Weird, clever LI license plates

SORRY4YA

Suzanne Saeli, of Nesconset, talks about her vanity plate: "My inspiration for this license plate was easy and came to me quickly. After being in a not-so-great relationship, I got back on my feet emotionally and felt he was the one who lost out."

WER2GO

Philip Allstadt talks about what his license plate means to him and his wife, Eileen: "This license plate is on our high-top conversion van that we purchased for road trips after we retired. In one year, we have traveled several times as far south as Florida and as far west as Oregon, making stops along the way to visit family and friends. The plate says it all: We R 2 Go or Wer 2 Go (where to go). Either way, we are on the road!

AHOYMATE

Flushing resident Rick Mendez talks about his vanity plate: "I grew up in Flushing and am always on the water in and around marinas on Long Island. I teach on-water powerboat handling and wanted to have a maritime-themed plate."

JOG4HLTH

Vincent Servedio, of Levittown, said he got his license plate because his "intention was to get people jogging. It's not easy exercise but the results are extremely rewarding. I started jogging 44 years ago at age 40 and didn't stop until I was 75. That's when I slowed down to a walking pace, which I continue to do now at 84. I know at least one person, a co-worker, who started jogging as a result of my license plate."

PZBWITU

Cindy Reide Combs of Coram explains the meaning behind her vanity plate: "I've had this license plate for many years, hoping to spread a message of peace throughout my travels even when I'm cut off in traffic. I've returned to my parked car to find messages like 'peace be with you also'. "

Jim Brown, of Coram, talks about his vanity plate: "We had a green Chevrolet Suburban. My sister-in-law called it "The Green Beast." When we got this new blue Suburban, my sister-in-law and I were talking, and she said we should name it "The Blue Zilla." Zilla is my wife's nickname, and since she drives it, it was only fitting that she have this vanity plate."

10GRNDKDS

Gail Powell, of Ridge, talks about her vanity plate: "I love my 10 grandkids. They are very special to me, and I feel truly blessed. My three children live in New York so I see my grandchildren regularly. They range in age from 6 to 24...8 girls and 2 boys."

PUPSUP

Rosanne Annicaro, of Islandia, explains the origin of her vanity plates: "Our two beautiful adopted dogs Annie, a shepherd mix, and Kelly, a golden retriever, both loved to ride in the car. When they were younger and able, my husband and I would take them everywhere. I would always say, "C'mon, pups up," which was their cue to get in the car because we were going for a ride. Kelly is no longer with us but there will be another pup someday so I'm keeping the plates."

"These plates are on my 2004 Mercury Mariner," Dale Dietrichson of Port Jefferson says. "It was the first car I paid off as a single mother. I wanted plates that represented my daughter and me and the village we live in. We named the car Tom. It was totaled [some] months ago, but I had it fixed anyway. Tom lives on."

SWAMPS

My vanity plates have a dual meaning for me," says James Marino of Sayville. "I'm a retired high school biology/environmental science teacher. I used to do field trips to beautiful spots like the Nissequogue River and Sunken Forest. My students referred to them (and me) as swamps. Also, I like fishing in shallow backwaters -- swamps -- so my kids thought the plates were fitting."

Lorraine Passero, a transplanted Amityville resident who lives in Laguna Beach, California, talks about her vanity plate: "New York has always been a part of my life, and I visit as often as possible. As you can see, my license plates say it all -- NEW YOK. It's exactly the way I say it! I have been the proud owner of these plates for 36 years. I've met a lot of New Yorkers who see them and love them. As long as I'm driving, I will be keeping these plates."

LUVGIGI

"The inspiration for my vanity plate is my grandchildren....I love being Matthew's and Grace's GiGi," says Eileen Johnson of Center Moriches.

QKFIX

"This plate on my Triumph Bonneville is a statement of the thrill of traveling 50 MPH with my feet 6 inches off the pavement," Bob DeNatale, mayor of Bayville, says of his motorcycle's vanity plate. "Even in my 70s, a QKFIX is a welcomed relief from life's challenges."

ALL4UDAD

Karen Torres, of Miller Place, is president and founder of ALL4UDAD, a program for road safety education and advocacy. "On March 17, 2006, my father, Patrick Mapleson, was hit and killed by a distracted driver while working on Sunrise Highway in Eastport for the Department of Transportation," Torres said. "I have turned my tragedy into advocacy by sharing my father's story with thousands of students and adults by helping them understand the deadly consequences of distracted driving."

00VII

William Reynolds says he and his wife Melinda have loved the James Bond character and the movie franchise since 1962, the year they were married and the year the first James Bond film, Dr. No, was released. This license plate is on one of their cars. Two of his other cars each sport a similarly themed vanity plate: MNY PNNY (Moneypenny) and X 007 X. The Holbrook resident says his favorite actor to portray James Bond is Sean Connery.

"I have this license plate on my 1989 Cadillac Allante," Steven Krieger of North Massapequa of North Massapequa says of his vanity plate. "Everybody comments on it and asks who is number one. I tell them, 'My wife, of course!'"

SULSUL

"The inspiration for my plate was the video game The Sims. I started playing the game with my younger son a long time ago (we still play today). The Sims is a simulation of daily activities of one or more virtual people in a suburban household near a fictional city. Sul Sul is Simlish, a fictional language used by Sims, for hello and goodbye," said Maria Olson of Port Jefferson Station.

XLDYMECH

Jean Claudio of Smithtown says she was an auto mechanic and technician for 17 years. "After fixing cars for five years, I ordered LADYMECH vanity plates because I thought I deserved them. I got lots of laughs from guys. After leaving the industry in 2007, I ordered XLDYMECH vanity plates and still have them on my car," Claudio says.

"Years ago, when the DMV was pushing affinity license plates, I applied to get a plate for the Harley Owners Group, a Harley Davidson motorcycle owners group. We got the approval, and I was given the first plate for cars, which you see here. They're available for both cars and motorcycles," said Robert Lowery of Wading River.

Madeline Albin of Eastport originally had a "GO CAMARO" vanity plate but says her granddaughters told her to change it to "SEXY 60" because it fit her personality better on her 2011 convertible Camaro.

"It's on my 1978 Cadillac E(LDO)rado Custom Biarritz Classic which was General Motors' final model of the big, gas-guzzling land yachts of the 40's - 70's before downsizing to meet EPA standards," said Paul Jacobs of Huntington about his vanity plate. "This 4-wheel 'living room' is 19 feet long, weighs 5,000 pounds and gets 11 miles per gallon."

William Handle of Farmingdale talks about the "blue bloods" in his family.(Blue blood has become a nickname for someone who comes from a family that works in law enforcement and continues in the same line of work.) "I was a police officer in Nassau County 31 years ago. My son retired from the NYPD in 2005, and now my granddaughter has been a police officer in Manhattan for 7 years."

ONLNMATH

In addition to being a sixth-grade math teacher in Port Washington, Barry Hoffman of Huntington runs an online math tutoring service for children. "People come up to me smiling after seeing my license plate and always say something like 'You must teach math!.' They then tell me their math stories and how much they love (or not love) the subject. The plate sparks fun conversation on a school subject many people have an opinion about," Hoffman said.

"At my job, I was always playing pranks on my co-workers. I was the first one in the office and would think of things to do as a joke. Everyone would always say, 'You're sooo bad. We knew you did it,'" said Virginia E. Dawson-Taylor of Wyandanch.

"The plate reflects my feelings for my seven grandchildren who are truly my '7 miracles.' They are happy, healthy and beautiful," Angela Jean Mendola, of Lynbrook, said about her vanity plate.

"My wife, Tema, and I are huge Beatles fans. We even spent part of our honeymoon in John, Paul, George and Ringo's birthplace, Liverpool, England," Jeff Morosoff of Great Neck said about his vanity plate. "The license plate is our 'thank you' to them for their musical gifts and is based on their signature shout, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah!' "

"I have always had a love for animals," Mary Ann Langella of Manorville said of her vanity plate. "They are very precious to me. They speak with their eyes and have so much love to give. When I decided to get a special license plate, I wanted it to describe me in some way. What immediately came to mind was...animals!"

Bob Donnelly of Massapequa, in choosing a plate for his 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380SL convertible, thought a car designed to zoom along the German Autobahn would certainly have no cup holder. "You're not supposed to have a cup of coffee or a diet soda in your hand" when driving this car at speeds it was designed to travel, he said.

SLICK74

Al Brill of East Meadow sports this plate on his customized and rebuilt ruby red 1974 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. An uncle gave him the nickname "Slick" long ago, and he realized that would be a good name for the first car he ever bought. (He bought it in 1981). "It's not just a car for me," he said. "It's a piece of me."

Gennaro Izzo of Lynbrook now sports this plate on his1990 white Cadillac Brougham. (He had earlier had it on a Cadillac Seville.) "People look at my car and say, 'Nice, uh,' " he says. "If you're Italian, you get it."

Neil Fogel of Long Beach said his wife Harriet looks years younger than her age. The grandkids lovingly refer to her as "Glamma" i.e. glamorous grandma," Fogel said.

Bernie Costelli of Manhasset said that he drove a Camaro convertible when his son, John, was born in 1967. Two years later he had to sell it because it wasn't a practical family car. For Christmas 2016, John presented his father with a similar 1968 Camaro convertible that John had found and restored as a surprise thank you gift for all his parents had done for him. "I cried all day," Bernie Costelli says of how the gift moved him. The plate shows the father's gratitude.

Ron Abbazio of Lindenhurst said: "Living on Long Island my whole life, I was an instant fan of the movie Pirates of the Caribbean. My black WaveRunner was the Black Pearl. The vanity plate on my Corvette is the INTACPTR. And the Lexus I just bought is the White Pearl. Having a pearl-white finish just made sense!"

Stella Bodall, of Babylon, who was born in Bushwick, Brooklyn, says, "When I purchased my Toyota Camry in 2001, I wanted a license plate that reflected who I was. At traffic lights and in parking lots, I get asked where in Brooklyn I was born. I always say, 'You can take the girl out of Brooklyn, but not the Brooklyn out of the girl.' I've had the vanity plate for 17 years and love the attention it gets."

Eric Steinberg of South Setauket says of his vanity plate: "One year my children gave me this vanity plate for Father's Day. I am a city boy at heart. I amaze my family and friends with my knowledge of mostly Manhattan and Brooklyn. My wife and I enjoy traveling, but whenever I go into the city I feel I am back home and rejuvenated."

Tina Mongelli, of Central Islip, who is called T by family members, says she's been a devoted Reba McEntire fan for more than 35 years. "I have seen her perform over 50 times. She is just as nice as she is talented. I'm proud to be her fan, so my vanity plate is T 4 REBA."

Maria J. Tonkiss of Middle Island says, "I can still hear Mother saying, 'Adelante, Maria! Never go backward, only forward, Maria!' In 1920, my mother Esperanza, an abused orphan, penniless and alone, ventured from her birthplace in Vieques, Puerto Rico, to New York to embark on a new life. Her tenacity, sacrifices and hopes enabled her and her descendants to achieve the "American dream." Having Adelante on my license plates is a constant reminder of an exceptional woman, my mother."

IVGT2BME

Barry David Weckstein says he's a fan of the Sammy Davis Jr. song "I've Got to Be Me." The Westbury resident says of his vanity plate: "I give my heart and soul to whatever I am doing and to whomever I'm with. This is my mantra, I've got to be me."

Patricia Parendo of Mineola said: "After retiring from teaching two years ago, I felt my beloved license plate (LVTEACHN) was no longer appropriate. It was time to brag about my own kids! However it was a fight to the finish to get this plate instead! My son and daughter, a veterinarian and pediatrician respectively, felt and still do, that I am bragging way too much about their successes and are embarrassed by their mom's public and pride-filled pronouncement of their achievements.

Anthony Hazzard of South Bellmore says of his vanity plate, "I've been picked on for my last name since I was a kid. But now I hope I can make somebody laugh. I get a lot of people either speeding up to take a picture or staying far behind. It's very funny."

Richard D'Amaro has this license plate on his 1947 Cadillac limousine, about which he says: "Only 790 were built. What makes it hot is that it's modernized with all of today's creature comforts, plus it's powered by a late-model Corvette engine. This car is strictly my family's car and can't be rented out," says the Westhampton resident.

Ronnie DeLuca has this license plate on his Harley Davidson Street Glide motorcycle because "the plate sums it up. I love riding," the Massapequa resident said.

Patricia DiBenedetto of Westhampton Beach, says: "What started as a joke from the famous 'I got a feva' skit on 'Saturday Night Live' turned into my becoming that annoying mom at my kids' school events. I was known as the crazy cowbell lady."

"I was a firefighter for 35 years. When I retired, I bought my Corvette and it was a hot car. Hence, my FIVALARM vanity plate," said Tom Kuefner of Commack.

Shaun Byrne of Holbrook says of his vanity plate, "I had the car restored to cruise with the top down and to show at events. As luck would have it, it rained cats and dogs during the first two shows I entered. Thus, the meaning behind the plate.

Stephen Greenberg of Roslyn Harbor says the reason behind the license plate on his classic 1960 two-seater was a no-brainer: "It's very simple. It's a Nash Metropolitan."

Joseph Nolan of Rockville Centre sports this plate on his 1950s Mercury Montclair convertible. "It's never been painted and has the original top, carpet and interior," thus it's still new, he said. Nolan drives the car, which has 36,000 original miles on it, "for pleasure" on Ocean Parkway.

Maria Mucaria Stankowski, of Levittown, has this plate on two classic VW bugs. She handles the website and newsletter for the Long Island Volkswagen Club.

ACT1V8ED

Gary Collins, of Brentwood, who served in the Navy, says he chose his plate to match his signature name in the Call of Duty video game.

We all know that Long Islanders love to go to the mall, but this LIer wants everyone to know about their affinity for shopping.

The force is strong with this license plate spotted on Jan. 20, 2018. Star Wars fans can see it spells "Obi-Wan Kenobi," the name of Luke Skywalker's Jedi mentor.

Sherry Palencia of North Babylon says she's an Argentine Tango dancer. "To me it means warm embraces and beautiful music. A fellow motorist stopped me to ask, 'What is a Tango liver.'"

Frankie D'Amore of Levittown says, "I'm such a huge Rocky fan, and I was trying to think of a vanity plate for my 2001 Cadillac DTS. My friend came up with YOADRIAN. People love it. I love it!"

NT2WORRY

Pam Uruburu-Bank of Massapequa says, "As a young girl, I was a worrier, but I gradually learned to heed author Leo Buscaglia's adage, "Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow; it only saps today of its joy." I'm frequently stopped by people in parking lots who tell me my plate brought a smile to their face. In fact, one woman told me that after receiving very dire news, she happened to look up and see my license plate and her heart felt instantly lighter. It also has been a source of amusement for auto mechanics over the years. During these troubling times, I'm only too happy to share a positive message."

Alice Anderson of Stony Brook says of her vanity plate, "As a teenager in the mid-1950's I loved watching The Honeymooners. My name is Alice and my plate reads 2 D MOON. It's on my PT Cruiser, which is bright blue with flames."

Larry Ruocchio of Larry's Automotive Inc. in New Hyde Park does custom car restorations and has had this plate on a succession of cars "for probably 25 or 30 years." It's currently on a 1967 customized Chevrolet Chevelle. "I got it [the plate] when I had a full head of hair, so that's got to be a while," he says.

Jani Zubkovs of Melville says of his vanity plate, "Living in LA in the late 1970s and because of my tongue-twisting name, the girls where I worked as a bartender gave me the nickname Clyde. In the early 1980s, I moved back to LI and opened a bar called "Bonnie & Clyde's." As fate would have it, I ended up marrying a childhood friend named Bonnie. We raised two fine sons and ran a successful bar for 17 years.

BAC2D80S

Frankie D'Amore of Levittown says, "I grew up in the '80s. It was the best time of my life -- the long hair, the rock bands, the clothes and freestyle music. I wish I could go back to the '80s, so I came up with this license plate for my 1984 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible."

FATTURBO

Lou Davi of Garden City sports this plate on the 1984 Porsche 930 Turbo he restored in 2004. "It has an oversized turbo," so the plate "fit the car."

Gerald Malkes of Hewlett worked in pulmonary medicine before retiring. His two other cars each sport a vanity plate -- DOCAIR2 and DOCAIR. "Sometimes I get stopped because people think I am in the air conditioning trade," Malkes said.

KIDZSTUF

John Sparacio Sr., of Franklin Square, says of his 1932 Ford Coupe Street Rod, which he's upgraded and painted fire-engine red, "It's my big toy. It's kid stuff." He's had the car for 20 years.

Jak's Phillips, of Bay Shore, and his wife, Linda, have collected Crosley cars for 35 years. The subcompact cars "are known as clown cars," he says. Phillips, a surfing enthusiast, has a mini-surfboard on the roof of the 1949 model sporting this plate. Teahupoo is a surfing spot in Tahiti known for its mighty waves that Phillips visited in 1962.

Robert Longo, of West Babylon, sports this plate on his classic 1965 Chevrolet Box Nova, which he's had since 1998. "My father had one, so it's in my blood," he says. When asked, "How do you pay for the car?" he answers, "Novatime."

DEBSPONY

Debbie Levine, of West Hempstead, sports this plate on the black 1966 Ford Mustang she's bought in 2015. "I always wanted a horse and I love classic cars. It's the perfect midlife thing, even though it sits in the garage." She considers her Mustang a pony because it has a 6-cylinder engine, rather than the more powerful 8.

Lisa Florence Ann Braun, of Baldwin, combined her initials and her career as a yoga teacher to build a little fabulousness into her license plate.

"I often get people asking if they could take a picture of my vanity plate and if it is because of the Tom Cruise movie 'Risky Business,'" Jim Loughlin, of Garden City, says. "The ah-ha moment is when I tell them what it really means. "I have been in the insurance business for over 23 years. I got the car and this plate when I became the director of risk management for Icahn Associates, Carl Icahn's company," handling corporate risk and insurance.

Timothy Regan, of Middle Island, says of his vanity plate TRYNHARD, "It's really what life is all about. Whether it's work, family or whatever. Try hard and do your best."

Barbara O'Neill, of Hicksville, says her plate puts a difficult marriage and divorce in the rearview mirror. "I am now free, finally," she says.

Gary Collins, of Brentwood, who served in the Navy, says he chose his plate to match his signature name in the Call of Duty video game.

Cheryl McMahon, of Sag Harbor, says: "I am 46 years old and have been battling ovarian cancer for 16 years with three recurrences. This is the reason why my license plate says SURVYVOR -- because I am one." The teal ribbons are symbols of ovarian cancer awareness. "Anytime I can get the word out about ovarian cancer," McMahon says, "I am very happy."

Kimmy Molina, of Great Neck, says that her plate was inspired by her teenage daughters. "I have two girls, she says. "They look like angels, but they act like devils."

Rob Abbazio, of Lindenhurst, says: "The plate Intacptr was established because I owned a Waverunner [personal watercraft] that was back and gray, and it was named "The Black Pearl." Since I am a Long Islander and a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean it was a natural choice to name my Corvette "Intacptr."

Ihor Nykolak, of Long Beach, considers Bash Bish Falls State Park in the southern Berkshires, with Massachusetts' highest single-drop waterfall, "an iconic place in my life. One of my first dates with my wife was there," he says. "I have brought my children there and I plan to have my ashes scattered there. It is my spirit home."

Richard Boudin, of Old Bethpage, said, "My wife and I decided to do our part for the environment. We purchased a Tesla and decided upon this plate."

John K. Smith, of Bayport, says his 2004 Pontiac GTO with a six-speed shift has more than 174,000 miles on the odometer. "I drive it daily," he says. "It's been fun, fast and reliable. Her name is Suzie, as in 'Crusin' with Susan.' "

Jonathan Allen, of Garden City South, chose this plate in tribute to Howard Stern, his favorite radio host. The plate elicits honked horns and shouts of "Hey now" from fellow Stern fans, he says.

Edward Fawess, 66, of Babylon, says he's been surfing for 52 years. "I plan to keep surfing forever," he says, "or until I die -- whichever comes first! Surfing has kept the kid in me alive. Surfing gives me life, so I am going to 'Surf for life.' "

The surprising element (in addition to the condensed spelling) of this bookish plate is that it's found on a motorcycle. Marc Horowitz, library director at the North Babylon Public Library, says, "I'll presume that librarians are somewhat underrepresented in the Harley crowd!"

"My wife got me this plate about 12 years ago," Charlie Ruoff, of Port Jefferson, says. "I am Yankee fan and a Mickey Mantle fan, hence the number 7. Whenever I travel to New England, I receive many looks and comments and they are almost 100% positive even from Red Sox fans."

Mitch Van Doff, of Long Beach, built a following by creating art from driftwood he collected from local beaches after superstorm Sandy. "Lately I have been doing a lot of pop-up art around Long Beach, where I grew up and now live. I figured it would be cool to have the ART1STE plate on my jeep as I place my art around town."

Dr. Harvey Lindenbaum of Middle Island drives around sporting this vanity plate on his car. He says, "I'm a dentist who loves to fish, hence DRFISH.

"For anyone who has ever taken a car ride with kids," Seth Bykofsky, of West Hempstead, says of his plate, "no explanation is necessary!"

"I grew up with four brothers, two sisters, two foster sisters and a foster brother," Levittown resident Donna-Marie Fraiioli says. She bought her car from her mother. Her mother's plate read "Navy Army Ma" for two sons who were in the service. "Now that I have the car, when someone asks me what it says, I say "Never me Ma" because I'm the youngest of 10. It works both ways!

"In my mind, I'm always at the beach," says Annie Fairchild, of Massapequa Park, who has had this plate since 2008.

"My license plate was given to me by my 3 children. I would constantly be yelling at them for the mess they made in the house," said Judy Mayer of East Meadow.

"I love being the director of Sunrise Counseling Center in East Islip," Richard Scheinberg, of Islip, says, "but the most exciting part of my work is using hypnosis to help people recover amazing memories through past life regression therapy."

Shelley Murphy, of Bay Shore, has a license plate that honors the family's goldendoodle. Murphy's twins, Miles and Lily, now 12, named the dog Pumppkin because of her color and because the pup, who's about to turn 4, was born on Halloween.

"This plate was a gift from my husband who truly admires my artful soul," says Susan Antelis, of Long Beach, a mental health counselor and art therapist. "I am a lucky woman. And he, a lucky man."

Michael Schuler, of Melville, says some Jeeps have been known to have rust issues and "I chose to embrace that. My Jeep may be a rust bucket but it's my rust bucket and I wouldn't trade it for anything."

"We got this plate in 2001 for our 1974 TR6 right after 9/11 to always remember those that died on that horrific date in our country's history," John Henderson, of Centerport, said. "We sold the TR6 but transferred the plates to one of our other cars. "

"I am retired from the New York Police Department," says Bob Thursland, of Long Beach. "We can retire with a pension after 20 years, so a favorite expression is '20 and out.' I stayed a little longer." His plate acknowledges his career and pays "tribute to those in and out of law enforcement. "

Tom Zedlovich, of Garden City Park, sports this plate on his 1955 Chevy Bel Air Nomad, a sea foam green and white 2-door station wagon. The "go" is for the racing engine and the "mad" is for Nomad. In the mid-50s, the Nomad "was the top-of-the-line sport station wagon," Zedlovich says.

Suzanne Mechwart-Calicchio's family has been in the recreational vehicle business since 1967. Now, as head of the business, she's a go-to woman for those wanting to rent vacation motor homes.

Craig Nussbaum, of Long Beach, saw "Smokey and the Bandit II" at 13 and, he says, "from there I became a car aficionado and a fan of Burt Reynolds." He sports this plate on his 1981 Pontiac Trans Am. He's got Reynolds' signature on the sun visor and movie director Hal Needham's autograph inside the trunk.

"Since I love the beach," Regina Schuler, of Melville, says, "I thought this plate was appropriate on my convertible. I am beach bound every chance I get. "

"We got this license plate for our Dodge Grand Caravan shortly after our triplets, Mathew, Brandon and Sydney, were born," says Shari Kurnit, of Plainview. They recently graduated from high school and the plate "now adorns the Hyundai Santa Fe that they drive. "

"My love for 1950s music goes where I go," Bruce Hecht, of New Hyde Park, says.

"I'm a regular at the gym," Paul Lucas, of Oceanside, says. "Fitness is my passion. Seeing this plate on my car every day motivates me to work hard and keep in shape."

"Whether I am upstate, out of state or out of the country, I am asked if I'm from Long Island or New York," Bobby Brandoff, of West Babylon, says. "People say I have an accent. Having lived my entire life here on LNGUYLND, perhaps I do. "

Mike Imperato, of North Babylon, is a meditation teacher and a student of philosophy. He's had a series of "message plates." This plate is on his van. "The smiles and thumbs up I get while traveling around are priceless," he says. Below are his three philosophical plates.

This plate is inspired by the Sanskrit word for peace, Mike Imperato, of North Babylon, says.

Some find this unity plate a little hard to figure out. A hint from Mike Imperato of North Babylon: "Each letter and number is a word. "

This plate was born of Mike Imperato's love of The Beatles' "I Am the Walrus" and his embrace of unity consciousness. "I once got pulled over by an officer who was a big Beatles fan. He told me he just wanted to tell me how cool he thought this plate was," Imperato, of North Babylon, said.

"This plate on my 2007 Dodge Ram pickup truck refers to the toys I pull,? Ron Harris, of Hampton Bays, says, including a 37-foot travel trailer, a 20-foot sport-fishing boat and a 1966 Plymouth classic car.

Prudence Gubell, of Islip, drives a 2013 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited. Other owners take their Jeeps "rock crawling and off-roading," she says. "I prefer to show my Jeep at auto shows. Therefore, I do not rock crawl, I mall crawl."

Old Brookville's Andrew Zucaro's collectible car is a 1950 Ford Woodie, with its classic wood framework siding. "I couldn't get WOODIE, so I got creative and left the 'I' out," he says. He estimates that fewer than 2,000 Woodies are still on the road.

"I have this plate to represent what I am," says Stephanie Liebowitz of Oceanside. "My mom is Italian, which is the pizza part. My dad is Jewish, which is the bagel part. That makes me a pizza bagel. "

The plate on the minivan of Massapequa's Judy Soldo is a tribute to her quadruplets -- James, Alexa, Robert and Nicholas -- who will turn 15 on May 19. They were born at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola at 33 weeks.

"On Sept. 22, 2004, I received my greatest blessings when my twin sons, Anthony and Nicholas, arrived -- 8 weeks early," North Bellmore's Patricia Ponturo says. "They are the absolute loves of my life."

'We tried for more than seven years to become a family -- in vitros, medications, several unsuccessful adoptions," Eric Schwartz, of Farmingdale, Laurie Schwartz's husband, says. "Thirteen years ago, we finally got our miracle. We adopted our daughter, Alexa. When we took her home, I immediately got my wife her dream-come-true plate. She will keep it forever to show the world that a family is always worth waiting for. Happy Mother's Day to all."

Garden City's Robert Mangi says that his plate refers to the shape of the taillights on his 1972 BMW sports sedan. The 2002 BMW (that's the model, not the year) came with either round or square taillights.

Joseph Nolan, of Rockville Centre, says he "flew all over the country" before he found his 1957 two-seater Thunderbird in "factory flame red. " He chose the plate "to express my perspective that when you go down the road in a Thunderbird, people respond to it -- usually on a positive note. "

Stephen Sager, of Huntington, sports this plate on his 1991 Jaguar Vanden Plas. The condensed spelling, he says, reminds him of the British pronunciation and brings to mind the Pink Floyd lyric, "He loved to drive in his Jaguar" from "Welcome to the Machine."

"Work smart, play hard," is the motto Freeport's Sal Mancuso has instilled in his three children and seven grandchildren. That theme plays out on the plates of his sporty red 1960 Corvette, one of the vintage cars featured Sunday, April 5, 2015, in Garden City's Easter Parade.

John F. Dirr, of East Patchogue, is both a heart and kidney transplant recipient. "After waiting in the hospital for six months, I finally received a heart on July 26, 1997," he says. "I got this plate to honor my donor and to bring awareness to the need for organ donation. I had my kidney transplant on March 18, 2004. I'm doing well these past 18 years with my donor's heart. It is truly the greatest gift. " Dirr volunteers for LiveOn NY, a donor network.

This plate represents the title character in Massapequa's Frank Nappi's novel, “The Legend of Mickey Tussler,” a teenage pitching ace with autism. “My protagonist has touched a lot of people's lives,” Nappi says, “so I am proud to honor him with this creative plate."

The era of the '60s has a double importance for Ronkonkoma resident Catherine Dichiara. "I grew up in the 1960s era," she says, "and I have always been interested in the Civil War 1860s era. "

Jeff Singer, of Oceanside, created the website benchmench.com in his effort to collect the stories behind the memorial plaques on benches in Long Beach. He notes, "Mensch is Yiddish meaning a good person." He published "Reflections," which profiles 150 stories of of the people and friendships behind the plaques. The former teacher calls himself the "Bench Mench."

Bernie Zuch, of Woodbury, says he chose this plate when he retired from the movie business as a sound production mixer. He adds, "I've very often been asked if my plate has anything to do with the Long Island Sound ... or perhaps if it's the state of my financial condition. Most people think I must be a DJ, which I'm definitely not. "

Eliot Lonardo, a real estate agent from South Huntington, specializes in corporate relocation. He says, "What better way to tell people what I do" than having this plate?

VW enthusiast Rich Hallberg, of Levittown, says his Beetle was made in 1959. "So put them together and you have '1959Bug. '"He adds, "You wouldn't believe how many people still ask me what the year is!"

Kevin McDonald, of Huntington, says, "We have been blessed with four beautiful and healthy kids. As a longtime Deadhead (first show 1977), it is also a not-so-subtle reference to the Grateful Dead. The family has gotten used to the honks and thumbs up over the years."

Joe Fontana, of Sayville, president of the Pine Hills Men's Club in Manorville, says, "Having this plate makes for a lot of conversation. But I would gladly change it to HOLEN1X4."

Brian Cullen, of Franklin Square, says he "has over 1,000 DVD movies in my film library, mostly horror and sci-fi titles. " His first DVD purchase back in 1999 was the 1973 classic "The Exorcist."

Eddie Greenberg's wife, Ronnie, came up with the acronym. The G is the first letter of their last name. The next four letters are the first initials of Eddie, Ronnie and their two daughters, Melissa and Stacey. The plate gets particular attention in hospital and doctors' parking lots. The Greenbergs live in Eastport.

For many years, Paul Kovach of Syosset wanted to own a Dodge Viper. He says his plate (a birthday gift from his wife Diane) tells the whole story in just eight letters.

Mark Snider, of Massapequa, recently purchased a Honda FIT that runs on 100 percent electric power. "Not a hybrid and there's no tailpipe!," he says proudly. "So how much gasoline do I need to purchase each week? Not a drop! "

Stephen Rovenger, of Levittown, says his wife, Jill, has been infatuated with pandas for as long as he can remember. "She and I, in our travels, have collected quite an abundance of items with pandas on them," he says, "from porcelain to crystal, ornaments, pewter and even a clock. Wherever we go, there will always be a store that sells something with pandas on it. She looks through catalogs and searches the Internet. It has to be real-looking in appearance."

Stephen Rovenger says his wife, Jill, has been infatuated with pandas for as long as he can remember. "She and I, in our travels, have collected quite an abundance of items with pandas on them," he says, "from porcelain to crystal, ornaments, pewter and even a clock. Wherever we go, there will always be a store that sells something with pandas on it. She looks through catalogs and searches the Internet. It has to be real-looking in appearance."

Mike Gould is a dog lover. He founded Hounds Town USA, a doggy day care and training facility, in 1999. The retired police lieutenant is a former commanding officer of the Nassau County Canine Unit.

The plate was a Father's Day present from Ronkonkoma resident Roy Pelaez's wife, Kathleen. They own Island Empanada, a restaurant and food truck specializing in empanadas, flavorful Latin turnovers.

'I have always been a big Beatles fan and have regularly attended the Fest for Beatles Fans at the Meadowlands and in Chicago," says Bruce Sheridan, of Speonk, who has had this plate since 1984.

Keith Snyder grew up in Levittown and his wife, Sharyn, says, "He was thrilled to accept the job of district director of health, physical education and athletics after working many years in Suffolk County. His father still lives in an original Levitt home and this plate is in honor of his beloved hometown."

Jim Orlando, of Levittown, chose this plate for his motorcycle because "I feel it is like an iron horse. There is an exhilarating feeling of 'get up and go' when I saddle up for a ride."

Norma Varrichio, of Amityville, says, "No matter what, I just can't get to work on time, no matter how much I try."

Suzanne Surdo, of Deer Park, says her license plate was inspired by her name and her love of high-heel shoes. "After my trimalleolar ankle fracture in April," she says, "I thought I would have to change my plate to FLATSU, but thankfully I healed perfectly. I am back in my high heels."

Pam Gentile Pi, of Garden City, originally chose this plate when she bought a Toyota convertible. When she later upgraded to a red BMW convertible, the salesman suggested there was no reason to change the plate. He asked, "What better toy is there than a BMW convertible?"

After her sons, Justin and Davis, were born 12 years ago, Jackie Luckner, of Rockville Centre, celebrated her status with a custom plate: TWINMOMY. "I was really attached to it," she says, but when one of the plates was lost off the car about two years ago, the family chose "a more mature version," one better suited to preteens. "My whole world is my twins," Luckner says. "They're the greatest kids ever. "

Seth Kaminsky, of Cold Spring Harbor, is a longtime fan of early rock music. He says, "I'm also a collector of cards featuring stars from rock's early days. Gum cards, postcards, publicity cards, fan club cards and others. It's interesting to put a face (or faces as pertains to groups) to the music. "

When a disabling illness struck in 2004, Beverly Boyarsky, of North Babylon, says, "Life as I knew it changed forever. But it was only the beginning! I went back to school and earned my doctorate and am living my dream of being a lead singer in a local band. "

In 1963 at age 17, Walter Smith, of Aquebogue, bought his first car, a 1958 Ford Fairlane. "Over the years I wanted to own this car again, he says. "After searching for several years, I found one ... thus inspiring the plate."

At a charity golf tournament in September 1998, John Marsala, of Carle Place, met his wife, Mareen -- and shot a hole in one. "It was a good omen," he says. He selected his customized plate after he repeated that golfing rarity in June 2001. "Now many people are honking at me on the road," he says. And what of the tradition of the hole-in-one golfer buying a round of drinks for anyone playing in the same group? The bartender hired for the fundraiser provided the drinks the first time, Marsala says, and the second time, he was just playing in a twosome.

Kurt Hofmann, of Westhampton Beach, says, "I used to play a lot of golf, and usually after each round our group would have a beer at the course club, among us golfers known as the '19th hole. ' "Shortly after I sent in the application for the vanity plate, I had a hole in one and tried to change the plate to 'HOLENONE' -- but it was already taken."

When Kevin Mullen got a job in the '70s, he said, "The old-timers nicknamed me Moon after the comic strip Moon Mullins. It just stuck with me for years." The Holtsville resident says, "Now it's on my PT."

Pamela Roth says her husband, Peter, looks forward to his weekly 18 holes at Bethpage State Park with his usual foursome. The Oceanside resident says, "They are quite a competitive group and my husband loves to boast his license plate ... Last to putt means you are closest to the hole, therefore winning that round."

Daniel Fischer says he "was looking up license plates online" about five years ago, "and everything I typed in just looked dumb to me and I suddenly realized, 'Hey, how about a DUMB license plate? ' And it was available. " The Deer Park resident says, "People take pictures of it all the time when I'm driving."

Ann Pizaro is an associate broker with Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty. The Levittown resident says, "When I first started selling homes almost 10 years ago, I figured this was the best way to advertise everywhere and every day. My hope was that this approach would prove prolific, and it has."

Jenn Frudden of Bethpage has had this plate since 2003. "Each of the cars I bought," she says, "I had to have. This license plate not only has a meaning -- but has years of memories.

Perry Capitani of Garden City bought his first Jaguar in 1994 and he wanted a plate to convey a Jaguar message. "I eventually traded up to a V12," he says. "However, with rising gas prices, I was doing more growling and eventually traded the car in for a more practical BMW, which continues to wear the plate."

Melissa Matassa of Massapequa Park said she and her husband, John, were inspired to get this plate "after we had our fourth son in 2007. Although none of them are alike, they are our four of a kind."

No, Joan Katz of Merrick doesn't play an oversized brass instrument. She is a consultant who represents 45 artists who letter and decorate ketubahs. A ketubah is a Jewish marriage contract. The plate was a birthday surprise from her husband.

Tim MacFall of Stewart Manor, in the throes of a harsh winter, thought of the Jimmy Buffett song "Boat Drinks." "It's about how he's sick of winter and that's pretty much how I felt when I got the plate" that now adorns his red convertible.

Mike Mancuso of Islip Terrace says this plate has two meanings: "It tells my cruising friends that I am still alive and also that the car is still running." The car is a 1963 Chevy Nova SS.

Chrystyne Olivieri is a nurse practitioner and certified diabetes educator with North Shore-LIJ Health System. The Greenlawn resident educates her patients about how to eat healthy and lose weight. She writes, "I use Paleo eating patterns -- high protein, high healthy fats and low carbohydrates (from vegetables and fruits only)."

Frederick Flad loves to fish. The Ronkonkoma resident says, "I love being on the water. But it has to be fun with no drama."

This plate has a triple meaning for Jeff Morosoff. The Great Neck resident says, "It's my current age, the decade in which I was born and my plug-in hybrid's gas mileage

Tony Cordeiro, of Huntington, has run the technology departments of several professional service firms. He says, "Legal [firms] most recently -- for the last 12 years. The head of technology is usually called the chief information officer, hence the name of my plate LAW CIO."

Michael LoMonico is the author of "That Shakespeare Kid" and the senior consultant on national education at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. The Stony Brook resident has this plate on his Mini Cooper convertible.

Peter Bizzoco of Moriches says, "My plate had a double meaning. I am a Vietnam veteran, and the plate is on a Corvette. I proudly display this plate for my country and all Vette lovers." His other two Corvettes have the same plate, with the numbers 1 and 2.

Tony Visentin is so impressed with the power of his 2013 Shelby Cobra GT500 Mustang that he celebrates it on his plate. The Riverhead resident says the car comes "with an incredible 662 horsepower motor from the factory."

Keith Starling, of Lindenhurst, rebuilt "from the bottom up," a 1952 MG TD that had belonged to his wife's uncle. Seeing the restored classic often prompted other car enthusiasts to jokingly ask, "Any extra pieces, any extra parts?," thus inspiring his license plate.

Scott Meyers, of South Huntington, had some massage clients on the North Shore. He'd gotten stopped by a police officer in Old Field because, he says, "I aroused his suspicion driving a beat-up car in the land of Mercedes and Ferraris." He said he thought this plate would "allow unimpeded passage through the more airy environs. It's worked so far."

While his wife, Florence, battled pulmonary fibrosis, Richard Zoeller dedicated this plate to their struggle. The Rockville Centre resident says, "After a successful double lung transplant, we dedicated our plate to the organ donor and to all those who sign up to offer the gift of life since 'You and I are One.'"

Monica McMahon of Centerport, who works at Coldwell Banker in Northport, says, "As a certified home staging expert, it is important for me to create a visually appealing environment so that every buyer can feel right at home. A house is a number, but a home is a feeling . . . I love seeing the reaction on people's faces when they figure it out."

Cynthia Shor of Great Neck, executive director of the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association, chose her plate in tribute to Whitman's poetry collection "Leaves of Grass." She notes that the plate often raises eyebrows and elicits a smile for its mistaken alternate reading of "Loves grass."

Alyssa Pinho of New Hyde Park says, "Whenever someone pulls up to a car that has work done to it, cosmetic or mechanical, their instincts tell them it's a guy driving. I love the face that I get when I roll down my window and they see a female behind the wheel. I have been asked if I was driving my boyfriend's car. So my license plate now lets people know it's a female driving."

Mike Brief's plate is inspired by his lifelong love of fast cars. The Bellmore resident says, "This plate is on my Cadillac CTS-V. .?.?. This is not Grandpa's Cadi."

Lisa Nye has been an avid reader since she was a child, and her license plate reflects her love of books. The Williston Park resident says, "I am getting my second master's in library science at Queens College, studying to be a school media specialist.

Maria Holm of Melville says, "My husband, Robert, is a huge aviation buff with the F14 Tomcat being his all-time favorite plane. We have traveled all over the country just to see it fly. We were even engaged sitting in one the very week the plane was decommissioned. " The plate combines F14 and the Navy's slogan for the plane, "Anytime, Baby!"

Andy Drepanis of East Yaphank is the owner of the Greek Island Diner in Wading River. "My kids got me the license plate as a surprise because my diner has some of the best gyros on Long Island," he says.

Roy Digirolamo is a Jimmy Buffett fan, a Parrot Head. The Selden resident says, "'Fins' is my favorite song and before Jimmy Buffett starts the song, the crowd is asked to put their "FINZS UP."

Joe Licata of Wantagh bought a 2000 Ford EV Ranger. "He rebuilt the battery pack for the truck and installed a charger at our house to plug the truck in to charge," his wife, Mary, says. "The truck gets about 80 miles to a charge. We have solar panels on our house so the truck is really solar-powered. To date, the truck has gone 16,000 miles on NOOO Gas!"

Moses Weindling got this plate in honor of his father, Bernard Weindling, a Holocaust survivor who died in 2012. These were the concentration camp numbers tattooed on his arm. The Huntington resident says, "That way we will never forget."

Mike Preisler, a Long Island Ducks season ticket holder, has had this plate since 2000. The East Setauket resident and his wife, Grace, go to about 50 games each season

Fred Tarantino said he did "three tours in the Military Police from 1972 to 1980. " The Westbury resident now owns Fred's Chimney Magic.

Patti Boyce has lived in Phoenix for 20 years, but she grew up in Farmingdale. "Surprisingly," she says, "there are many Long Islanders here and some know the 11735 ZIP and those who don't, know it's from Long Island. I have had people leave me notes saying they are from Long Island, too. It's a fun plate to have and it lets me have a piece of home with me all the time."

Ellen Robertson says she got this plate "because I am a huge Neil Diamond fan. 'Sweet Caroline' is my absolute favorite song. Singing the chorus, 'So good, so good, so good,' always lifts my spirit and makes my soul happy!" The Mount Sinai resident adds: "I wanted to have this happy feeling with me all the time, so I created these plates."

Joey Federico got this new plate after having gastric bypass surgery. The Hauppauge resident says, "This makes me feel like I did something for me. I am 45 days out of surgery and lost about 66 pounds! And 13 inches off my waist."

John Fennell of Nesconset says, "Being the proud father, coach and best friend of three boys, 12, 9 and 5 makes me sup3r ... note the three is for them! "

Jerry Tirico has had these plates on his 2001 Jeep Wrangler since 2002. The Manorville resident says they "were inspired by my love for the rock band Gov't Mule, fronted by singer-guitarist Warren Haynes .?.?. I have seen them live nearly 100 times. I got Haynes to sign one of the old liberty plates in 2002, and two years ago gave him one of the old ones when I got the new gold plates. He loved it!"

Deborah O'Keefe has been a Rangers fan since the age of 10. The Islip Terrace resident says, "I know I live on Long Island, and I should be an Islander fan. My love of hockey stems from growing up with both my parents loving the sport. Hockey brings me back to my childhood and family."

This plate is on Alan Stewart’s 1960 Cadillac "Haunted Hearse," an extension of his Haunted House, which he has built over the past several years at his upstate home. (Oct. 20, 2013)

Charles Cohen has owned his Chevrolet Volt for two years. The Woodbury resident says, "I have saved hundreds of dollars in gasoline, let alone the environmental benefits."

After many tragic losses, Jill Cividanes-Engelhardt said she realized that no one is promised tomorrow, we all just have today. The Lindenhurst resident goes on to say of her plate: "It reminds me to be present, take in every moment. Your life can change in a second. I can be the best me just today."

James Hoffman was a refrigeration mechanic for 30 years in Nassau County. The Cutchogue resident thought of this plate to pay tribute to his old job.

Eva Demyen, currently superintendent of Deer Park schools, was a math teacher and an adjunct math professor. The Babylon resident says: "My one true love is mathematics! I always try to infuse it and promote it in my district as one of the building blocks with English for all other disciplines. The double-entendre is Math forever and Math for myself=Eva."

Chris and Denise Maniscalo are big Jimmy Buffett fans and his songs supply the theme for their license plates. Denise has "WSTNAWAE," which comes from the lyrics of "Margaritaville": "Wastin' away again in Margaritaville. "

The "too" in this license plate refers to Trisha Williams' 12-year-old Goffin's Cockatoo. "He's just a love and loves to be cuddled. Hence, his name, Lovie," Williams said.

Carl Miranda has been teaching the lecture class of driver education year-round at Baldwin High School and Plainedge High School for the past 12 years and at Our Lady of Mercy Academy for six years. The West Hempstead resident says, "More than 4,400 students have attended my lecture and successfully went on to pass their road test. I also teach the defensive driving class. My plate fits my job: CM2DRIVE."

Back in the mid-'70s, James DeMarco's wife-to-be, Ilene, attended college in Connecticut. To show her LI roots, they came up with this plate. Back then the yellow plates were simply blue lettering with NEW YORK across the bottom, making the plate read I M FROM NEW YORK. "Over the years we let the plate expire, but when Ilene was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer, I wanted to give her a little 'pick me up' and I was able to get the same plate reissued! Today Ilene is an almost 10-year survivor, and the plate is still alive and well!" the Medford resident says.

Allen Saul is a union actor and dancer in addition to being a marketing consultant. He just completed seven months of intensive nightclub and ballroom dancing lessons. "And I'm also single," the Port Jefferson Station resident says. "I wanted my license plate to inspire beautiful thoughts .?.?. My red Corvette is asking women: Do you dance?"

Cory Eisner created this plate in 2003 in memory of his wife, Mary Ann, who passed away from melanoma at age 45. The Levittown resident says, "This plate generally generates inquires as to what it means and it opens up a dialogue to allow me to educate people about the dangers of skin cancer, especially here on Long Island." He continues "My wife's maiden name was O'Brien and we'd refer to her as OB. Some people thought I was a retired obstetrician, meaning I miss being an OB/GYN. I do take these opportunities to remind everyone that melanoma is very serious."

Pat Seostrom has a passion for fossils. The Patchogue resident is a volunteer fossil preparer at Stony Brook University's Department of Anatomical Sciences, where she has been working on fossils from Madagascar. "For the past 10 years, many fossils of all sizes have passed through my hands," she said. "Having been in the field in Wyoming and Montana was the culmination of a lifelong dream."

Larry Randazzo of Smithtown says he chose this plate for his car because he owns a 2003 PT Cruiser GT.

Lawrence Rosenstone has this plate to honor his father, Howard Rosenstone of Huntington, who during World War II flew on B-24 bombers that were based out of American and Chinese airfields in southwestern China. The Huntington resident says, "AAF stands for Army Air Forces. At that time, the Air Force was part of the Army."

This plate is on Lloyd Butler's 1989 Lincoln MarkVII LSC. The Wyandanch resident says, "It means 'want to try me?' because this car is over 20 years old but is still fast and can outrun some of the newer cars."

Doreena Silva had Bon Jovi plates for almost 20 years until she met country singer Jerrod Niemann. The Medford resident met him at a concert and even took a photo with him. "That is why I am a fan of his! " Silva says.

Gary Kroeber married Marlies in 1963. The North Merrick resident says, "I got the car in 2007, and since she was my first [and only] love, I felt I had to put that on the plate. Now that we are approaching our 50th anniversary on April 10, the plate has a deeper meaning."

Mary and Richard Ronde own a CruiseOne franchise in East Northport, and they sell cruise vacations. When they first started the business in 1992, Mary's email address was Luv2Cruze, and she wanted to work everything around that, but she couldn't get that as a license plate. They settled for this one.

Richard Krug says being a Boston fan in the middle of Yankee territory is not easy. "The last World Series the Red Sox won was in 1918 (which was the Yankee chant 1918, 1918, etc.). So when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004, the chant was my inspiration for this plate," the East Meadow resident says.

Rich Boller, of Lake Ronkonkoma, has been a Mets fan all his life. "I remember 1962 like it was yesterday. With two World Series wins, All-Stars, batting and fielding champs and some of the best pitchers around, we never got that complete game shutout. I have had my plate for five years and the plate surround read 'Dear Santa, all I want for Xmas is a .?.?. ' On June 1, 2012, Johan Santana made my plate a fait accompli."

John Steinbeck is Tom Bradley's favorite author and "Of Mice and Men" is his all-time favorite book. The Miller Place resident says, "I've read it about 10 times."

John Steinbeck is Tom Bradley's favorite author and "Of Mice and Men" is his all-time favorite book. The Miller Place resident says, "I've read it about 10 times."

Fred Fucaloro gave himself this '91 Corvette as a retirement gift. The Ronkonkoma resident says, "I'm always cruising to oldies and I get more 'great-looking car' remarks than with any other car I've had."

Billy Harris' classic Jaguar 1990 XJS, 12-cylinder, is his baby. The Uniondale resident says, "When I got it I wanted special plates, so I got BILLNKAT, but my wife, Kathleen, thinks it's for her. But Jaguars are called Cats, so I let her think it's for her!"

Margaret Valsechi, of Lindenhurst, got this plate in honor of her son, Stephen Kevin Valsechi, who passed away Oct. 5, 2010, at age 26. "Stephen was a registered organ donor, and after his death he saved the lives of four people," she says. "I hope my license plate encourages people to register to become organ donors. We met one of the recipients this past summer, and now have a wonderful relationship with this young man and his family."

Suzanne Murray chose this plate “because I feel in life we all have our things we have to do, but I also believe that you have to be a goofball and just enjoy the little gifts in life that we sometimes take for granted .?.?. I feel that 'wakadu' perfectly describes my quirky personality." The Massapequa resident's husband, Bill, says, “I try not to drive her car.”

Angel Gomez chose this plate in honor of his favorite Indian movie, “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.“ The Freeport resident says “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” translates to “Something Happens.”

Rick Katz has always loved The Grateful Dead. The Bellmore resident has followed the band for more than 35 years and still listens to Jerry Garcia every night through his headphones. "China Cat Sunflower" is one of the Dead's songs.

Catherine Lo Curto was the first born in her family. Three brothers came next. The East Patchogue resident was always called "Sis. " Now, all her nieces and nephews call her "Aunt Sis."

Mark Hankin was trying to find a nontraditional, but fun name for his grandkids to call him. Says the Plainview resident, "Kacie Dillmann is 4 and Owen Dillmann is 2" and that's what they call him. Another grandchild is on the way -- his middle daughter is pregnant.

This plate is in memory of Meryl Tolle Cohn's father, 1st Lt. Morton Tolchinsky, who was a B-17 bomber pilot during World War II. Says the East Rockaway resident, "He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in December 1944 for piloting 35 successful missions over Europe."

These plates belong to Vicki and Bob Bialer, of Glen Cove. At their home, the expression “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” is used quite often. “As we all know, a man's brain and a woman's brain are wired differently, therefore, we think very differently,” Vicki says.

These plates belong to Vicki and Bob Bialer, of Glen Cove. At their home, the expression “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” is used quite often. “As we all know, a man's brain and a woman's brain are wired differently, therefore, we think very differently,” Vicki says.

Barbara DiBernardo's son, Joey, was a New York City firefighter who survived a 40-foot plunge to escape a Bronx blaze on Jan. 23, 2005, a day that came to be known as Black Sunday, after two other firefighters died. DiBernardo died in November 2011. "Everyone was posting RIP JOEY on Facebook and I thought that a license plate was a perfect way to honor him. Joey is not only with me in my heart, but I have memorialized him on my car as well," says DiBernardo, of Stony Brook.

Steve Karlin is in partnership with Team Valor Stables. Racing has taken the Merrick resident and his wife, Cynthee, around the world to Hong Kong and South Africa to watch their horses run. He has "TPLCRN" for Triple Crown on his car and she has "GIDDUP. " The last horse to win the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont) was in 1978, but Steve Karlin has hopes for some of the stable's horses.

Steve Karlin is in partnership with Team Valor Stables. Racing has taken the Merrick resident and his wife, Cynthee, around the world to Hong Kong and South Africa to watch their horses run. He has "TPLCRN" for Triple Crown on his car and she has "GIDDUP. " The last horse to win the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont) was in 1978, but Steve Karlin has hopes for some of the stable's horses.

Helen Hudak and her husband owned a deli for many years and he had this license plate. The Medford resident says, “After he passed four years ago, I felt I needed to keep the plate in his memory.”

Sheryl Galatolie says her husband, Frank, invented Sour Patch Kids candy 28 years ago. The little boy on the package is a caricature of her son, Scott. Her son and husband gave her this plate (Sour Patch Mom) 10 years ago as a Mother's Day gift.

Helene Holtz says, "In this age of stress, I was frustrated at the lack of simple acts of kindness, so I decided to write a book called '365 Days of Kindness' emphasizing that we can be kind 365 days a year." The Huntington resident adds, "It can be as simple as letting someone with one item get in front of you at the market."

Violet Murphy says, "Sankalpa is a Sanskrit word for intention." The Holbrook resident is driving a hybrid, and say she is hoping that "others will do something good for the Earth as well."

When Jerry Silver, of North Bellmore, was growing up, “The Lone Ranger” was a popular TV show. When the Lone Ranger rode away he always said, “Hi-ho Silver, away,” says Silver. “The symbol for silver is Ag, hence HIHO-AG." (Oct. 7, 2012)

Arlene Silver, Jerry's wife, enjoys crossword puzzles and trying to decipher other people's license plates. So her plate is one to decipher, too. (Oct. 7, 2012)

Diane Giudice's sister, Lorraine Redling of Levittown, donated a piece of her liver to their brother Billy on July 6, 2010. The East Northport resident says, “She saved his life, and she gave him his life back by donating. Our family is so proud of her ... Donate Life!" (Sept. 30, 2012)

Back in the early '70s, Lou Lombardi started a lifelong obsession with Mopars (Chrysler cars). The Syosset resident even met his future wife because she drove a 1970 Challenger. "When Dodge launched the repro of that car, I knew I had to get it," he says. "Driving this car makes me feel like I'm 18 again!" (Sept. 23, 2012)

This is Scott Kaiser's plate for his 2009 Infiniti convertible. "I bought it for myself for my 50th birthday," the Plainview resident says. (Sept. 23, 2012)

Susan Des Gaines, of Shirley, says that volunteering at the Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center “has changed my life. The dogs give so much love and joy; it is very therapeutic. I was inspired to spread the message." (Sept. 16, 2012)

After buying his ’89 Corvette, Bob Glanzman went through a multitude of ideas for a plate. Says the Islandia resident: “As the car is used mostly for car shows and weekend cruising, I decided upon this ‘cruising forever.’ Sometimes I call it ‘cruising fever.’ " (Sept. 9, 2012)

This plate is on a 1972 Volkswagen Super Beetle that Danny Tichio has owned since 1975. Says the Hicksville resident: "I am a member of the LI Volkswagen Club and, needless to say, there are a LOT of VWs in the club. In order to distinguish mine, I figured I needed a special plate." (Sept. 9, 2012)

Lawrence Johnson III's family owns the company Lawrence Johnson Machine Works Inc. in Freeport, which sells and services marine propellers. The Freeport resident is the third generation to work at the company, which has been serving the boating community since 1946. (Newsday, Sept. 4, 2012)

Mike Alexander plays strictly dance and R&B in his capacity as a DJ. "It was a toss-up between this and 'LVSDMSG,' naming a famous song, 'Love Is The Message' by MFSB," the West Hempstead resident says. (Newsday, Sept. 4, 2012)

Joe Cappiello is a landscaper. "A big part of my business is property maintenance, which mowing lawns is the biggest part of . . . I made the plate a K just to be interesting," the Northport resident says. (Newsday, Sept. 4, 2012)

Perry Perzov has been a practicing restorative general dentist in Roslyn for more than 25 years. The Plainview resident says: "My son came to me two birthdays ago and asked what he could get for me now that he was working. My answer was that I just wanted to spend time with him and enjoy the day. My birthday arrived, and he got a plate that in his words describes my competitive drive to be the best, and my own sense of humor." (Newsday, Sept. 4, 2012)

Jay S. Orlikoff, of Stony Brook, has had this plate for about 10 years. "I've had the plate almost from the day I stopped practicing. Some people incorrectly read it as 'for Mister Tooth Doctor' " instead of former tooth doctor, says the retired dentist. "I'm often amused when I approach my car in a parking lot to see people standing in front of the car trying to figure out was it says. Often, at a red light, I'm also asked what it means. If it's a couple, one of them will triumphantly say to the other, 'I told you it was a dentist.' " (Newsday, Sept. 4, 2012)

Catherine LeBlanc came up with the name of this plate for the office vehicle used by staff members at Kleinrock Orthodontics in Hewlett, where Dr. Seth Kleinrock practices. The plate stands for "Rock your smile. " (Sept. 4, 2012)

Drew Cassara says "OObatzz is derived from an Italian expression used to describe someone or something as 'nuts,' 'crazy,' or 'insane. '" The Mount Sinai resident is currently in graduate school, earning a degree in school psychology. "I thought this plate would be most appropriate for my future career - hence the myth that psychologists aren't all playing with a full deck. " (Sept. 4, 2012)

Kathleen Waldow is a lactation consultant in private practice. The Floral Park resident is committed to educating the public about the health benefits of breast-feeding. "One of the advantages of having this plate," she says, "is that my grown sons hesitate to borrow the car. " (Newsday, Sept. 4, 2012)