​A U.S. judge ruled a soccer fan can sue the California Department of Motor Vehicles and claim it violated his freedom of speech by rejecting his request for a personalized license plate.
Jonathan Kotler, a devoted fan of Britain’s Fulham Football Club, sued the DMV after it refused to issue him a license plate lettered “COYW,” short for “Come On You Whites” and the fans’ regular chant for their white-jerseyed players.
The DMV told Kotler the lettering has “connotations offensive to good taste and decency.”
U.S. District Judge George Wu in Los Angeles refused to dismiss the lawsuit by Kotler, a University of Southern California journalism law professor. California sought the dismissal, saying all vehicle license plates constitute speech by the government. Wu disagreed.
With thousands of differently lettered plates issued each year, “it strains believability to argue that viewers perceive the government as speaking through personalized vanity plates,” the judge said about the DMV’s contention.
DMV regulations define “offensive” plates as including those with any sexual connotation, as well as any term that is vulgar, racist, profane, insulting or degrading.
Wu noted in his ruling that British media refer to the Fulham club as “the Whites” while Chelsea, another London soccer club, is known as “the Blues,” for the color of its jerseys. New Zealand’s national rugby team is the “All Blacks.”
In court filings, state lawyers argued that the public knows the DMV approves messages on license plates and would assume that those messages came from the state. The DMV declined to comment on Wu’s ruling.

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission offers 17 dedicated plates that cost $50 for the initial purchase and an additional $10 a year that goes to causes ranging from supporting parks to endangered species to helping children of fallen law enforcement officers. The Battleship New Jersey plate has a $15 annual renewal fee and the Garden State agriculture plate carries no renewal fee, but it costs $70 to buy.
Some plates issued in the past for specific causes have been discontinued because of lack of sales.
The MVC initially resisted issuing "Choose Life" plates requested by the Children First Foundation to promote adoption because it was seen as weighing in on the more controversial abortion issue, but in 2010, the plate was made available. While MVC officials said that plate is still offered, sale figures were not included among statistics the commission provided to the state legislature earlier this year. It also is not listed on the MVC website with other dedicated plates.
​
Top Selling Plates for 2018:

2. Law Enforcement Memorial (31,262).
This license plate is a visible and financial show of support for families of police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice. The proceeds help fund scholarships for children of officers who died in the line of duty. The scholarship is administered by the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. ​

3. Conquer Cancer (19,356).
Helps the fight to find a cure and express visible support to others fighting the disease. Proceeds from the plate help the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research support cancer research projects in the state. ​

5. Animal Friendly (13,295).
The letters IM are placed so the plates read “I’m animal friendly” and proceeds benefit low cost neutering and spaying programs in the state. This is the second version of this popular plate. The first 1995 version featured a dog and cat and paw prints as the design. ​

​Wildlife Conservation (Bald Eagle) sold 10,132, United We Stand 9,742, Agriculture/Garden State 7,166, Treasure our Trees 3,838 and Pinelands 3,599, round out the top 10. Sales of the Pinelands plate literally contribute to more Pinelands by helping to buy more land for the Pinelands National Reserve that spans seven southern counties.

​With the Legacy plate now passing over $27 million with 669,083 plates in circulation as of December 1, 2018, compared to $23,853,384 (450,955) in 2017, other California special interest plates have shown a significant decline. The Coastal Commission’s 'Whale Tail’ plate dropped from $6,054,721 (82,805 plates) in 2017 to $5,286,907 (79,934 plates) in 2018; the ‘Kids’ plate has dropped from $4,524,346 (109,967 plates) to $3,960,927 (107,721 plates); and the ‘Arts’ plate has dropped from $3,773,030 (52,840) to $3,297,539 (50,485). The only plates seeing an increase in sales from 2017 to 2018 are the newly introduced Breast Cancer Awareness ‘Pink’ plate, the Museum ‘Snoopy’ plate.
The reason for this could well be the influence of the cost of personalizing the specific plate. While every specialty plate requires an additional $50.00 fee to personalize the plate (known as the ‘Environmental License Plate Fund’ fee, which goes to the environmental fund, which is the same as where all of the funds from the Legacy plates go), the Legacy plate does not require the additional fee. So instead of it costing $103.00 for a personalized plate, the Legacy plate only costs $50.00 whether personalized or not. It also provides a ‘blank’ black canvas for the yellow lettering for personalizations up to 7 characters.
As much as the environmental fund is a great cause, so are the other causes supported by the other specialty license plates and all the while they are being charged extra, there will probably be a continued decline in their sales. Maybe it’s time to level the playing field and remove the ELP Fund fee for personalizing other specialty plates, since the ELP Fund is certainly doing very well with $27 million and counting in annual fees now going into that fund through the Legacy plate?

​Specialty plate sales in the state of Arizona have raised $11.2 million for shareable cases, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
 
The causes that the $11.2 million supports ranged from Arizona veterans programs, Special Olympics, organ donation, hunger relief, university scholarships and many others.
 
ADOT reported that money raised has steadily grown for a number of years with $8.7 million in 2015, $9.4 million in 2016 and more than $9.8 million in 2017, followed by $10.6 million in 2018
 
Through a prepared statement, ADOT Motor Vehicle Division Director Erik Jorgensen stated “The specialty plate program is a real point for pride for Arizona and is a tremendous success. Raising more than $11 million in the last fiscal year proves Arizonans are both generous and eager to support great causes and organizations they believe in.”
 
ADOT said that drivers who wish to select a plate can go to servicearizona.com and once a selection is made, may click on a link for more information that outlines the cause supported by the plate’s sale.
 
Once in the portal, it is possible to select and click on the plate style, enter your choice of letter and/or numbers and click to see if that combination is taken or not free of charge. When ordering the plate, one must: Enter the vehicle information for the vehicle you are requesting the specialty plate, confirm record information displaying it’s for the correct vehicle, select your plate sale and plate format (if applicable), view total fees, provide credit card information and pay fee, print confirmation and attach to your current registration until your request plate arrives, provide feedback by answering a quick and simple optional survey.
 
Specialty plates are created by an act of the Arizona Legislature. The program, which began in 1989, is administered by the MVD.

​Total annual revenue generated from specialty license plates continues to try to get back to the annual revenue amount that was generated from the program prior to the significant increase in registration fees and taxes that were introduced by the DMV in August, 2009.
In 2008, 1,524,608 specialty license plates were sold, generating $34,383,524.65, compared to 1,446,623 ($33,509,016.00) in 2018.

Prior to 2009, specialty license plate sales increased every year, despite the economic recession. The 2009 Florida State Legislature significantly increased vehicle registration fees, particularly with respect to purchasing specialty license plates. In 2008, annual sales of Florida Specialty License Plates amounted to 1,623,486. Since 2009, there has been a 19.78% decline in Specialty Plate sales, reflecting approximately $7 million lost in annual revenue. 
In September, 2013, the Florida Legislature reduced some fees associated with vehicle registrations, however, did not address the significant increase in the cost to purchase a new specialty license plate that was imposed in 2009.

​Authorities say more than 260 dolphins have stranded across the U.S. Gulf Coast since Feb. 1, triple the usual number.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists say it's too early to know the cause but they're investigating whether salinity changes from high rivers and a Louisiana spillway opening contributed to the deaths.
NOAA says on its website that a number of the dolphins stranded from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle had open sores consistent with freshwater exposure, but such sores are "not uncommon" in the spring.
A Mississippi scientist says the spillway opening is at least partly to blame for 126 deaths across Mississippi's coastline, calling it worse than the BP oil spill in 2010, when 91 dead dolphins were found in Mississippi during the entire year.

​The 'Blue Angels' specialty license plate managed to jump off the train and soar above onto SB 620, after the bill had passed all of its committees, sponsored by Doug Broxson, R-Pensacola (and the Rules and Military and Veterans Affairs and Space Committees). The Blue Angels is the first specialty license plate to be approved in Florida for many, many years and not for want of trying.

​The 2018 license plate bill in the House (HB 505) was once again sponsored by James ‘JW’ Grant, R- Tampa, a 36 year old entrepreneur who attended Auburn University and Stetson College of Law. He is a member of Ducks Unlimited, Tampa Bay 100 Chapter, General H. Norman Schwarzkopf Children's Home Sporting Clays Classic, and the National Rifle Association. It has been a number of years now that Rep Grant has took the helm to lead the charge for new specialty plate rules and new specialty plates and failed. Among the over 30 proposed license plates that were contained in HB 505 and SB 1104 were plates that have been trying to gain legislative approval for over five years. Lobbyists for Orlando City Soccer Club, Coastal
Conservation Association, Lauren's Kids, the Independent Colleges & Universities, Moffitt Cancer Center, Rotary's Camps, Tampa Bay Lightning, Orlando Magic, Florida Off Road Foundation, Donate Life, American Legion, Veteran's of Foreign Wars, Ducks Unlimited, Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions, Florida Beekeepers Research Foundation, Dan Marino Foundation, Inc., New College Foundation, Broward County, Florida Municipal Electric Association, Florida Tax Collectors, Inc. and numerous tech companies all lined up on either side of the bill with conflicting opinions on language, as well as the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles own paid lobbyist, Kevin Jacobs.

​Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation, Inc., a direct support organization of Florida Atlantic University, that now has five specialty license plates under its belt, mobilized 8 lobbyists in this year's legislative session to fend off a challenge from the Florida marine mammal stranding network members, spearheaded by One Ocean One Health Research and Conservation Institute, based in Marineland. Amendments were filed to attempt to take the Protect Wild Dolphins and Protect Florida Whales specialty plates from Harbor Branch, claiming that research and funding was being limited to FAU staff and employees and that over $2 million was being withheld by the DSO as a "reserve". Source

​The deadliest mass shooting in modern American history could soon have a specialty Nevada license plate designed to generate funds to support those affected by the tragedy.
Assembly Bill 333, if approved, would create the “One October” license plate, intended to commemorate and memorialize the victims of the Oct. 1, 2017, shooting at the Route 91 Harvest festival that left 58 dead and over 800 injured.
“It’s not something our city is ever going to forget, so I think it’s important to remember those 58 people and this would be another way to do that,” Robone said. “The money is going to a great cause, so I don’t see it as any kind of disrespect, but moreso a tribute to the people who didn’t make it.”
Robone said it’s important for shooting survivors to receive support for as long as they need it, and this plate could help.
Similar initiatives memorializing other tragic incidents have been put forward in Nevada and elsewhere. Fees from the license plate would go to the state treasurer's office, which would then send the money to the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center every three months. The center would use the funding to help those affected by the shooting through its resources and referrals.
Under the proposal, the plate would come with a $25 issuance fee and an additional $20 fee for renewal.
Nevada has a “United We Stand” specialty license plate, which was created to “reflect the public’s solidarity after the acts of terrorism committed on Sept. 11, 2001,” according to the state Emergency Response Commission’s website, the organization that backed the plate. Initial plate registration fees run $62, with $25 of that going to provide grant funds to combat terrorism for local planning committees in Nevada. The fund receives $20 from each annual renewal fee as well.
At least 12 other states have 9/11 inspired license plates, including New Jersey and Connecticut.
New York approved a similar memorial plate last year, with the proceeds from those plates going toward a scholarship fund for relatives of the victims. The plate was supposed to roll out this week, but the bill’s organizers failed to post the required $6,000 bond to begin the plates’ production, delaying the rollout, according to the New York Post.
In the early 2000s, Colorado approved the “Respect Life” specialty plate to recognize the victims and survivors of the 1999 Columbine High School mass shooting. When it was originally rolled out, officials hoped motorists would voluntarily donate to a special fund to help victims of the shooting but after lackluster donations, ties to it were severed by the state by 2004, according to the Denver Post. Since then the plates’ proceeds have gone directly to the state, the Denver Post reported.
In Florida, a proposal to create the “Orlando United” license plate to commemorate the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting was up for approval during the state’s legislative session. $25 per plate would have gone toward supporting mental health counseling for survivors. The plate failed to pass.

​Hawai’i Pacific Parks Association announced that it, along with its national park partners, has won an Honorable Mention Award in the Outstanding Public Engagement category at the Public Lands Alliance Convention and Trade Show in Denver.
This honor was awarded to the association’s Hawaii National Park Specialty License Plate Program to benefit Haleakala and Hawaii Volcanoes National Parks.
These awards celebrate the best in public lands partnerships and honor individuals, organizations, publications, products, programs and services that embody leading-edge achievements in the preservation of public lands and the enrichment of the visitors’ experiences.
The first specialty license plates in Hawaii became available from local DMV offices on Aug. 1, 2017, the 101st anniversary of the establishment of the two parks, originally known as Hawaii National Park. Designed by Ian Ryan of Sae Design, the plates feature colorful, iconic scenes, such as Kilauea Volcano erupting, and the nene, the revered Hawaiian state bird and a conservation success story. The program was authorized by a 2015 state law to raise funds for resource protection and education projects at Haleakala and Hawaii Volcanoes national parks.
The specialty license plates program is doubly beneficial because plate purchases and annual renewal fees mean an ongoing income stream for park programs. Because HPPA understands that nonresident park visitors still want to support the parks, it created merchandise items including a keychain spinner showing both national park plates and, for Haleakala National Park, a line that includes travel mugs, stickers, postcards and plate replicas.
​https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/license-plate-program-earns-award-parks-michael-towner

​A new specialty Massachusetts license plate is paying tribute to Dr. Seuss. The design featuring “The Cat In The Hat” celebrates the legacy of Springfield native Theodor Geisel.

“Dr. Seuss’s creativity has inspired generations to dream big and his own ingenuity taught millions the joy of learning,” said Sen. James T. Welch, of West Springfield, in a statement. “We’re lucky to be able to call Dr. Seuss our own here in Springfield and these license plates will be a reminder to all residents of the Commonwealth of the joy and impact his stories and illustrations have made in all of our lives—forever joining the spirit of Seuss and Massachusetts.”

Proceeds from sales of the plate will benefit the Springfield Museums, where the Amazing World Of Dr. Seuss Museum opened in 2017. In California, the 'Snoopy' plate proceeds go to California museums.

At least 750 people need to apply for the specialty plate before the Registry of Motor Vehicles produces it. The cost for the special plate is $40.

Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito will be at the museum Thursday to officially announce the plate. An auction for license plate numbers 1-99 will be held at a later date.

Just weeks ago it was announced that a new Dr. Seuss book will be coming out this fall, 28 years after Geisel’s death.