If you own a beautifully restored classic, like a 1969 Impala, state law gives you a big break on licensing fees.  That perk comes with reasonable restrictions, but lack of enforcement has made a mockery of the program.

When the sun shines, Jerry Yoder loves to fire up one of his many classic Chevys and hit the open road.

“These cars don’t get driven like an everyday car. They are special occasion,” said Yoder.

Yoder's 1964 Chevelle 300 and his '57 Nomad, and all his other show-stopping pieces of muscle-car Americana, are exactly the kinds of vehicles Washington lawmakers envisioned when they set-up the low-cost collector plate program.

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“Different moods will hit you, and it’s nice to know that you don't have to worry about, ‘Oh, God, am I going to get stopped by the police because I don't have current tabs for it.’That's the thing I like. I can drive any of these, any day and feel good about not getting stopped,” said Yoder.

Yoder and his colleagues buy and register a "collector or restored" plate once - then never again. In exchange for no emissions testing, tabs, fees, or taxes, classic car owners agree to limit their use to car shows, parades, and "periodically" for enjoyment.

"Regular transportation" is strictly prohibited, but police have a tough time catching cheaters - like the driver of this 1973 Volkswagen Bug.

After Team 7 Investigators received complaints that the car was being used for commuting, we watched and videotaped: No parade on this rainy day - just a trip to Target at the South Hill Mall.

Given the Bug's condition - bubbled Bondo- and peeling paint- it's questionable that anyone would really call it a classic. Still - there it is - the free-for-life classic plate.

The VW bug's owner is Diana Burton. She admitted to us her daughter occasionally drives the car to school and back home, but defended her decision to get the low-cost collector plates.

Halsne: "You know that - you know that's the rule?"

Burton: “I’m not breaking any laws!  We don't use it as a commuter car. It is rarely used, so I don't know why they are complaining and I don't think you want me to go into the 'mind your own business thing' I went into earlier.”

Burton told us her car is more than 30 years old, so she believes it qualifies, despite its physical condition.

”I financially can't bring my car to the show car at this point. Eventually I want to do that,” said Burton.

By analyzing license plate data, Team 7 Investigators found 123,579 lifetime "collector" plates driving around on cars in Washington state.

In the past five years alone, we also discovered that number jumped nearly 28 percent.

Classic car club member, Bud Bedry, says in this tough economy that indicates people with old cars, but not restored or classic cars, are taking advantage of the system.

“It'd be nice to see it exposed so the people that are abusing it might think twice about it and don't spoil it for the rest of us,” said Bedry.

The Department of Licensing says it’s up to police to catch owners misusing these plates, but that simply is not happening.  We checked, and can’t find where police issue more than two or three related citations statewide in any given year.

As a result of our investigation, the Department of Licensing says it has already "called back" nine classic car plates, which were improperly issued.