Traffic Police Seize Special License Plates in Nizhny Novgorod

Like a bolt from the blue, it exploded on social media: the traffic police have started seizing «beautiful» license plates of the EKH series. Our St. Petersburg colleagues from the publication Fontanka asked old acquaintances who are in the know. It turned out to be true.

The Telegram channel Mash reported that a motorist from Nizhny Novgorod, while going through the routine procedure of registering a new car while keeping the old license plate, lost his beautiful plates with the letters EKH. The official response from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the outraged driver stated: the plates were seized «to prevent threats of information compromise.» They cited two laws: «On Operative-Search Activities» and «On State Protection.» What exactly to look for was not specified.

For those not in the know, one way to acquire a so-called «beautiful» plate is typically together with some very cheap car like a VAZ-2101 from a «shaggy» year, as long as it runs. When registering such a car in your name, you express the desire to keep the plate, and the old owner «does not object.» Then, already being the owner of the plate, you have the right to «transfer» it to another car — expensive and status-symbolic. Of course, when changing from one status car to another, the plate is also retained. These are the general rules that have worked reliably until now. And now the system has failed.

Plates Are Being Seized

Fontanka, of course, rushed to confirm this information. Who knows what events are happening in Nizhny Novgorod and what the specific owner of beautiful letters did wrong! And here is what experienced St. Petersburg specialists in road law enforcement told.

Yes, not long ago, an unofficial — precisely oral — order appeared: when replacing EKH plates, they should be held back, and the motorist should be issued any other plate. Inspectors were suggested to come up with reasons themselves, fortunately, they have plenty in the arsenal of traffic police officers. For example, the plate is suspicious, it was allegedly declared wanted somewhere, additional verification is required, or something along those lines.

Logically, those who originally received such EKH plates on merit retain them after verification. But people far from the original source, who bought plates for money, just found themselves at risk.

Any motorist knows: these letters stand for «I drive as I want» and there was once an unofficial principle not to stop such cars. But times change, and fashion goes with them. As experienced specialists in road law enforcement say, there are no real privileges for owners of EKH plates anymore. Just as there is no reverence for the letters VOR, MUR, KHAM, and other automotive folklore.

Why «Beautiful Plates» Matter

In principle, EKH (unlike VORs and KHAMs) has a real history. Initially in the capital, they started issuing them strictly to status law enforcement officers back in the 90s. And in those years — yes, it was cheaper for any traffic cop to turn away from such a car running a red light than later, upon seeing the «badges,» to salute and wish a happy journey.

Now, even the «meaningful» letter codes have changed, and in general, things have become more democratic on the roads. Primarily because the bearers of special privileges, of course, haven«t gone anywhere, but have stopped flaunting them. Such times. And traffic cops are more, as they say, guided by internal conviction when deciding whether to stop or not.

«If we see that the car is flashy, and at the wheel is a young man, clearly still far from high life achievements and merits to the homeland, and he behaves boldly on the road, we don»t care what plates he has. It will do him good if we stop him and have a friendly explanatory chat — maybe he won«t get into some trouble and won»t harm others. And vice versa. If at the wheel is a man of solid age, with gray hair, behaving decently — even more so, what difference does it make what plates he has. Well, why would we need to stop him?« explained the logic of a patrol officer who knows the taste of oysters to Fontanka.

How Much Do Beautiful Plates Cost

Overall, the market for «beautiful plates,» despite a strong cooling of fashion towards them, is feeling quite well. Fontanka priced around, walked along the counters. Didn«t buy anything, but was impressed by the numbers.

In the folklore hierarchy of plates, not only the letters (AMR, AOO, SSS, VMR, etc.) matter but also the numbers. Traditionally, the most expensive in «beautiful series» are plates from the first hundred (i.e., with a zero at the beginning) and three identical digits. The region number also matters: the «older» it is, the more honorable. For example, in St. Petersburg, these are the old «78» and «98», in Moscow — «77» and «97», and in Nizhny, of course, «52».

Obviously, those who are entitled to such plates receive them for free. And the attempt to touch a star with money is, of course, imposture. For which buyers are often ashamed to tears later. But faith in symbols and simple human vanity make the gears of the market turn.

Here are the current prices as of today.

Let«s start with EKH itself. The most expensive plate in St. Petersburg — with these letters, plus three consecutive digits and region 98. They are asking for 2.5 million rubles (approximately $25,000 at current rates). The least expensive one we have — with scattered digits and the 198th region — only 100,000 rubles (approximately $1,000). Across Russia, the most expensive EKH — with a zero at the beginning and the »old« Krasnodar code 23. They are asking for 2.9 million rubles (approximately $29,000).

Much more expensive are the letters KHAM. With two zeros at the beginning hinting at «Bondiana» and the 77th region — 12 million rubles (approximately $120,000). However, the exact same formula, but without the hint at a special agent — 3.5 million rubles (approximately $35,000). St. Petersburg«s 98th region and three consecutive digits — already 2 million rubles (approximately $20,000).

The letters VOR, three identical digits and «old Krasnodar» — 10 million rubles (approximately $100,000). A slightly paradoxical combination of VOR and digits directly referencing the police phone number (region 97) — 8 million rubles (approximately $80,000). In St. Petersburg, VORs aren«t very highly rated. 200–250 thousand rubles maximum (approximately $2,000-$2,500), regardless of digits and region. Nothing more expensive was found. Dagestan plates with region 05 are priced — from 2 million rubles (approximately $20,000), but Chechen ones somehow weren»t found at all.

Chechnya has its own flavor, and the most expensive plate for sale has the letters KRA with the 95th region, which is considered somehow magically connected to the name of the republic«s head. Long ago, legends circulated that such plates couldn»t be bought for money — only with personal permission and only for «insiders.» Maybe times have changed, but here is a plate with such letters for sale. The digits, however, are uninteresting, so only 1.9 million rubles (approximately $19,000). For fairness — «beautiful» plates of the KRA series with the Chechen region 95 are indeed not openly available for sale.

You can hint at proximity or at least internal support of Chechnya«s first person from Krasnodar too. A full 20 million rubles (approximately $200,000) for KRA with consecutive digits and the 123rd region. A plate from the first hundred, but with 193 — already only 5.7 million rubles (approximately $57,000). In Moscow, KRA with identical plate and region digits (though new and not very prestigious) — 2.5 million rubles (approximately $25,000).

Next is the question of party affiliation — the series ERE. In folk interpretation, it stands for «United Russia is driving.» The most expensive — with the 177th region and maximally beautiful digits — 7 million rubles (approximately $70,000). There is a similar Sevastopol one (region 82), but for only 900 thousand rubles (approximately $9,000). In St. Petersburg, these somehow aren«t rated at all or, perhaps, really go only to those who need them, and for free.

Speaking of truly expensive plates, it«s worth starting with the brutal AMR, traditionally associated with the government series. First hundred and the 77th region — that»s immediately 30 million rubles (approximately $300,000). If AMR and the 77th region, but with scattered digits — from 8.5 million rubles (approximately $85,000). Sverdlovsk Oblast and Krasnodar Krai — from 5 million rubles (approximately $50,000). A St. Petersburg plate from the first hundred — 2 million rubles (approximately $20,000). In Chechnya, only illiquid stock with scattered digits for 450 thousand rubles (approximately $4,500).

The letters VVV are highly valued. The ultimate beauty — all six identical plate digits and the Moscow region — astronomical 80 million rubles (approximately $800,000). You«d have to search for a car at that price too. For some reason, VVV with three identical digits and regions of Irkutsk Oblast and Krasnoyarsk Krai are 50 million rubles each (approximately $500,000).

The most expensive OOO — 99th region — beautiful digits, first ten. 50 million rubles (approximately $500,000). MMM with the Moscow Oblast region 50 — 40 million rubles (approximately $400,000). The most expensive AAA — 30 million rubles (approximately $300,000), UUU — 28 million rubles (approximately $280,000).

In a word, if you want to spend a lot of money, they will take it. Will these plates help you — that«s a big question. Rather, it»s not about the plate or even the car. But about the most important detail between the seat and the steering wheel. But that isn«t for sale.