Oh the Irony: New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die” License Plates Made By Prisoners

By Alex in Auto & Transportation, Crime & Law, Daily Trivia on Apr 9, 2008 at 12:18 pm


Photo: marcn [Flickr]

Prisoners in the New Hampshire state prison in Concord, New Hampshire, stamp license plates with the state’s motto: "Live Free or Die."


Email This Post
Tweet This Post 
Share This Post on Facebook


Neat stuff from the NeatoShop:


  1. firithlotiel
    Apr 9th, 2008 at 12:34 pm

    yeeeeah… we New Hampshirites rawk like that. Don’t all states have prisoners make their license plates? At least it gives them something to do…

  2. JoBo S
    Apr 9th, 2008 at 12:48 pm

    I think that most (if not all) prisons have a variety of jobs for the inmates. At least help them to contribute SOMETHING as my tax dollars pay for thier room and board.

  3. tabest
    Apr 9th, 2008 at 12:50 pm

    Well they’re definitely not free, lol.

  4. Ali S.
    Apr 9th, 2008 at 12:59 pm

    @ tabest

    ZING!!! :D

  5. Mr. Binky
    Apr 9th, 2008 at 1:23 pm

    haha wrong post

  6. zantimisfit
    Apr 9th, 2008 at 1:24 pm

    I know your point is that the imprisoned workers see the “Live Free or Die” motto, but I thought people might be interested to know that NH prisoners make all kinds of wonderful things that you can buy at their store which is called “Corrections Creations.”
    http://www.nh.gov/nhdoc/nhci/c_creations/
    They make “candy dishes” out of license plates
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcn/8936597/

  7. sqirrrel
    Apr 9th, 2008 at 1:53 pm

    why, I live in concord new hampshire!

  8. Dietitian Max
    Apr 9th, 2008 at 1:54 pm

    It’s also hilarious that the famous old man on the mountain (the rock formation you see on the right-hand-side) of the license plate, which was apparently New Hampshire’s claim to fame, fell off the mountain a few years ago.
    He’s also on the state quarter.

  9. CheeseDuck
    Apr 9th, 2008 at 2:26 pm

    Man, I LOVE irony.

  10. Ray Fowler
    Apr 9th, 2008 at 3:09 pm

    Folk singer Bill Morrissey wrote a song called “Live Free or Die” on this very theme. You can listen to a snippet of it here (song #14): Rounder Records – Bill Morrissey

  11. ItsSelvo
    Apr 9th, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    Or die bloggin! Hella rad.

  12. clinton labombard
    Apr 9th, 2008 at 6:21 pm

    I’m offended by that license plate. It contains the word ‘log’, which is synonymous with ‘turd’. ‘be logging’ placed over the name of the beautiful state of New Hampshire obviously means ‘shit on everybody in New Hampshire’ and that is patently meant to offend.

  13. empty-minded
    Apr 9th, 2008 at 7:29 pm

    What about the poor bastards making the vanity plates? Can you imagine being 30 years old and serving 15 to 25 and making a license plate for 2HOT?

  14. Chris
    Apr 9th, 2008 at 7:43 pm

    @Dietitian Max

    I went to see the Old Man on the Mountain a week after the rock formation crumbled. There was a big gathering on the I93 viewing spot, and numerous NH people were really sad and mourning the loss of this symbol.

    The Old Man is also on the NH highways signs.

  15. MarcN
    Apr 9th, 2008 at 8:20 pm

    If you find that amusing, check out this awesome “candy dish” from the “Arts & Crafts” store at the state prison in Penacook, NH:

    The clerk said the inmates can’t make smoking-related crafts, so that is why it is called a “Candy Dish”.

    -marc

  16. MarcN
    Apr 9th, 2008 at 8:21 pm

    okay, embedded images aren’t allowed. Here is the link to the photo:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcn/8936597

  17. Plasmator Universi
    Apr 9th, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Someone get on the phone and inform Alanis Morrisette that *this* is irony.

  18. TT
    Apr 10th, 2008 at 12:15 am

    Oh you Yanks are so uneducated:

    “VIVRE LIBRE OU MOURIR”

  19. TT
    Apr 10th, 2008 at 12:17 am

    Go to the Pantheon in Paris.

    You will see it there.

    Look it up.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Pantheon

  20. fsmarch
    Apr 10th, 2008 at 10:04 am

    Don’t do the crime, if you can’t do the time.

  21. MikeyO'
    Dec 16th, 2010 at 7:55 am

    How American. I do however think it should be the norm for all people incarcerated to work . What better way to get them to earn $ for their keep & train & Know this is how it works in the real world .Because in the REAL WORLD You just get to pick your prison ! If your wife says it is ok of course


Keep track of the comments with Comment RSS

Don't Miss: New Stuff | Bestsellers | The Cute Store
                   Funny T-Shirts

Need a gift? Get unforgettable gifts for:
Geeks | Pranksters | Kids | Hipsters | Shutterbugs

Lijit Search

Old school? Bookmark us! RSS Feed Twitter Facebook Page