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* Illinois’ collection of 91 specialty license plates is dwarfed by Maryland’s 700, but more could be on the way…

So far this session, the state Senate has approved the creation of eight new specialty license plates and the House has approved two.

These proposals would still have to be endorsed by the other chamber and signed by the governor, before, say equestrians, could display their love of horses on their cars.

In order for a specialty license plate to be produced, it has to be approved by law and at least 1,500 people have to order one for it to be “worth the state’s time,” said Dave Druker, a spokesman for the Secretary of State’s Office.

The most popular plate is the environmental one, which raises money for Illinois parks, with 43,517 on the road. This is followed by the firefighters’ memorial plate with 33,110.

Because of added fees to purchase them, the plates pay for themselves, Druker said.

* Today, Secretary of State Jesse White unveiled the latest plate, featuring the Chicago Bulls’ logo…

For each plate sold, Twenty-five dollars ($25) will be donated to state public education resources.

Here’s the new plate…

* The Bloomington Pantagraph is somewhat skeptical…

[Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s] idea of a universal charity plate with stickers for particular groups never caught on despite its passage in the mid-1990s.

Police have learned to live with the variety of designs and to be careful when entering numbers.

And apparently they have learned to live with lawmakers who argue against having one plate on vehicles because it makes police work tougher while the same lawmakers make police work tougher with more plate designs.

* The Question: Should Illinois create more specialty charity plates, eliminate them altogether, reduce them or hold the current numbers steady? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.

Online Surveys & Market Research

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 1:11 pm

Comments

I believe each of us should be allowed to have two personalized plates (one front, one back) that we can design ourselves. All plates can have the number 1 on them, since it is all about ME!

Eliminate.

Comment by Cincinnatus Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 1:32 pm
Although I’m rather agnostic on the issue, I have to note the appropriateness of an Illinois plate that reads “Bull S.”

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 1:49 pm
who are the boring dolts who want to eliminate specialty plates…..let’s get googgle to give us their i.d.’s

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 1:54 pm
I support these. It does not cost the State naything, and helps raise funds for various groups.

We just need to sponsor a CapFaxIntern (CFI) plate to feed and cloth the starving interns….

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 1:55 pm
My communicator will not allow me to see your polls. But, if the program is cash-positive, why not?

Are these plates made out of state or at the rehab center in Decatur? If the plates are made in-state, better still. By disabled workers = win, win win.

Comment by Joe from Joliet Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 1:56 pm
The only counterargument seems to be that police find it difficult to write in the numbers accurately. It seems like the increasing use of cameras in cars and all along the roads makes it more likely today that police can find a car if they really need to, even with some confusion about vanity plates. I’m not impressed by the “need” to enforce more speeding tickets. If it’s not bad enough to merit a subpoena to security cameras along the route, we can afford to lose a speeder here and there.

Anyway, I’m expecting these plates to disappear and be replaced by transponders in the near future.

Comment by Thomas Westgard Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 2:11 pm
They don’t cost money, they support good causes, they allow a little self-expression. Cincinnatus may believe a little self-expression is horrible for the Republic and threatens our liberty, but there’s really no reason not to expand the program.

Comment by chi Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 2:14 pm
I’d be curious to know how much money the designated charities/causes make each year from these plates? Any information on that?

Comment by Seriously??? Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 2:20 pm
Lets allow them after all financial problems are solved. These take up valuable floor debate time that should be spent on more important issues.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 2:21 pm
-Lets allow them after all financial problems are solved. These take up valuable floor debate time that should be spent on more important issues.-

Agreed. If it weren’t for these floor debates, we’d have solved the pension crisis and paid off the debt.

Comment by chi Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 2:26 pm
If people are foolish enough to pay outrageous fees to advertise a private business of millionaire players and owners (the Bulls, e.g.), then let them!

Comment by formerpolitico Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 3:25 pm
How about a “DG” plate honoring our disgraced Governors? They could personally make them.

Comment by Lefty Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 3:30 pm
The more the merrier.

Anyone who wants to pay more for license plates is AOK in my book.

As far as the coppers, they’re pretty good at what they do. I’m sure they can cope.

Charge even more for vanity plates, I have a dude in my neighborhood with “Dr. Cool 1.” Awesome, and worth a lot.

Rich, maybe something there for a future QOTD. Best Vanity You’ve Seen.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 3:35 pm
===Best Vanity You’ve Seen.===

My personal favorite is a U of I specialty plate that reads CHEIF spotted on the north shore not too long ago. That’s wrong on several levels.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 3:54 pm
Creeping into this conversation are editorial comments about the correctness of various license plates. Yet another reason to eliminate them. Pro-abortion v. pro-life. Okay? Same sex v. traditional marriage, works for you? Concealed carry? The list goes on.

Why does the government have the right to accept one plate over another? What are the parameters? We now have government selecting what are government approved activities over non-approved activities. Even if the plates are monetarily self-financing, this is not an appropriate role for government.

Comment by Cincinnatus Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 4:04 pm
When a White Sox plate comes on board, then I will join the rest of for a cause plates.

Comment by 3rd Generation Chicago Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 4:18 pm
i think the issue is not so much that it’s hard to read the numbers of the plate, but it’s hard to figure out what state it’s from. it’s pretty easy to recognize what state a standard plate is from, but when you see some out of state plate with a specialty design that you’ve never seen before, it’s hard to figure out where it’s from, especially when there’s a license plate frame from the auto dealer covering up the text of the state name on the plate.

as a compromise, standard plate on the rear, custom plates on the front.

Comment by tired Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 4:31 pm
I believe in the KISS motto: Let’s keep things simple for our police. There are more than enough mistakes made by these poor guys already.

Comment by Checkers Nixon Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 4:57 pm
I guess I should have expressed myself by stating: Eliminate vanity plates altogether. And, let’s keep using plates on both the front and rear of the vehicles to make life easier for law enforcement authorities (and “repo” men).

Comment by Checkers Nixon Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 5:01 pm
I doubt that the parks actually get the money after the GA sweeps the funds for more pressing needs. Eliminate them

Comment by anon Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 8:31 pm
The plates can be a administrative nightmare for the SOS. Law enforcement concerns should be reason enough to eliminate.

Comment by Macoupin Observer Tuesday, Apr 26, 11 @ 9:42 pm
For 9 years we have tried to offer an ADOPTION aid speciality plate. The Choose Life plate is offered in 26 states with an additional 9 states (including Alaska and Texas) in the process of doing same through legislation. Although nothing is said about abortion, and the dollars raised are 100% used for facilitating adoption for parents hoping to complete their families, we have been denied our plate without a simple up or down vote on same. At present HB 2988 once again was buried in a sub committee by the same chairperson (Jack Franks) who did the same in 2003. A denial of our first and fourteenth amendment rights (freedom of speech and equal opportunity under the law) In answer to respondent “SERIOUSLY” The initial state to offer the plate, Florida, (August 11, 2000) has raised $7,600,000 to benefit adoption. Averaging close to $800,000 every year.

To learn more, go to our web site www.ilchoose-life.org. Or call 847-526-1152 We will continue to work towards the approval of this effort until successful. We anticipate over 40,000 of the plates purchased within five years of approval. That providing $1,000,000 towards the support of adoption in Illinois as yet another choice in a difficult pregnancy, and also providing $100,000 annually to the state coffers.

Jim Finnegan
President Choose LIfe Illinois Adoption Specialty Plates.

Comment by Jim Finnegan Tuesday, May 3, 11 @ 1:35 pm