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* Sun-Times story on Chicago Ald. David Moore’s campaign announcement for secretary of state…

In his announcement speech, Moore said he’d expand the use of technology in the office for access to libraries to help younger state residents “explore their skills” and establish youth engagement offices named for White at the state’s driving facilities as well as place advertisements on license plates in order to bring in revenue.

* The Question: Advertisements on license plates? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…

bike trails

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:34 am

Comments

Pride in our state is already low enough…I don’t think that would be helped by the “Guaranteed Rate Official Illinois License Plate”

Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:41 am
With all the special variations (over 100 now I believe), plates are already extremely busy. Don’t need additional verbiage on them.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:43 am
Voted “No”. I wouldn’t want to allow Amazon or “My Pillow” or anyone like that to go on my license plate. I’m sure others feel that way about other companies.

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:44 am
Voted no. Waiting for another State to purchase advertising with “I’m moving to Ohio” on random license plates.

Comment by AD Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:44 am
Can you imagine…

“Wander Indiana” on an Illinois license plate?

No.

We’re better than looking for license plate “sponsors”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:45 am
Mark of the corporate beast…No.

Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:45 am
I’m a no on the advertisements. We already have a plethera of license plates that seem confusing adding adds for McDonalds versus Arby’s just seems worse. Is there even a market from Business for this?

Comment by Mason born Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:45 am
On principle, I would probably end up paying more for a novelty plate in order to avoid having to advertise a company on my car. Mission accomplished, I guess?

“establish youth engagement offices named for White at the state’s driving facilities”

Unless this is aimed at driver safety, I can’t see how this would line up with the office’s functions. If it is about driver safety, this should be more about a serious push to work with drivers education programs (who have little to no connection with the SecState’s office outside of the testing requirements).

Unserious proposals all around, here..

Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:47 am
Imagine:
The State of Illinois, sponsored by Monsanto.

Let’s reopen the discussion of selling naming rights to the Capitol. I’d love to see the Pritzker Rotunda in the Kenneth Griffin Capitol Complex

Comment by schocked Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:47 am
They should have video gaming at the SOS driver facilities, that way maybe some of the people in this state can afford the renewal fees

Comment by Merica Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:51 am
I said no but really, they allow Cubs plates, how much worse can it get?

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:52 am
I voted no. I can only handle so much dystopia in my daily life and I don’t need every walk to my SUV to highlight that I have been reduced to an advertisement and a data source for advertisers.

===Advertisements on license plates? ===

Anyone that thinks this is a good idea should review the 1st Amendment cases that arose from attempts to control advertising content on public buses.

Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:52 am
==Imagine:
The State of Illinois, sponsored by Monsanto.==

Or sponsored by ComEd

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:53 am
There’s enough on IL license plates now. A sponsored ad…no way.

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:53 am
For this to be of use to business wouldn’t it matter a great deal how and where people drive? I guess you could go off of zipcode for some of it so you aren’t advertising for Rural King in Chicago, but how much use is a plate that sits on a car in your garage for most weeks or drives less than 20 miles a day to and from work.

Comment by Mason born Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:54 am
Yes, only for Illinois patented colors, John Deere green, IH red, cat, yellow

Comment by Rabid Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:55 am
== We’re better than looking for license plate “sponsors” ==

With due respect, I voted yes because we aren’t better than this and shouldn’t be. This State has major problems that hurt people. A large part of its population isn’t in a financial position to pay more in taxes for the luxury of having a dignified license plate. Anything that lessens that burden, even a little, I’m for.

Comment by SouthSide Markie Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:57 am
I voted yes. We basically do it already, although the money goes to charities. (channeling Animal House here) We need the dues.

Comment by Red Ranger Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:57 am
Voted no. Desperation is a stinky cologne.

Comment by Reading Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:58 am
I voted yes but with a caveat. Who decides what advertisement goes on what plate? In the grand scheme is my life changed by a mcdonalds stivker on a license plate ? No

Comment by Regular democrat Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 11:59 am
That may be about the dumbest idea by a candidate for secretary of state I’ve ever read. I’m surprised anyone has voted yes.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:00 pm
No. The purpose of a license plate is identification. It has to be easily read.
Why doesn’t the state instead rent billboard space on the backs of the green signs, the structure and electricity is already there. They’re easily viewed by the opposite side. A win win I would think.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:01 pm
I voted no.

Presumably, we have waiting lists for many personalized license plates (or at least lots of people that would love “1″ “One” or something similar. Keep raising the prices on the most popular plates till you balance out supply and demand. Better yet, use online auction technology to derive more revenue for those plates.

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:01 pm
Only if the plate was 100% paid for by the advertiser, and pay the state double the normal cost of the plate.

Comment by DuPage Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:01 pm
I have a great idea for a license plate to advertise a proctology practice…

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:10 pm
Absolutely not. The advertiser may be a company that I do not like and would not want to be advertising for it. The purpose of the plate is not for advertising.

Comment by Lawman Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:14 pm
=== A large part of its population isn’t in a financial position to pay more in taxes for the luxury of having a dignified license plate. Anything that lessens that burden, even a little, I’m for.===

You raise, say, a billion dollars on plates, “sure”

With respect, “$10 million” in advertising on a license plate for $38 billion… I mean…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:16 pm
Illinois: Land of Lincoln Towing

Comment by Tear One Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:16 pm
With gem ideas like that, I can only hope he goes the distance.

Comment by ;) Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:19 pm
I voted No. I would think law enforcement would be against it. They are already not happy about all the specialty plates IL offers. Are you going to allow alcohol and tobacco companies to participate? If not, get ready for the lawsuits.

Comment by Palos (D) Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:21 pm
No. I am not paying a license plate fee to advertise some company that I don’t even like.

(I’m not a fan of those special plates, either. There are too many of them.)

This is nuts.

But what do you expect from a guy who wants to rename Lake Shore Drive?

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:22 pm
I voted no. But I guess if we could have a choice of ads that we pick, then maybe…. Still probably not a good look.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:29 pm
Can you imagine the outcry if George Ryan had proposed this 20-30 years ago while SOS then as Governor?

Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:35 pm
No (and against the ISP License Plate Frames too)

Comment by Red Ketcher Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:35 pm
== With respect, “$10 million” in advertising on a license plate for $38 billion… I mean… ==

I mean that it’s $10 million more than we have. We’re always quick to put down these smaller dollar ideas. But tell someone from a crime-ridden all minority community that an idea to generate an extra $10 million in cash to the State isn’t worth considering because the rest of us feel that it’s undignified. You’ll get the kind of reaction that explains why they feel like their government is meaningless.

That’s $10 million that could be used for jobs for the poor. Or to incentivize an economic development project in an economically disadvantaged community. Or for an affordable housing project. Or for infrastructure in a village that can’t afford it. Or to give a $5000 raise to 2000 teachers. All things that will make an actual difference in the lives of the people who benefit from that and their families.

It’s not going to save the world. It’s not even going to help a big part of the State. But if it’s earmarked to help some people, even a few, then we don’t have the luxury of saying no because it’s beneath our dignity.

People need to spend some time in one of this State’s many impoverished areas before deciding what is too undignified or desperate to tolerate.

Comment by SouthSide Markie Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:37 pm
Hey there JS Mill that was a foul ball. /s

So this candidate thinks folks will go for the idea of putting advertising on their plates and still pay the fees. When you try to come up with a popular position to push your weak candidacy, make sure the idea is popular before announcing it.

No

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:39 pm
I vote no. That would just be tacky.

Comment by Manchester Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:41 pm
===Can you imagine the outcry if George Ryan had proposed this===

I think Marty Sandoval did propose that in the day.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:43 pm
== I think Marty Sandoval did propose that in the day. ==

John Mulroe did.

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/illinois/desperate-for-cash-illinois-may-sell-ads-on-license-plates/article_86844d18-3537-11e0-8121-00127992bc8b.html

Comment by SouthSide Markie Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:47 pm
=== I mean that it’s $10 million more than we have.===

It’s like the guy who owes $500,000 so he thinks selling his $100 watch is something. No. It’s not

=== It’s not going to save the world. It’s not even going to help a big part of the State. But if it’s earmarked to help some people, even a few, then we don’t have the luxury of saying no because it’s beneath our dignity.===

No. “We are better than this”

Raise $3-4 billion in taxes. That’s what it means to understand fiscal realities.

Otherwise, let’s have “bake sales”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:48 pm
=== But if it’s earmarked to help some people, even a few===

We have plates that already do just that.

All this, with respect… and I hear ya.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:50 pm
IL already allowd plates for sports teams, colleges causes….why not Busch Light…kinda like NASCAR

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:51 pm
== Raise $3-4 billion in taxes. That’s what it means to understand fiscal realities. ==

I’m glad that you’re in a position to pay that. Understanding fiscal realities means knowing that lots of people in this State are not. Since we don’t have a graduated tax, that means that the people who hurt the most are going to be hurt more by a tax increase. That’s what we should be better than. So yeah. I’m all for a ten million dollar bake sale if it increases the salaries of 2000 teachers in this State.

Comment by SouthSide Markie Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:54 pm
==I mean that it’s $10 million more than we have. ==

Voted no.

10 million might be nice, but
A) I am not really sure an ad for Draft Kings is what you want on a plate.
B) This seems red camera ripe for someone to hook someone up and shenanigans to occur.
C) Everyone and their brother would have a ‘good use’ for the money.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 12:58 pm
Voted no. For the same reason I didn’t think that early 2000s trend of “skinvertising” tattoos was a bad idea. Stay classy, Illinois.

Comment by Dysfunction Junction Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:03 pm
=== I’m glad that you’re in a position to pay that. Understanding fiscal realities means knowing that lots of people in this State are not.===

How did you vote in the “Fair Tax”?

Would your taxes have been raised if passed?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:03 pm
-Sandoval proposed that in the day-
Was it an ad for SafeSpeed LLC?

Comment by Drake Mallard Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:03 pm
No. If you allow ads, you have to allow “political” ads, which can be from any Arthur Jones.

Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:10 pm
Voted no. The plates may be issued by the State, but it’s on my car. If I don’t agree with what is on there, I would be inclined to find a way to hide the ad.

To the article: “The second term alderman said in his conversations with state residents he’s heard common themes, mostly boiling down to people wanting the next secretary of state to be like White in terms of focusing on the office’s services rather than politics and seeing the office “

Right there with others on this one. I can remember when SOS services were atrocious. Highly noticeable improvements beginning when Mr. White took over. I wouldn’t like to see a step backwards on that.

Comment by ddp76 Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:12 pm
I don’t even know how that would work. The state is going to force me to have advertisements on my private vehicle? The English language does not have enough words to fully express the utter tackiness of this idea.

Comment by duck duck goose Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:16 pm
I voted yes. I want to see the beer and alcohol plus weed ads. Sorta like automatic probable cause for a stop
I think we should auction of number 1 thru 100 to highest bidder. Or maybe assign numbers by highest state pension

Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:18 pm
What’s next, putting Brawndo on our crops?

“It’s what plants crave.”

Comment by ChrisB Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:20 pm
=== So yeah. I’m all for a ten million dollar bake sale if it increases the salaries of 2000 teachers in this State===

That’s kinda how they kinda created speciality plates… kinda…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:20 pm
= If I don’t agree with what is on there, I would be inclined to find a way to hide the ad. =

See Wooley v. Maynard, 430 U.S. 705 You can do that. (In that case, the Maynards covered up the state motto on their plates.)

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:22 pm
They should sell low number plates to highest bidder.

Comment by Hippopotamus Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:23 pm
I’m with Tear One,
Lincoln Towing would be the most appropriate sponsor.

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:32 pm
No. Illinois Secretary of State’s Office sponsored by Budweiser, the king of beer. Don’t drink and drive.

What could go wrong?

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:46 pm
==Lincoln Towing would be the most appropriate sponsor.==

What about Lincoln Yellow Cab (the Springfield taxi company) as another sponsor?

Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:51 pm
Illinois license plates sponsored by [that politician that you particularly hate]/[big personal injury law firm]. No thanks.

Comment by Guzzlepot Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 2:08 pm
We’ve got enough advertising being rammed down our throats already. Give me a break.

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 2:19 pm
Let make our state reps and senators, gov, sec of state wear jackets with ads on the back. Just like little league.

Comment by Groucho Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 2:29 pm
= See Wooley v. Maynard =

Thanks for the cite. Though I hadn’t intended outright protest, I was thinking more along the lines of something like just getting a fat license plate frame that is fairly common and less likely to draw scrutiny from LE for a traffic stop.

Comment by ddp76 Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 2:35 pm
== How did you vote in the “Fair Tax”? Would your taxes have been raised if passed? ==

I voted yes for the Fair Tax and campaigned for it. My taxes would not have been raised if it passed. However, if I was in the position where I was not too many years ago, my taxes would have increased a great deal. And I would have still voted yes and campaigned for the Fair Tax if I was still in that position.

I sincerely appreciate the respect. Same back atcha.

Comment by SouthSide Markie Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 2:50 pm
What, I’m drafted as a NASCAR driver now? No. Private logos don’t belong on government-issued anything. We already have enough confusion about public versus private ethics via a widespread belief that “government should be run like a business.”

Comment by yinn Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 3:06 pm
Voted no. My car is my castle, man. I don’t want to be forced to plaster an ad for someone or something I can’t stand.

Comment by SAP Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 3:47 pm
Voted No. I’m opposed to any more “ad” pollution on anything. Driving around with an ad for one of the many things that annoy me is too much.

Comment by froganon Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 5:14 pm
I voted no for the same reason that many others have articulated here - despite the fact that our state is starved and desperate for revenue from any source, there are some lines we just can’t cross. This is one of them.

Comment by Just a guy Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 6:20 pm
Voted No. Send these results to the Alderman. Not many votes from this bandwagon. Back to the white board for that broad vision of public service.

Comment by froganon Tuesday, May 18, 21 @ 8:07 am

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