Patent ID: 7538687

Claim:
A license plate apparatus for engagement to a vehicle having at least one of a speaker and display in said vehicle, with said license plate apparatus comprising: a) a license plate adaptable for engagement to the vehicle, with said license plate having a visual identification element thereon; b) an electrical circuit in the license plate, with said electrical circuit being in communication with said at least one speaker and display in said vehicle; c) a processor engaged in one of said license plate, a license plate holder, and vehicle and being in communication with said electrical circuit; d) an emergency warning system for picking up a right of way vehicle predefined direct strobe light signal which includes pulses of light, with the emergency warning system being engaged in one of the license plate, license plate holder and vehicle and being in communication with said electrical circuit, with the emergency warning system comprising a photocell receiver responsive to said right of way vehicle predefined direct strobe light signal, and with the emergency warning system emitting, when said right of way vehicle predefined direct strobe light signal has been picked up, at least one of an audio warning via said speaker and a visible warning via said display; e) wherein said photocell receiver is engaged with said license plate; and f) with the emergency warning system verifying said right of way vehicle predefined direct strobe light signal, and with the emergency warning system verifying said right of way predefined direct strobe light signal by counting pulses of the right of way vehicle predefined direct strobe light signal.