Bill Nelson

Over the years and through our newsletter, The Full Nelson or our podcast, Potential To Performance, as well as my postings for this Blog, I have made no secret of the fact that I am a fan of Apple products and to a certain extent, a fan of Steve Jobs.

Online recently, and since his passing, there have been numerous stories circulating about Steve Jobs. Especially since the publication of Walter Isaacson's book.

But there has been one particular story that caught my interest and that was the one about Steve Jobs driving his car without number plates. My interest was not raised simply because of the story, but more around the photo that accompanied the story.

When I first saw this particular photo, I wasn't drawn in so much by the absence of the number plates, but more by the fact that in the photo and within the story, it alluded to the fact that it wasn't unusual for Steve Jobs to park in the handicap spaces.

Instantaneously my attitude, my mindset, and emotion changed.

I am not sure if because of his illness Steve had some permit that allowed him to park in a disabled car park? I would doubt it, however if that was the case, then please ignore the rest of this post.

But if not, then let me say Steve Jobs was out of line. Way out of line.

And I don't mean to take a potshot at a man that has recently passed. Not my style.

But there is a very important point in this scenario.

Regardless of who you are. How important you are. How busy you are. How much money you have. If you are running late. Or how many disabled car parks are available. Or simply because you will only be a few minutes.

If you are not disabled or do not have the permit to use these reserved car spaces, then go park somewhere else.
Take responsibility, do the right thing and show respect to others that might need a little help and assistance.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

But if you didn't see the explanation as to why Steve Jobs could get away with driving without number plates

ITWire explains (via The Loop):

Steve (or someone close to him) spotted a loophole in the California vehicle laws.  Anyone with a brand new car had a maximum of six months to affix the issued number plate to the vehicle.

So Jobs made an arrangement with the leasing company; he would always change cars during the sixth month of the lease, exchanging one silver Mercedes SL55 AMG for another identical one.  At no time would he ever be in a car as old as six months; and thus there was no legal requirement to have the number plates fitted.

One might also assume that the leasing company was happy - they had an endless supply of luxury cars to on-sell with the previous driver being none-other that Steve Jobs.

That would be a win-win-win situation for Steve, the leasing company and for the subsequent buyer.