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Question of the day

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We have a lot of ponderous, weighty items on the blog today, so let’s look at something not so earth-shattering. Here’s the setup…

This year, lawmakers voted for more than a dozen bills to create new [license] plates for various groups — sheet metal workers, autism advocates and Iraq war veterans, for example. State Sen. John Jones, R-Mount Vernon, sponsored a new plate this year for veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan. […]

A typical license plate costs $78, and a specialty one could tack on about $40. Often, about $25 of that would go to a special fund. […]

There are 60 in production now, according to Secretary of State Jesse White’s office.

Now, 800 people have to ask for a plate before it can be produced, but White’s office wants to soon raise that threshold to 1,500, according to spokesman Henry Haupt.

I have the America Remembers plate on one car, but the other has a generic plate.

Do you have a specialty plate? Should we get rid of them? Or should we have special charity stickers that we could attach to regular plates, as Sen. Dan Rutherford has proposed? Explain.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 8:03 am

Comments

Get rid of specialty plates. # 1, it’s not a cost-effective way to raise funds for special causes or issues and # 2, law enforcement agencies don’t like the visual confusion of a lot of different license plates for one state. If people care about cause X, write a check and take a tax deduction — and drop this silly practice.

Comment by jaundiced eye Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 8:19 am
Get rid of them all. The plates are to identify cars. Now you can hardly read them, let alone keep them straight. Buy bumper stickers.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 8:34 am
I am in favor of specialty plates. They raise money, awareness and are a better way to express oneself than a bumper sticker. The plates are more permanent; I do not support Rutherford’s proposal.

Comment by Diane Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 8:36 am
I have generic plates with generic numbers on them. I do not like strangers knowing anything about me. There is a reason they are called “vanity” plates, and I do not care to draw attention to myself in this manner, or care to make any public statements in this manner.

These are license plates, not fashion plates.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 8:37 am
I have an E plate, which is similar to other states’ specialty plates for the environment or parks. Such plates are about more than raising funds voluntarily. They’re also a statement about the driver and his or her priorities or causes. They promote these causes to others, esp when you’re stuck in traffic behind a car with one. But I agree there’s too many. Raise the threshold.

Comment by Doodles Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 8:41 am
this entire concept is a sham and a farce… it is a TAX for god’s sake, not an advertisement that the government wants us to feel warm and fuzzy about.

wow listen to me.. I sound like a real reactonary. guess you pushed a button

Comment by The Horse Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 8:45 am
They should get rid of the specialty plates.
At one time they were a good idea to promote a worthy cause. Part of the fee would go towards funding ideas such conservation(Ducks Unlimited)of other causes.
These funds were set aside and were supposed to be untouchable. Eventually the funds were raided by politicians or transferred to General Revenue.
My suggestion : buy a bumper sticker.

Comment by Lula May Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 8:52 am
I agree with jaundiced eye, a silly practice of spending a bunch of money for a bit of charity. Just write the check to the organization for crying out loud!

Comment by from the collars Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 8:53 am
Get rid of them all to make it easier on law enforcement officials. It’s ridiculous how lawmakers have latched onto this concept and use it anytime they need some money for something. Sure they’re for good causes, but it’s gotten out of hand.

Comment by PJ Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 8:53 am
I think they should all be cut, except for the breast cancer awareness one.

That is a special one, and the funds are being used to search for a cure for that terrible disease.

Comment by Johnny USA Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 8:54 am
I propose Overtime in Hell Plates

Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 8:59 am
Wumpus, that’s the best idea yet.

Also, part of the question was whether you have one of these specialty plates. Try including that factoid in your answers, please.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 9:01 am
Get rid of the specialty plates.

What happened to the plan of getting new Illinois license plates every five years? I thought the reflectivity was only guaranteed that long and the plates would have to be replaced then. We’ve had the current design since 2001.

Or, will this be another debacle, like the 1983-2001 license plate?

Comment by Michael Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 9:01 am
Thought that since 2004, all of funds for these “special interest” license plates got swept up into the general fund….. I recall 2 or 3 groups who were very upset that $$$ intended for breast cancer wasn’t going there. Anyone have an update? If THAT is still going on [my vote = yes] there is no use for special interest plates.

Yes, raise the threshold so that spcial plates are really ’special’. It creates some extra grief for SOS and all law enforcement officers who attempt to run these plates.

Comment by North of I-80 Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 9:01 am
Rich,
You did not mention that Blago stole the money out of all the license funds last year to use on one of his pet projects. The plates can be a good idea to generate small amounts of money, but when you have a governor that “steals” the money what difference does it make?

Comment by J Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 9:05 am
I do not have a specialty plate.

But assuming the extra charge covers the cost, why not? It’s a handy way to raise funds from folks who want to voluntarily pay the extra fee. let the market control. If people will pay it, build it.

They also help promote awarness etc. The law enforcement complaint seems sketchy. If they have that much trouble, just put a big IL on the plate.

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 9:06 am
Yeah, I have/had “specialty” plates when they didn’t cost more (some actually didn’t until recent years). Way too many of them and way too confusing. I think they’d be must more useful to identify public service types of things like RN’s (lot of them have their initials + RN on their plates), Volunteer Fire Dept., etc. And, raise the threshold!

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 9:06 am
I do not sport any vanity plateson my vehicles because I too prefer a level of anonimity as far as the general public is concerned as well as the fact the I do not want to volunteer to pay more tax.

However, I do not buy the crocodile tears of the so called friends of law enforcement either. I certainly can recognize the special plates. Those with computers in their cars can see them as well.

As long as the number is clear and legible, I say make as many as you want and collect the revenues.

Comment by plutocrat03 Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 9:11 am
Rich,

I do not have a specialty plate — no bumper stickers either — and think that they should go.

Eric Zorn had a clever proposal a while back: Illinois should eliminate the specialty plates, but sell authorized license plate stickers to promote and fund these causes and/or interests. The state would only have to produce one kind of plate, but folks could still trick out their licenses if they choose to.

And tickets for unauthorized stickers could be another revenue source.

– SCAM

Comment by so-called "Austin Mayor" Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 9:19 am
First, I have a vanity plate, but not a specialty plate. I agree with Ghost, let the market decide, but the reason I have a vanity plate is because I feel that if I have to pay for it I might as well have what I want, and as far as the added cost, the government is going to get the money from you anyway, so why not give it in a way inwhich I can have something I want, verses getting rid of the vanity and specialty plates, only to have to pay the fees somewhere else and not getting a choice in something.

Comment by Butch Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 9:20 am
Don’t have one-don’t need one-if you want to advertise use a bumper sticker-you can claim your in favor of anything much cheaper than plates-or paint your name on your fender if you need for others to know your name-and yes-the special plates are confusing and difficult to identify-in contrast to one their initial purposes

Comment by red dog Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 9:21 am
Go Illini! (Thanks then-Rep. Winkel.)

I wouldn’t be too upset if those specialty plates (including our Orange and Blue plates) went the way of the dodo, though the myriad beneficiaries of the increased donations will need to review their budgets so if the specialty plates do go away those charities and organizations need to be given plenty of head’s up.

I could see the sticker idea being even worse though. While difficult, it’s still possible for someone who wants to peel off the registration stickers to do so now.

And, the standard plates are blah. What’s with the frilly hard-to-read “Illinois” in script? Rhode Island, Colorado, and Minnesota’s new plates are nice — clean, unique to those states, easy to read and identify.

Comment by Rob_N Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 9:31 am
I want someone to explain to me why a police officer would have trouble with a vanity plate? I hardly think that the cardinal on my enviro plate is a problem.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 9:33 am
I have a college plate. I drive a relatively nice car, so I do it partially as an ad for the college.

I also do it because a lot of people drive a nearly identical car. It is easier to tell a valet to find the “gray [make] with the [college] plate” as opposed to asking the valets to track down yet another gray [make]. It can speed things up when I go out.

Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 9:36 am
A little off topic, but in AZ., driver’s pay based on the year of car that they drive. My MIL pays over $250 a year for her plate. (That is one plate.)How many states still use 2 plates?

Go to one plate and put whatever plate you want on the front.

Yes, I’ve had a vanity plate since I was 16 years old.

Comment by Shelbyville Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 9:45 am
I have no specialty plates. I think there should be one veterans plate that covers all wars and all branches. Thats it.

Comment by BBpolNut Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 9:47 am
Waste of time! It’s a waste of time for our legislators to debate non-essential government functions like this and a waste of time for our state employees to administer non-essential programs like this — when there are MUCH bigger priorities that we are failing on, like education, health care, transportation, affordable housing, etc. If you want to donate money for a special cause, then just donate money. And if you want everyone to see you donated, get one of those colored rubber bracelets. But stop wasting our state’s valuable time!

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 9:54 am
Specialty Plates:

Military Decorations: Purple Heart, Bronze Star Etc….If anyone deseves a special plate its these men and women

Illinois Veterans Plates: Branch of Service or Conflict

Firefighter or Law Enforcement Memorial Plate with the proceeds going to help Families

State University Plates: All state Universities because they are state institutions, private schools are another story

Everyone else a charitable sticker, way too many plates! There may be 60 varieties Rich but what about all the special events plates people have on thier vehicles long after the event has passed.

Not only do we create an issue for law enforcement here with all our plates, this is even worse in other states where officers have no clue what is valid.

Remeber back when many crimes were being committted by gangbangers using special “Inauguration of the President” Plates….while these were fake District of Columbia tags, with all our plate varieties its not as easy to spot something like that.

Comment by prairiestatedem Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 10:00 am
Second try! No, I don’t see the need to dish out money for a vanity plate. As long as the plate idea does not become a money loser, keep them. Although, i prefer the bumper sticker

Wasn’t there a stink a couple years back about a pro life plate?

Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 10:02 am
I do not have a vanity plate and don’t intend to ever get one. We should get rid of them because I think it is absurd that there are so many different plates, talk about confusing! There are too many other ways to support a cause - a magnet, window cling or bumper sticker on the car, or you can volunteer your time at a fundraiser. Why give the goverment the money to do whatever THEY want to do with it?! (The charity sticker idea would not solve this problem either). You could support your charity better by making a donation directly to the cause, and you know the money isn’t going to be used for something other than what it was intended. Plus, you can use your donation for a tax deduction.

Quite frankly, I think people buy vanity plates so that others will see what a great person they are to make a donation to a particular cause. Just a thought…

Comment by T Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 10:14 am
I additionally want to amplify ‘Anonymous’ who said that this issue is a waste of time. Note how we all seem to side with our own preferences and still allow our favorite ‘charity’ to still be displayed, but thos ‘others’ have to go.

I do not believe the administrative burden is significant for the state burocract, but the revenue stream is TINY.

This discussion no matter how august the membership. is being diverted from the real issues in the state. It appears that it is impossible to move forward on any of the major issues, in the state, so the pols waste time on this kind of “feel good” legislation.

It’s kind of like adjusting the landscaping by the mailbox while the house in on fire. Nice, but there is a higher priority.

Comment by plutocrat03 Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 10:36 am
T,

The “donation” portion gets passed on to the charities. The state does not use it “to do whatever THEY want to do with it”.

Comment by Rob_N Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 10:37 am
A few points. Specialty/vanity plates to me are a pet peeve. I’m about the last person you’d ever suspect of defending law enforcement, but let’s be realistic, they’re for identification and I could understand why the cops would have trouble with the wide variety.

I remember reading something a few years ago that said Illinois has the most special plates in the nation when you take into consideration absolutely ridiculous ones like parade plates. That’s nonsensical to me.

That being said, I do find some plates have merit — specifically, the Medal of Honor, POW/MIA and ex-military plates. But that’s really about it. Most of the rest are drivel.

Enviro/peace/etc. plates serve one purpose. They say, “look at me, I have a specialty plate, which means that I support this cause, you don’t, and I’m better than you for it.” Bull.

There is the occasional specialty plate in which this isn’t the case, of course…the proposed choose life plate comes to mind. In that case, however, I don’t believe that the state should sanction political messages on official license plates.

I have plain plates and I guarantee that I go out and volunteer and donate more money to my specific causes than just about anyone who advertises their support for the same causes on their car.

As for vanity plates, I’m fine with them only because they’re simply regular plates with a message. That message to me, naturally, is that these are the same people who wear their cell phones clipped to their belt, so I can package them neatly in a box of preconceived notions that I keep specifically for them.

The only purpose that specialty plates really serve is the opportunity for a legislator to show lukewarm, mediocre support for an issue without having to really do anything about it. I mean, sheetmetal worker plates? Please.

My ultimate verdict — specialty plates should only be of the ex-military/Medal/POW variety. Vanity plates should be kept so I know who the self-important people are. Low-digit plates should be kept so I know who’s paid off the polticians (thinking Edgar/Ryan here since most were handed out at the end of their SOS admins.). And that’s it.

But we should redesign the Illinois plate to give it a little more flair, maybe waves of corn blending into the city’s skyline.

Comment by I don't need to advertise my support Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 10:39 am
The Environmental Plate (E-Plate) was the first on the scene and at that time, its purpose was to bolster the ever-dwindling State Park Fund. Initially, it worked until the myriad of other special plates emerged. Since that fund (like the rest) can be raided for political reasons, what’s the point of choosing to pay higher taxes?

Here’s a Final Jeopardy answer:

This state has the same 5-digit number on all of its license plates.

Readers, what’s the question?

Comment by Bird Man Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 10:40 am
Don’t have specialty plates. See no reason to pay extra to get something as mundane as car plates. Have always wondered who pays for this stuff and what they are thinking……Have generic plates with generic numbers. If I want to support an organization, I send them money. If I want to display my support of a cause I put on a bumper sticker. Car license plates are not a sensible way to do either. Just adds confusion and admin costs to deal with this stuff.

Comment by Way Northsider Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 10:56 am
obviously none of you people has talked to god about this or you would know that the only thing that really counts is healthcare so all licenses should be ALL KIDS PLATES

Comment by publius Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 10:58 am
First, I don’t have a specialty plate.

Second, how about an “Impeach Blago” plate?

Third, I know who would purchase the first plate….Pat Quinn.

As for the design? Perhaps an image of Blago’s hair with a red slash through it.

Comment by IrishPirate Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 11:05 am
To those w/questions about law enforcement issue:
Special plates [NOT vanity plates] have to be run through computer system differently. A reason plates are standardized [IL uses all numbers or all letters or IF a combination, letters are 1st while WI does the opposite] is for recognition. At a glance, a witness or cop can identify what state and what the characters are on the plate. If it is unusual or has something different about it, identification of it is slowed down [Try reading any plate while driving 60 mph in opposite direction and recognize if it is a breast cancer plate or other special plate from 75′ away]. Another issue is that many departments, radio operators and full or part-time cops need to look up extra ‘key’ characters to be inserted in the computer entry to get a response. Sometimes, the ’special’ plates are not computerized and require manual look-ups or simply do not return a response.

Thus far, law enforcement works through these issues and doesn’t complain since ’special’ plates are such a small percentage of total.

You going to get in line to pay $$$ extra for the “Rod Blagojevich” special plate?

Comment by North of I-80 Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 11:05 am
Maybe we should have plates calling for governmental reform in Illinois? Or what a plate honoring Elvis or son of Elvis governor?
Did one of the prior Secretaries come out against too many special plates?

Comment by keep up with the jones Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 11:07 am
Dan Rutherford is living in la-la land if he thinks some state residents would go for a small inconspicuous sticker on a generic plate. People with a cause and/or money will pay whatever they must to put a plate of their choice on their vehicle. I have a problem, however, with our governor raiding funds when the public believes extra fees are going to breast cancer research, environmental awareness, etc. I’m pretty sure Jesse White doesn’t propose a list to the legislature of plates his office wants to promote. Rather, it’s probably the opposite. The legislature is lobbied hard by various people with special interests to put forth legislation allowing these vanity plates. So Dan Rutherford, you are part of the problem - not part of the solution.

Comment by Just My Opinion Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 11:08 am
On the ID question. Are the numbers on the plates kept unique, so for example FG 1234 is only on one type of plate. Or does every different type of plate have access to every number? If it’s the latter, then it’s not the cops I’m worried about, it’s JQ Citizen. If you see a crime and catch some or all of a plate number, if there are 75 different cars (or more, in the case of partials) with the same plate number, then license plates are useless for ID. Get rid of ‘em.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 11:11 am
I don’t have specialty or vanity plates or anything. I can see law enforcement’s complaint. It’s not that they can’t identify a specialty license, but what about the witness who just sees that the plate was blue and white with a symbol on it. Now, instead of that witness having 50 options to look at (realistically, in most cases 48), they have over a hundred.

Comment by cermak_rd Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 11:11 am
I have generics straight out of the envelope. Don’t see any reason to spend more than I have to to get a license. If there is a cause I like I will send them money directly, not have a piece skimmed off by the state through a sales pitch. The cops I know hate vanity plates because there is too much stuff on them to get a quick read. Raise the threshold to 2,000 or 3,000 or simply drop the whole idea. Wounded vets may be an exception.

Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 11:12 am
Blago plate idea.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12075936@N06/1322525064/

Comment by IrishPirate Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 11:19 am
We used to put event plates on our company/personal vehicles to show our support for the event we were sponsoring - gave us good PR with the community. We don’t have any specialty plates now - I see no problem reading them, and if they generate funds for the state, meaning “profitable” and don’t have to be subsidized, then I’m all for it. Let whomever wants to “show off” a little.

Comment by Sahims2 Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 11:56 am
Rob_N, if you trust that the donation portion of the money is actually going to the charity, good for you. It has been said, at least a few times in response to the question of the day, that the funds have been raided or swept into general revenue to pay for pet projects. I, for one, don’t trust the people who govern this State because they have not presented themselves as being trustworthy on many different levels. I’ll take care of my charity donations myself, thank you! If you are participating in this form of donating money to your favorite charity, good luck with that!

Comment by T Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 12:35 pm
Fair enough, T.

Comment by Rob_N Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 1:24 pm
I do not have a specialty or vanity plate. I suggest going to one state plate and letting the individual put whatever they want on the front plate.

Comment by Dollar USA Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 1:25 pm
We have one specialty plate on one vehicle and a regular plate on the other. I agree that the number should be increased to at least 1500. I also think Illinois should follow suit with other states and that all specialty plates should be hugely increased. I think it is california that charges $500 for a specialty plate of any type. Immagine the money could bring in with that. I always get questions from friends from out of state about the amount of specialty plates that IL has.

Comment by Blah Blah Blah Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 1:30 pm
Please, Have we not already wasted enough of our tax payers moneies????? New topic please.

Comment by no purpose... Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 1:52 pm
no special plates. if you want to advocate a cause on the back of your car, buy a bumper sticker. the plates should be for identification only. they are not advertising spots. plates are plenty expensive, the state doesn’t need the extra bit of money it gets from the custom ones.

Comment by Robbie Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 2:51 pm
Gosh, for such a nondiscript qotd, there’s a lot of touchy bloggers out there. First, the qotd was about SPECIALTY plates, not vanity plates. They’re two separate things. Second, I don’t think most people are trying to make a big statement about themselves or think they’re better than others, etc. Geez, they’re just contributing to a cause they believe in. Third, the State still collects its full plate revenue, with only a portion of the extra charge going to the special fund. I doubt the collection costs are breaking the bank. Fourth, while law enforcement originally opposed the multitude of plates, they’ve since taken a neutral stand, esp as the plates have been improved to make them more readable. Finally, while Illinois lawmakers continue to search for the magic non-tax revenue source, most notably gambling, for big-ticket programs, why belittle these small VOLUNTARY revenue sources for the many little programs that are often shorted in the budget process? If you’re for expanding gambling to pay the bills, then don’t be against specialty plates. And yes, I have a specialty plate.

Comment by Doodles Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 3:05 pm
Although, I think that the NUMBER of plates can be a little over the top– I think that they are a great way to bring public awareness to a cause that you are in support of or HAVE supported.

Look at this way… Its better than seeing “2HOT4U” on the road or personal liscense plates taht you can hardly recognize that is being said.

Comment by YouNeverSawMe Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 3:05 pm
Strict conformity and vehicular monotony seems to be ruling the day. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 3:35 pm
We’ve had the same plain plates for 20+ years. I’m plenty vain and support several causes but have never been much interested in advertising either of them in such a way; it offends my sense of frugality.

Comment by yinn Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 3:37 pm
I would probably purchase a U of I plate for scholarships, but now that BLago raids these to, i am not going to. But if u want to take the chance, go ahead. I really DONT CARE>

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 3:42 pm
If it’s such a great idea, why not have special charity driver’s licenses too!? And while we’re at it, how about business licenses, since those often get hung on walls. Hmm, what other government administrative function can we spin into a non-essential service?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 3:49 pm
Maybe we can get plates for Madigan’s legal defense fund. This way he can continue to do defy the law at our expense.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 4:23 pm
My vote….get rid of them. People ( including police officers) have a hard enough time now determining what state the plate is from. Adding another 8 just makes no sense at all. Lets find another way to honor our military heros.

Comment by downhereforyears Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 4:26 pm
“Special” plates are like special lottery tickets for good causes - they generate very little for the worthwhile cause. And with so many, I think it is a very good idea either to end them or limit the number of “special” plates

Perhaps Jesse’s 1,500 limit is a good idea - but I think 2,500 would be a better number.

Doug Dobmeyer

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 4:48 pm
I have a sporting series plate (chose the deer instead of the fish or duck). I’ll admit that the structure of the numbering/lettering is goofy, and am sympathetic to the idea of standardizing the template (no pun intended).

Comment by Game eater Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 4:55 pm
From 10:40 a.m.

Final Jeopardy correct response:

“What is Minnesota?”

10,000 Lakes.

Comment by Bird Man Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 5:06 pm
I take whatever number the state gives out. I expect the police officer thing is about plate legibility - number and state - at speed, i.e. it’s not so they can read it and give you a parking ticket.

I agree with the “just write them a check” sentiment for charities. Otherwise it seems like yet another tax or an everyman’s version of having a wing at the hospital named after you.

Do what Indiana used to do - have the colors of the plates rotate through the state-funded four-year universities. In our case it would be orange and blue, then a basket of colors no one cares about or could even remember.

gauntlet…

Comment by Mr. Luxury Yacht Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 5:39 pm
I checked out that website with Rhode Island and clicked on Illinois’ previous plates.

I loved Illinois 1954-78 plates. Taxis still have them.

They should go back to those for all classes of vehicles (with different colors for ‘B’, etc.) and make them multi-year with a small decal.

Front plates are worthless and either 1)ruin the clean lines of today’s cars or 2) fall off in winter or at the car wash, requiring another useless replacement plate.

I still don’t believe the 2001 “contest winner” was the legitimate winner–no one who likes cars could have voted for those. They look like circus posters with Lincoln’s visage inappropriately attached.

They remind me of the 1976 Bicentenial plates that were designed by some kid who also won some sort of a “contest.” Or City of Chicago vehicle stickers, which, on a regular basis, defy narrative description.

Comment by Man Who Grew Up Reading Chicago Today Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 5:40 pm
I do not have specialty plates. I would rather write the check directly to the charity as others suggested.

I might go for an “Indict Blago” plate though.

Comment by Freezeup Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 6:52 pm
I don’t have, nor do I plan to get, specialty or vanity plates. I agree with those who remember that the objective for the plates is to identify a car and that “standard” plates probably do help the average citizen should the need ever arise.

Those who feel it necessary to have their car “make a statement” for them, can find other ways to decorate it.

I also agree with those who think this is a ridiculous topic for our legislators to be debating. We should have just stuck to the objective and this would be moot.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 8:03 pm
I do have vanity plates on two vehicles which indicates the college and year of graduation for Little Little E#1 and Little Little E#2. I love to brag about our sons and what better way to do it than to flaunt it? I would glady pay more for these two plates.

Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 8:12 pm
AA has a couple vanities, a low-digit (worried for weeks if I was on that d*** list-nope) a University and a personalized plate in the family fleet. Yes, my gas bill is horrendous and no SUVs in the whole batch.

If the regular plates didn’t look so hideous, I wouldn’t have bought the University plates for my whip. I would also vote to can the front plate because it looks like crap on most new cars (and those jagoff photo radar stoplight cameras can’t get you as easily..)

Going back to the school colors wouldn’t be all bad. Having said that, there are at least a few of us around here to remember the white on purple Northwestern plates that followed the yellow on Green John Deere plates in the 60s.

On Dad’s Red Buick, it wasn’t pretty.

Great topic, Rich.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 8:33 pm
Personally, I don’t have nor do I ever want any special plates. Curmudgeones that Andy Rooney and I seem to be, I prefer to drive down the roads of Illinois without making any social statement (or any other type of statement for that matter)to other drivers.

My wife, on the other hand, has to tie a yellow ribbon on her vehicle (actually a pink breast cancer awareness magnet) and if she could tell the world to “Hug a tree” or “Save a whale” she would probably have that also pasted on her already cluttered automobile. My philosophy regarding special license plates is “whatever gets you through the night” or “trips your trigger” and makes you feel good about yourself. However, YOU BETTER NOT MAKE ME AS A TAXPAYER PICK UP THE TAB FOR YOUR PSYCHOLOGICAL “FEEL GOOD” THERAPY. That is where I draw the line and start getting upset. Make sure to use your own wallet to pay your own way and not the Illinois taxpayer’s wallet.

Comment by Aaron slick from Pumpkin Creek, Il Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 8:36 pm
To start off, I have a specialty plate and have had them since the E-plates came out in 1994, although I’ve since moved on to a different plate (Route 66 series). In my travels, other Illinois motorists have commented on the attractiveness of the plate and where they could get one. Drivers from outside of Illinois have also complimented me on the plate. When I had the E-Plate and traveled in Southern Illinois, occasionally I was asked if it was a St. Louis Cardinals fan plate!

Posting specialty stickers on to existing plates would look rather silly. Think about it, a six or seven character plate with a specialty sticker no larger than a renewal tag would have to be placed in a corner of the plate that would be difficult to read. Why waste money on that? However, it would probably help to raise the threshold for issuing a plate to 1,000 or 1,500 in order to better justify the plate and hold costs down.

Comment by getting too old for this Tuesday, Sep 4, 07 @ 10:56 pm
I guess if you don’t beleive in the GOVERNMENT and in the idea that the will of the people is to have a unique way to showcase their interests and give to a charitable cause, then I could see why you wouldn’t want the specialized plates.

I don’t see the inappropriateness of this, nor do I think it causes that much of a strain on our public safety officers.

I would like to purchase the Iraqi Veteran plates.

Comment by HelpMeUnderstand Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 12:21 am
I drive a plain and simple vehicle with plain and simple generic plates. I have no bumper stickers to advertise my political views. I don’t even have a bumper sticker announcing that “My Goat Is Smarter than Your Honor Student.”

If the government could not raid the funds, they might be worthwhile. As it is, however, they are a glorified tax, and the little portion of money they raise is subject to government confiscation at any time. Personally, I prefer to give to charities directly and not give the government a cut of my charitable contributions.

Comment by Anonymous Driver Wednesday, Sep 5, 07 @ 9:41 am