flat aluminum. Courtesy of the John Yeaw Collection
NCHP Troopers Association Promotional "booster" plate. Flat aluminum. Courtesy of the John Yeaw Collection
*National Troopers Coalition issue.* Courtesy of the Bob Bruce Collection
2002-Current issue NCHP Retiree plate. Available to retired NCHP troopers for their personal vehicles. Number is said to be the Trooper's assignment number. This one bears the 2005 validation decal with matching number.