POLL: Do You Treat Local Drivers Differently?

Last week, in the peak of beach traffic, I waited on the on the corner of Wave Avenue, to make the dreaded left turn onto Aquidneck Avenue.

I tried to make eye contact with fellow drivers, pleading with the tanned beach-goers to let me turn.  There was a gas leak at that had just impacted at least 500 Middletown residents.  The only obstacle that stood in my way of delivering that news, was a long line of cars from New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York.

Not one appeared concerned about my left turn or Middletown’s breaking gas leak news. 

Finally! A blue Jeep Wrangler with a Rhode Island license plate and a surfboard secured on its top waved me in.  

It realized that I might not be alone.  Was the driver of the Wranger as guilty as I am of home-state plate discrimination?

If an impatient driver honks, I can only expect the driver is from New York or New Jersey.  When a car cuts me off, I am not surprised that the Massachusetts sterotype is, once again, supported.

I will always try to wave in a Rhode Island driver with a smile.  I begrudgingly tolerate the different set of road rules that the out-of-state plate drivers sometimes follow, but admittedly, I favor Rhode Island plates when it comes time to make a decision to let a car into traffic.

Are you guilty of home-state plate discrimination?  Do you find that you check the license before you decide to let someone into traffic? Tell us your stories in the comments!