The whole affair came to light when the French authorities decided to introduce new license plates that displayed the symbol of the country's departments, and not only the number of the department as previously. Moreover, the French can now choose any department they like- it does not have to be their actual place of residence. It soon turned out that the residents of Paris preferred to choose plates other than Parisian ones. As a result, the number of Parisian plates has declined by 60% since April 2009.

The decline in license plates has also been reported in Hauts-de-Seine department near Paris. It is a place where the richest people in the country live. Also many residents of Seine-Saint-Denis, one of the poorest departments near Paris, have decided to hide their place of residence, as "bad address" often makes it difficult to get a good job.

That's a bit like a pit bull calling itself a poodle. A claimed identity doesn't change much.

There's nothing wrong with pit-bulls, it's a matter of bad
dog owners.

Parisians are obnoxious and rude, their reputations are
well deserved. They're disliked even among their own countrymen.

well the French don't want to be targeted by the Muslims who live all around the city - makes sense. Want your car burned? Have a Paris plate.