MINNESOTA

The first state law in 1903 required automobiles and motorcycles to have a license issued by the state boiler inspector in the owner's county of residence and display the license number on the rear of the machine.  While certain blocks of plate numbers were allocated to each county, they were all still under the state system.  An interesting clause in the law states that its provisions would not apply to owners who complied with a city licensing or numbering ordinance, which implies that such an ordinance might already have existed in one or more cities as of 1903.

Another state law was apparently passed, to take effect in early 1906, requiring owners to now register with the city clerk of the municipality of the owner's residence.  Plate numbering now started at #1 in each city or town.  Despite the local administration of these plates, this system was still under the aegis of the state.  Licenses issued under the old system, as well as this one, continued to be valid until mid-1909.

Throughout this entire period, cities continued to have the right to register vehicles and require license plates.  In fact, no specific mention of local ordinances being prohibited is found until the 1911 law which took effect January 1, 1912.  However, it is suspected that local ordinances were somehow invalidated by the 1909 law in mid-1909, based on the fact that no 1909-11 ordinances or plates have come to light.  (Check for sections beyond #24 in 1909 law.)

(Duluth (78,466)

 A 1905 brass tag #24 has been reported.)

Minneapolis (301,408)

An ordinance was passed on June 30, 1905, requiring automobile owners to obtain an operator's license for 50 cents.  The state rear license plate requirement was also mentioned.

According to the Minneapolis Journal of April 5, 1906, the new state law supplemented but did not supercede the city's ordinance of 1905.  After the headlines "AUTO OWNERS MUST TAKE OUT LICENSE" and "Ordinance of Last Year Is Still in Force and May 1 Is Limit for Machines Not Tagged," the article reported that "...This measure also contains a clause regulating the size and appearance of the numbers.  The figures must be at least four inches in height and must be of a solid block type.  Fancy or ornamental figures are barred.  The numbers must be securely fastened to the body of the car in a conspicuous place.  Number plates and boards attached to the car by hooks or other devices which allow them to be readily removed are prohibited."

The city's 1906 ordinance required a permanent registration for $2, the fee payable to the city clerk effective May 1, 1906.  Issuance began on March 28, 1906, with numbers starting at #1.  The Minneapolis Star Tribune listed the automobile owners from #1 to at least #382 in various issues from April 27 to June 22, 1906.  By then, there was concern that with numbers projected to reach #400 soon, numbers would duplicate the old State Boiler Inspector's license numbers, which had started at #400 in Hennepin County.

A new ordinance was passed March 27, 1908, requiring an annual city-issued rear leather plate, which replaced the 1906-08 owner-provided city plate.  The fee was $2 for newly registered cars and $1 for renewals.  The registration year was May 1 to April 30, or the first Monday of May if May 1 fell on a Sunday.  Owners with two or more vehicles could order duplicate plates with the same number for $1 each.  1908 black-on-white leather plates #64 to #1976 are known with "MPLS" vertically at left and "1908" vertically at right.

On May 16, 1908, the Star Tribune announced the headline "Auto License Tags Are Ready for Delivery", with the text "Automobile licenses are to be had in Minneapolis this morning; $2 for an original license and $1 for a renewal, tendered at the city clerk's office, will secure the desired permit with a numbered plate...While the ordinance became effective, technically, on May 1, the firm under contract to furnish the 2,000 numbered plates was behind on its undertaking and could not deliver the plates in specified time.  Consequently, no licenses were issued..."  The manufacturer of the plates was the Dodson, Fisher & Brockman Co.

The Star Tribune published an article on June 14, 1908, which stated that "In accordance with the wishes of local users of motor cycles, who objected to being compelled to use the large number plates prescribed for automobiles and motor cycles alike in the automobile license ordinance, Alderman Castner introduced at the council meeting on Friday night an amendment to the ordinance which prescribed a special tag for motor cycles.  The new tag is recommended to be 8 1/2 inches long by 3 1/2 wide, of white patent leather with black figures.  The figures are to be vertically arranged, and to be at least two inches high.  The letter M and the figures designating the year, are to be arranged horizontally at the bottom of the tag, which is to be attached at the back of the rear mud-guard.  The motor cycle tags are to be issued in numbers from one up, and the city clerk is empowered to call in all number plates already issued to motor cyclists, and substitute the new tags therefor."  The ordinance passed June 26, 1908, and at the next council meeting on July 10, 1908, 150 smaller motorcycle plates were directed to be ordered from the same manufacturer.

One would think 1909 Minneapolis plates would have been issued, or at least ordered, before the new state law took effect.  Here again, the Star Tribune of April 24, 1909, provides the answer:  "In Minneapolis, City Clerk Henry N. Knott has been holding off in ordering this year's supply of auto tags until after he learned what action the legislature would take.  Up to May 15, all automobiles must use 1908 tags as furnished by the city clerk."  This was later extended to June 15th.

St. Paul (214,744)

According to the February 3, 1905, issue of The Horseless Age, the city decided that automobile licenses were perpetual, not annual.

An ordinance was passed in October 1908 requiring an owner-provided plate with a "St.P" suffix.