New license plates might appear soon; A review board formed in 2003

You may be seeing a lot more than just Mount Rainier on Washington license plates before too long.

Legislators are considering bills that would add a dozen new customized license plates. The new specialty plates would raise money designed to benefit causes ranging from lighthouse restoration and snowboarding to state parks and Gonzaga University.

Currently, there are specialty plates for square dancing, Pearl Harbor survivors, Safeco Field and several of the state's universities, including EWU and Washington State. However, those plates all have the standard Mt. Rainier backdrop. It wasn't until recently that organizations could lobby for designing their own license plates.

In 2003, the Special License Plate Review Board was created. The board reviews applications from qualifying, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and community colleges for a specialized license plate. The organization must pay a $2,000 application fee, create a marketing plan and show the board there is a demand for the plates.

The organization must also reimburse the state for the implementation costs for creating a new plate, which is $30,000. Once the state is repaid the funds go to the organization. If an organization fails to make enough money to pay back the state within three years, the license series is suspended. If the plate is suspended, owners of the plates are able to keep theirs as long as they pay an annual fee until they are required to get a new license plate.

Once the board approves the organization's proposal, a bill is drafted and sent to the Legislature. Last year, three specialty plates were approved by the Legislature, benefiting a law enforcement memorial, professional firefighters and child speech development.

Specialty license plates cost $40 initially with an annual $30 renewal fee that is added to registration costs. Of the initial fee, $28 goes to the special cause the plate supports with the remaining money used for administrative fees. Out of the annual cost, just $2 is used for administrative costs. In total there are more than 232,000 vehicles with specialized plates in Washington.

"I think one of the things that is interesting is that people can have license plates on your cars and other motor vehicles so there is an opportunity to have more than one plate," said Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, chairwoman of the Senate's Transportation Committee.

Haugen's committee heard six bills this week for specialized plates supporting causes ranging from bicycle safety to state parks.

Denise Isings gave emotional testimony on behalf of the "Keep Kids Safe" series of plates. Two years ago, Isings told lawmakers, her infant grandson was shaken to death by her daughter's boyfriend. Part of the proceeds from the plates would go to shaken baby syndrome education. The plate has a white background with colorful handprints from a child as decoration - those handprints belong to Isings' grandson.

"If we start educating now, in six years everyone will have a plan for what to do when presented with a fussy baby," Isings told the committee. "I am sure that if my daughter's boyfriend had a plan on that day my grandson would still be alive today."

Haugen fought back tears when addressing Isings and the committee after the testimony.

"As a grandmother you tear at my heart," said Haugen. "This is really amazing because this will be a legacy for him."

Several states throughout the nation have adopted programs that generate funding for various causes through specialized license plates. Arizona has a plate similar to the proposed "Keep Kids Safe" plate that has generated more than $2.2 million.

SIDEBAR:AT A GLANCE SPECIALTY PLATES A look at some of the custom plates already on the road: -- University of Washington, 4,580 issued. -- Washington State University, 11,245 issued. -- Purple Heart, 2,065 issued. -- Professional firefighter, 1,590 issued. -- Square dancer, 1,067 issued. -- Law enforcement memorial, 584 issued. -- Eastern Washington University, 564 issued. -- Pearl Harbor survivor, 388 issued. -- Help Our Kids Speak, 318 issued.

Travis Hay can be reached at (360) 586-0002 or travis.hay@gmail.com.

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