ARIZONA

Prior to the first state law in 1912, cities were the only authorities to register automobiles, with Phoenix being the earliest known in 1908.  The 1912 state law, passed on June 12 and put into effect on September 20, prohibited local licensing, thus ending the city plate era.

Bisbee (9,019) 

Articles in the Bisbee Daily Review provide some details on automobile registration here.

Ordinance #173 was passed November 16, 1911, requiring registration of automobiles and motorcycles of all residents, including those "within a radius of five miles of this city".  A $3 annual fee was due to the City Marshal by December 1 each year.  In addition, $2 was charged to automobiles upon only the first registration, for a pair of city-issued plates, or $1.50 for one double-sided motorcycle tag.  Dealers, already paying for a business license under a previous ordinance, only had to pay for plates at $2 per pair, each of which would have a different serial letter with the same number.  All plates were to have the name "Bisbee" on them.  The City Marshal ordered 100 tags.

On November 22, 1911, it was stated that "Bisbee's automobile ordinance becomes effective on December 1.  A large supply of tags have been ordered by the city marshal and yesterday the nickel numbers were tacked on them.  Automobiles will be required to carry two numbers, one in front of the machine and one attached to the rear.  Motorcycles will be required to carry only one, with the number on each side of the leather tag."  The November 29, 1911, edition mentioned that "The sale of automobile tags began on Monday (November 27), the total number of sales being eight."  Numbers began at 1.  As of December 8, 1911, 26 tags had been sold.

On April 4, 1912, the headline "Letters Depleted" appeared above the following report:  "The city marshal's supply of tin B's, used on automobile tags, has been depleted, the last one having been sold yesterday.  Several applications for license tags are coming up, and the marshal has sent a rush order for more B's."

A September 22, 1912, news article in the Bisbee Daily Review announces the first local motorist to be issued a new state registration, and that "The city has a number of tags on hand that are useless since the state law went into effect, and many of the auto owners have paid license under the city ordinance, but this money is not recoverable."

Flagstaff (1,633)

According to articles in the Coconino Sun, Flagstaff even issued license plates in early 1912.  On March 29, 1912, in a report on the common council meeting on March 25, "The clerk was instructed to order fifty automobile license tags, numbered from No. 1 to No. 50.  Also to have 200 copies of the automobile ordinance published for proper distribution."  These plates were ordered from The Neuner Co. for $50.00, and the freight paid was $1.30.  Motorcycles were also required to get plates.

Globe (7,083)

The Daily Arizona Silver Belt reported on the progress of this city's first automobile ordinance in several articles in 1908.  Ordinance #54, passed September 3, 1908, effective immediately, required all automobile owners in the city for more than ten days to register with the City Clerk and pay a fee of $1.  Owners then had to provide their own rear plate in black on white with numbers at least 4 inches tall.

Mesa (1,692)

The Arizona Republic (Phoenix) reported on October 13, 1910, that "Both Phoenix and Mesa require that machines running in either of those towns have a tag upon which is a number."  A further article on December 10, 1910, about impending passage of an automobile ordinance in Tempe, mentions that "Heretofore Tempe machines have been tagged "Mesa", "Phoenix" or "California."  This implies that the Mesa plates carried the name, since Phoenix tags are verified to have included its full name.

Phoenix (11,134)

An ordinance was passed on January 6, 1908, effective immediately, requiring an owner-provided rear plate with 6-inch tall numbers in white on black.  A new ordinance, passed March 2, 1908, revised the 3-inch-wide numbers to 2 inches wide, and stated that the city would furnish a plate to each owner at cost.  Undated white-on-black metal plates are known with "PHOENIX" sideways at left.  #-16- is embossed while #-217 to #-467 are flat.

The Arizona Republic reported on January 20, 1909, that "A new supply of automobile license tags has just been received at the city assessor's office.  The numbers now run to 120...There are now 111 automobiles and motor-cycles in Phoenix, according to the number of tags that have been required."  On September 8, 1910, it was reported that "Since the city began to license motor driven vehicles, 382 numbers have been passed out by the assessor."

The same newspaper published an interesting story towards the very end of the pre-state era in Phoenix on September 2, 1912:  "...nearly 1000 license tags have been issued by City Assessor and Tax Collector Charles W. Barnett.  In fact license tag No. 1000 has already made its appearance upon an automobile in this city...When the owner of this machine appeared at the office of Mr. Barnett some days ago..the current number at that time was 957.  It was then that the applicant saw an opportunity to secure a distinctive number and he asked if it would be possible for him to buy tag No. 1000.  Mr. Barnett accommodated him and that is how Phoenix appears to have reached the thousand automobile mark.  Just how many automobiles there really are in Phoenix can probably not be determined.  The same tag is issued for motorcycles as is placed upon automobiles."

(Prescott (5,092)

The Weekly Journal-Miner reported on August 9, 1905, that an automobile ordinance was passed the day before, providing for speed limits only.

Undated white-on-black porcelain plates #216 to #270 are known with "PRESCOTT" vertically at right, and #170 has also been reported.  At 7 1/2 inches by 14 inches (105 square inches), this plate is the third largest known porcelain issue in the U.S., right behind Muskogee, OK, and McPherson, KS.  Embossed dated plates are known from 1916 to 1924, but it is unknown if this undated porcelain issue dates from before 1912 when the state-issue era began.)

Tempe (1,473)

Unlike other cities where automobile regulations were more or less forced upon drivers, Tempe owners seemed to welcome the pride brought by license tags with their city name on them.  Several articles in the Arizona Republic (Phoenix) trace the evolution of Tempe's automobile ordinance, which, as reported on December 10, 1910, "makes it possible and compulsory for every machine owner to carry on his car or motorcycle, a number on which shall be printed "Tempe" and the number.  As soon as this goes into effect and the numbers are procured, Tempe will have some recognition in the automobile world.  Heretofore Tempe machines have been tagged "Mesa", "Phoenix" or "California."

Ordinance #87 was passed on December 22, 1910, and effective January 3, 1911.  The December 24, 1910, edition mentioned that "It provides for many things, among others that each machine whether automobile or motorcycle, shall have attached to it a number.  This number shall be purchased from the town marshal...The number is to cost one dollar."  The numbers were to be 6 inches tall and 3 inches wide in white upon a black metallic plate to be carried on the rear of the vehicle.  On December 30, 1910, it was reported that "The recently passed automobile ordinance...will go into effect on the 3rd of January.  By that time, Marshal Brown will have on hand a supply of number tags for sale at $1 each."  The January 5, 1911, paper stated that "Joe Fink was the first tag buyer and his machine will carry No. 1."

It's possible that because they were ordered on such short notice and made in a hurry, this first series of plates was not too durable.  An article published on December 16, 1911, mentions new plates which don't sound like mandatory annual issues:  "The marshal also announced that he has received a consignment of automobile tags.  The new tags are the proper kind and are a distinct improvement over the ones that were first issued.  Those who were supplied with the first set of tags are invited to cash them in at the marshal's office in exchange for the new ones."

Tucson (13,193)

An automobile ordinance for speed limits only was already in effect by June 12, 1907.    By February 21, 1909, it seems a registration and license tag requirement was added.  It was also reported that in this earlier ordinance, the $2 fee was a one-time fee, not annual.  The Daily Arizona Silver Belt (Globe) stated on May 6, 1910, that "Reports of automobile licenses by the city clerk of Tucson show that 196 have been issued..."

Ordinance #333 was passed May 2, 1910, effective immediately, requiring automobile owners to register with the City Tax Collector by June 1 each year and pay a fee of $2.50.  "The City Tax Collector shall provide numbers for automobiles with the name Tucson on the plate...on some metallic substance not less than four inches in length."  This plate was to be displayed on the rear of the automobile.  Undated white-on-red porcelain plates #23 to #277 are known with "TUCSON" vertically at left, and #333 has also been reported.

An interesting report in the Tombstone Weekly Epitaph on June 19, 1910, stated the following:  "Within three weeks all the automobile owners in Tucson will discard their time-worn and battered plates, troop into the office of the city assessor and secure new plates of the most approved design, incidentally paying their license fees for the coming year at the same time.  City Clerk Lindenfeld has ordered 400 of the new name and number plates."

Articles in the Arizona Daily Star provide a few details regarding these plates.  On May 28, 1910, it reported that "The city clerk was ordered to purchase 300 automobile tags, with numbers for cars."  (Obviously this was raised to 400 based on the Tombstone article.)  On July 3, 1910, it stated that "City Clerk Lindelfeld is in receipt of 200 automobile tags...There are 200 more tags yet to come...A license fee of $2 on each auto must be paid."  The July 21, 1910, edition mentioned that "Assessor James O. Flynn has only issued eighty-six license tags to automobile owners this year.  Last year there were more than 200 issued...Dr. H.W. Fenner, who is now out of the city, made a request for No. 1 before leaving and that number is being saved for him."

(Yuma (2,914)

 Yuma had recently passed a speed ordinance as of March 18, 1909.

 City plates have been reported, but the only ordinance verified

 so far is #208 passed November 6, 1923, to obtain a city-issued

 license plate.  This is well after the start of the state-issue

 era in 1912.)