What type of license plate has red letters starting with 'SN'?
3 Answers
A license plate starting with red 'SN' letters belongs to the General Armament Department stationed in the Shenyang Military Region. This type of plate is part of the '2012-style' military vehicle license plates, which are the seventh generation of military plates officially implemented from May 1, 2013. The letter meanings in the seventh-generation new military plates are as follows: The first letter represents the pinyin abbreviation of each military region or branch; the second letter follows English alphabetical order: A for headquarters, B for political department, C for logistics department, D for equipment department, etc. Additional relevant information: 1. Military vehicle license plates implement a management responsibility system: the applicant is responsible, the approver is responsible, the issuer is responsible, and the user is responsible. Non-military vehicles such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lincoln, Cadillac, Volkswagen Phaeton, Bentley, Jaguar, Porsche, Land Rover, Audi Q7, etc., are strictly prohibited from using military plates. 2. Military vehicles generally have white license plates with black characters. White plates are commonly seen in public security departments, judicial departments, procuratorates, armed police forces, PLA troops, and other state power institutions. The white color symbolizes the integrity and cleanness of these departments, emphasizing their commitment to serving the people.
I used to study the Chinese license plate system, where the colors of the plates have specific meanings. For example, blue plates are for ordinary private cars, yellow plates are for large vehicles, and green plates are for new energy vehicles. As for plates with red letters, they are mainly used for police or armed police vehicles. Regular police plates usually have a blue background with red letters and the word "Police" (警) on them, while armed police plates start with "WJ," and letter combinations like "SN" represent certain units. In fact, the letter part, such as "SN," might be a code that varies by region, but the dominant red color makes it easy to recognize them as official vehicles at a glance. The color design of license plates is intended to quickly identify vehicle types, avoiding traffic accidents or unnecessary interference with official duties. When driving, if I see a plate with red letters, I try to keep my distance and not follow too closely—respecting safety rules is always the right thing to do. Remembering these details can help you drive more confidently on the road.
I've been driving for over a decade and have seen all kinds of license plates on the road. Once on the highway, I spotted a red-lettered plate with 'SN' and immediately guessed it was a military police vehicle. These plates usually start with 'WJ,' and 'SN' might indicate a specific department. The bright red color makes it stand out, signaling that it's not an ordinary vehicle. As a regular driver, I make it a habit to yield or slow down when I encounter such vehicles—not out of fear but as a courtesy. After all, special vehicles might be on duty, and getting too close could compromise safety. Knowing a bit about license plates is always useful; it helps prevent accidents in daily driving. Next time you see something similar, just keep your distance and stay alert.
