Makes sense.
I wonder if they are to let the area breath, or to drain out moisture, if they are some kind of drain maybe they are clogged, then again any kind of drain would be at the bottom...

for air movement, most cars have them about half way up, the water drains out the bottom of the door or fender

Took my brake light housing back off today, and replaced the brake light seals with new ones, here is a pic of the old ones, where I circled is where the rubber trim on the right side was warped a tad, and you can see that one area circled that looks a tad rusted, I am pretty sure the water was coming in there, and wicking through the old partially dry rotted brake light seals, I would have gotten after pics, but I had to take my gloves off for a second while cleaning the area for the new seals, and the damn ridge that the seals go on cut my finger open, so I was left with bloody/tared up hands, lol
Hopefully this stops my trunk leak, if not I know I will have to replace the trunk seal, as I found some places in that area damaged, I used some silicone for now, but when I can afford to I'll replace it.

Temporarily sealed the door trim with some silicone till I can get some Silka Flex, hopefully that keeps the water out for a while.

Well it seems I was 1-2 with fixing my leaks, after the hard rain we got recently I figured I'd check the usual trouble spots, and my floorboards are dry as a bone, but the brake light housing on the right side was pooled up with water, the left side was dry, I noticed around the trunk latch bolt on area that there was some water on the inside of the trunk, so I almost positive I know what is happening, the water is flowing down the usual drain path that is behind the trunk seal, and running down into where I slide the license plate into, so I ghetto fixed it for now with some clear silicone, and some saran wrap, I'll have to figure out a permanent fix in the future, I can't totally seal the area up or if I have to get new tags some day I won't be able to get the old one out.
I have ghetto rigging something, but I want to at least slow that leak down till I can figure out a fix.

I am glad u got 1 of 2.
Keep "plugging" away William..LOL..
I hope you do get it to stay dry in trunk/lights area permanently soon.

Thanks Art, hoping to not see that area get wet the next time it rains, because I cannot block the area that the tags come out, not unless I know I'll be keeping the sane tag back there for the life of the car, which I may, but knowing me as soon as I seal the area off I'd need to get the tag out for some reason.

If all else fails...

Update: I have had two decent rains since my temp ghetto saran wrap fix, and the tail light areas and trunk are still bone dry, so the water was running down in where the license plate goes, and leaking through somehow, I have no idea why it was not running off of each side, instead of over to the middle, and down in there, but that is definitely how it was getting in.
If my PA'* trunk liner was still in there I'd have never known they were filling up with water..
Now I need to come up with a better fix, as I do not like to ghetto rig things.

Ya I would also think the license plate area is sheltered a bit...
So what is the plan from here William got any perma fix ideas?

If the water makes it to the middle of the rear lip of the trunk it is easy for it to go down in there, I need to try to look at it better and see if there is some kind of drain, I doubt there is one, so if I do not find one I am not sure how to proceed, I do not want to perma seal the are in case I ever switch tags, so I'll have to figure something out.
I just don't understand how it does not drain down off the side area, it should not make it to the middle, then again it is not totally level, and it is on that right side, maybe if I can adjust the lever that keeps the shocks level it won't make it to the middle area.
I'll think it over some when I wake up, have a good night Art!

You have a good night too William .. and take a look tomorrow ...
I hope what ever idea you come up with is better than mine...

Maybe there is a good reason why they call the Pk Ave a boat...