License plates raise money for states

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana's decision to offer a "Choose Life" license plate could generate millions of dollars for anti-abortion centers seeking to spread their message.\nThe plate, commissioned by the Indiana Association of Pregnancy Centers, reflects a growing trend toward drivers who want to profess their beliefs and interests -- and organizations who hope to capitalize on those statements.\nIndiana currently offers 55 plates and plans to release 10 more in 2007 -- including the "Choose Life" plate and another that says "In God We Trust." Purchasers pay a $15 fee plus a donation of up to $25 to organizations representing pet lovers, the environment, advocates for children, colleges and universities, veterans and even sports enthusiasts.\n"Plates, to a degree, are an extension of one's personality," said BMV spokesman Greg Cook. "They obviously help bring in revenue and also help the organization gain awareness."\nThe Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles sold more than 300,000 specialty plates last year and collected $2.7 million. Virginia, which has 180 specialty license plates, collected $6.9 million through specialty plates in fiscal year 2005, said Bill Foy, a spokesman with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.\nAnother $1.9 million went to the groups whose interests the Virginia plates reflected- including tobacco heritage, greyhound adoption, foxhunting, home schooling and friends of Tibet.\nThe state also offers dozens of college and university plates, including out-of-state schools such as Texas A&M and Penn State. Plates are in the works that feature juvenile diabetes, adoption and scuba diving.\n"It's one of those things that have mushroomed," Foy said. "It really has just taken off."\nThough groups like the revenue, the volume of specialty plates can be a headache for law enforcement officials to track.\n"It's kind of like Pandora's box -- once you open it you can't get it shut," said Indiana State Police 1st Sgt. Dave Bursten. "You just live with it the best you can."\nMelissa Savage, a policy analyst at the National Conference of State Legislatures, said some states are finding it's difficult for administrators to track numerous plates.\n"There's certainly some states out there that are trying to rein it in," Savage said.\nSome more controversial plates, such as those supporting anti-abortion views, have spurred lawsuits across the country. In March, a federal appeals court ruled Tennessee could sell license plates that say "Choose Life," even though it doesn't offer one with an abortion rights message. The court later delayed production of the plates so opponents could appeal. Challenges also have been raised in other states.\nIndiana's "Choose Life" plates- which will bring money to the Indiana Association of Pregnancy Centers- are expected to withstand any court challenge because they were created administratively through the BMV, not by a legislative vote that could favor one political position over another.\nDan Steiner, president of the association, hopes to raise millions of dollars over several years for centers that offer abortion alternatives. The plates could also raise awareness, he said.\n"It's non-confrontational," Steiner said. "It's positive."\nDuring this year's legislative session, the General Assembly passed a bill to create the "In God We Trust" plate, which does not include an extra fee and is not technically a specialty plate.\nThe state also recently created an Indianapolis Colts series of plates, which were released earlier this year. So far, more than 6,134 have been sold, with part of the proceeds going to help fund the team's new stadium.\nIf plates don't prove popular, they are discontinued.\nIndiana requires at least 2,000 plates to be bought over a span of four years, or an average of 500 plates per year. Dropped plates in Indiana include ones that helped fund the Literacy Foundation, Indiana Mental Health Trust, and the Food Bank Trust, Cook said.