Get Your Amateur Radio Call Sign Vehicle LIcense Plates #hamradio

Being a licensed amateur radio operator has its advantages. Not the least of which is the ability to operate from your vehicle. To find out more about Hawaii Act 175 see our previous blog post here:  http://www.kh6rs.com/blog/hawaii-act-175-for-ham-operators

As a licensed ham you can have your license plates swapped out on your car for ones that reflect your call sign. This has several advantages especially if you like to operate from your vehicle on mobile. 

If you are interested in getting your call sign license plate here is a quick guide to help you through the process. 


The first thing you need to do is pickup a "Radio Amateur Call Letter" Form SCD-33 at the 
Maui County Civil Defense at 200 South High Street, Wailuku, HI  96793. After you get the form you need to fill it out completely to avoid any unnecessary delays. The following are line by line instructions on how to complete the form: 
 
Registered Owner:
 (( enter you name and address as it appears on your vehicle registration ))

CALL LETTERS:     Your Callsign
LICENSE NUMBER:   Your vehicle license number as shown on your registration. 
MAKE:    As shown on your vehicle registration
DATE ISSUED:   Date First Sold as shown on your vehicle registration.  I was not sure about this one, but they did not seem to have any problem with what I entered.
TYPE:    The four letters shown on the vehicle registration under "type". Mine has NISS for Nissan.
WEIGHT:   The weight of your vehicle as shown on the vehicle registration.
ID or SERIAL NUMBER:   The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on your registration.  Double-check for accuracy.
AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE EXPIRES:   The Expiration Date on your FCC License.
CLASS OF LICENSE:    Will be on your FCC License under the words "Operator Privileges". 
This morning they called me and said I needed 3 more things to give to them.

Once you complete the form you have the choice of mailing it in or taking it back to the Maui County  Civil Defense Agency. Whichever method you choose make sure you include the following with your completed form. 

1.  Copy of the vehicle registration that will have the plates.
2.  Copy of the FCC Amateur Radio license.
3.  Check for $13 made out to Director of Finance.  (Looks like they now charge a processing).


A quick note: 

Processing time for your plates can vary greatly. They process only after receiving a certain number of requests. Which means if no one else puts in a request it could be a long time before you get your plates. 

Next time you catch Bill (KH6UU) on the air send him a mahalo for for putting together this guide for the rest of us. 

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