Plates

Shawn Murray barely knew his grandfather, but his father had told him plenty about the former news photographer. Ah, the stories: Granddad, at first a truck driver at the old Philadelphia Ledger who then talked his way onto the photo staff; Granddad perched precariously atop the yet-unfinished Delaware River Bridge in 1925, capturing Philadelphia from an entirely new angle; Granddad's flash going off in a Philadelphia courtroom to snap the '20s...

It's back to the future for Pennsylvania license plates. "Keystone State" will return starting next month, replacing the phrase "You've Got a Friend in Pennsylvania. " The new plates will be phased into use over several years, but can be ordered from PennDOT now for $5. The state is also offering a limited-edition "We The People" plate for $20. "Keystone State" was used for years until the Thornburgh administration ordered the "Friend" phrase as part of a marketing and promotion campaign starting in 1983.

A CHALICE RECOVERED after a break-in is examined by the Rev. George P. Hiller, pastor of St. John the Bapist Church in Manayunk. Four chalices and four Communion plates were stolen Tuesday along with a two-foot gold crucifix. Recovered were two chalices sold to the patron of a nearby restaurant and two plates found by playing children.

Imperial Metal & Chemical Co. of Philadelphia, one of North America's leading suppliers of aluminum printing plates, has been acquired by Vickers PLC, the giant British conglomerate that also makes Rolls-Royce and Bentley automobiles. Imperial, which was bought for about $12 million, will become part of Howson-Algraphy, a Vickers subsidiary and the world's third-largest manufacturer of aluminum printing plates. Imperial's 120 employees, at plants in Philadelphia; Holyoke, Mass.

WILMINGTON - Delaware state troopers are using new technology that lets them instantly check license plates to determine whether motorists owe traffic fines and even back taxes. Troopers can now process up to 900 plates per minute. Previously, officers had to run the plates through the computer system one by one, The News Journal of Wilmington reported. It's just one of the latest surveillance systems law enforcement officials across the state have begun using. Methods range from red-light cameras to facial-recognition software.

THE PHILADELPHIA police have had several speed-limit crackdowns on I-95, Roosevelt Boulevard, etc., during the past few years. But every morning, many cars will be speeding, weaving in and out of traffic and tailgating. Some have FOP emblems or Pennsylvania FOP plates. I have been driving for more than 30 years, and I have yet to see any car with FOP plates or emblems stopped by a marked police car and written a ticket. Maybe the photographer who takes the "Street Level" pictures can be on the lookout for this and publish it so I can finally believe it occurs.

Two trashed cars, no plates, yesterday remained abandoned on Morris Street between 22nd and 24th in South Philadelphia even though Mayor Rendell on Monday promised activist Hakim Shabazz that they would be towed immediately. See Sandy Grady on Page 14.

Hats and T-shirts and mugs and license plates - and baby bibs as well - are among the leftovers from centennial and tricentennial celebrations held throughout Delaware County this year and last. The items were sold to raise money for the celebrations - successfully, according to most celebration committees. But a few items remain. In Ridley Park, for example, about 100 T-shirts ($7 for adults and $6 for children), 500 Ridley Park history books ($5 each), and an unknown number of hats ($5 each)

Starting May 1, drivers with handicapped license plates or placards will no longer be allowed to park all day free of charge at city parking meters. Under legislation approved by City Council in December, physically disabled motorists will have to feed the meters just like everyone else. The only break handicapped drivers officially will receive under the new regulations is a 1-hour grace period after time on a meter has expired. The grace period is to give disabled drivers sufficient time to return to their vehicles before a ticket is issued.

Citing a huge number of drivers without insurance in Pennsylvania, a Democratic senator introduced legislation yesterday that would allow private companies to seize license plates from uninsured motorists' cars. Sen. Michael A. O'Pake (D., Berks-Montgomery) said at a news conference that the measure, which would empower private firms to take over duties now handled by the state police, would help ensure compliance with state insurance laws. O'Pake said he knew of no state that had implemented similar legislation.