Dear Mahatma: Due to my huge ego, I want a vanity plate to honor a former place of employment where I was paid for what was essentially a ski vacation and beerfest in Bavaria. I was writing out the check for the $25 fee when I read it's an annual fee over and above the regular registration fee. This is theft! And the plate will probably outlast my vehicle anyway. -- Cherokee Acres

Dear Cherokee: We peppered the Office of Motor Vehicle with questions. We were peppered with answers by administrator Roger Duren.

Is the annual fee set by the state agency or the Legislature in its wisdom?

By the Legislature, under Arkansas Code 27-14-1009(a). As Casey Stengel would say, you could look it up.

Why annual rather than one-time?

Section 27-14-1009(a)(2) provides the fee -- $25 per year in addition to the regular registration fee.

How many vanity plates are in use, and what annual revenue is generated?

As of March 2014 there were 37,388 personalized license plates. Times $25 is $934,700 annually.

Where does that revenue go, dude?

Fees help support operation expenses for the Department of Finance and Administration's Revenue Division.

As for the longevity of the plate versus the vehicle, Mr. Duren says personalized plates, like other plates, may be transferred to newly acquired vehicles.

Dear Mahatma: The same people who made the rule about using the unoccupied lane and then merging are the same ones who cut the lunch line in school. On paper it may make sense but in reality by forcing a merger those in line must stop or slow causing everyone behind them to do the same. -- Ed

Dear Ed: Thank you for saying something in response to last week's column about merging. In particular, the conundrum or conflict is during rush hour when much traffic merges onto Interstate 30 in downtown Little Rock.

The larger group of drivers wait patiently in line; the smaller group uses the second merge lane until the end.

Who is right? Technically, the latter. Emotionally, the former.

The debate will go on forever, never to be resolved. In other words, the Capulets and Montagues of the highway.

Hey there! Can you reprint the numbers drivers should call when they spot someone driving recklessly, maybe drunk or drugged? -- Judy

Dear Judy: As you wish.

Dialing *55 from a cellphone anywhere in Arkansas will connect to the local troop office of the Arkansas State Police.

Here in Little Rock, Troop A of the state police can be reached at 618-8282. Wouldn't take a moment for drivers elsewhere to find their local troop number and put it into their cellphones.

There is also ... 911! It's a classic.

Little Rock Police Department -- 371-4621.

North Little Rock Police Department -- 758-1234.

Pulaski County sheriff's office -- 374-6600.

Vanity plate seen: CAMARO. It was on, um, a Camaro.

Vanity plate seen: IBOK U. Translated as "I'm OK. You?" Swell, thanks.

[email protected]

Metro on 05/10/2014