State to offer specialty license plate program
See two articles and one link below
Wednesday May 12, 2004
New program to begin creating plates for non-profits by end of summer
After nearly a decade of legislative prodding by House Transportation Committee Chairman Rick Geist (R-Altoona), the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) has responded to his call for the creation of a specialty license plate program that will allow non-profit organizations to raise funds and promote their causes.
In a recent letter to Rep. Geist, Secretary of Transportation Allen Biehler outlined PENNDOT’s new specialty plate program, which is scheduled to begin issuing new specialty plates to participating organizations by September.
In his letter, Biehler said that "PENNDOT has listened to your (Geist’s) interests regarding the need to address special fund plates. I believe this direction will serve the interests of your constituents, address law enforcement concerns and improve administrative efficiencies for PENNDOT."
Twice in the past 10 years the General Assembly had approved legislation sponsored by Geist that would have provided for a special fund plate program, but in both cases the bills were vetoed by the governor because it was felt that the time and staff needed for PENNDOT to develop and administer such a program would make it cost-prohibitive.
Geist’s latest legislation on the issue, House Bill 54, was approved by the House last June and currently is awaiting consideration in the Senate. In summary, the bill addresses previous concerns by eliminating PENNDOT as an administrative "middle man" between the non-profit organization and the purchaser of a given license plate.
"PENNDOT has recognized the merits of my latest legislation and its proposed solutions, and is proceeding to implement a program along those lines," Geist said. "It is certainly gratifying to see the specialty license plate program about to become a reality after devoting years of time and energy to promoting this idea."
Under PENNDOT’s new specialty plate program, organizations that want to sell plates will deal directly with customers, setting whatever fee they decide for the plate above the standard $20 fee for a specialty plate required by PENNDOT. The organization also will work directly with state Correctional Industries in designing and producing the plates for sale.
PENNDOT’s administrative involvement will be limited to approving applications from interested organizations, consulting with State Police to approve a plate’s design, collecting customers’ standard $20 specialty plate fee and application from the non-profit organization, and issuing the plates to customers.
"This way, the sponsoring organization would handle its fair share of the administrative processing, rather than saddling PENNDOT with it," Geist said. "PENNDOT shouldn’t have to be a middle man between the organization and the motorist."
Participating organizations will pay state Correctional Industries a $500 fee for design services and $2.50 per plate to cover production costs. The organization will pay for the inventory they determine.
A new graphic sheeting process at the state correctional facility in Mercer County where state license plates are produced makes it possible to efficiently produce the various plate designs.
All plates will feature a standard blue-white-yellow gradient backdrop with PENNSYLVANIA emblazoned across the top. An organization’s logo will appear in a 3-inch by 3-inch section on the left side of the plate, beneath the registration sticker. A stacked-letter prefix unique to the organization will precede the tag number to aid in plate identification. The organization’s name or slogan will be emblazoned across the bottom of the license plate.
"The design format is great because it standardizes plate appearance by conforming to Pennsylvania plate colors and layout, while still providing a colorful and attractive design unique to each organization," Geist said.
To be eligible for the specialty plate program, an organization must be a non-profit that provides some type of community service or benefit to the welfare of others. The organization also must be based, headquartered or have an active chapter in Pennsylvania, and must not be offensive in purpose, nature or name (as determined by PENNDOT).
Interested organizations may begin contacting PENNDOT for program kits beginning next month. The kits provide eligibility criteria, guidelines for program participation, and an application.
"I commend Secretary Biehler and PENNDOT for implementing this program, which will enhance the fund-raising efforts of dedicated organizations and allow motorists to express their support for worthy causes," Geist said. "At the same time, it will generate revenue for the Motor License Fund, which funds highway maintenance throughout the Commonwealth."
Rep. Richard A.
Geist
79th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
See related article on PennDOT's website
http://www.dot3.state.pa.us/license_plates/specialty_plates.shtmlHARRISBURG May 24, 2004 -- The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is launching a specialty license plate program that will allow nonprofit organizations to raise funds and promote their causes.
Under the new program, organizations that want to sell plates will pay Correctional Industries a $500 fee for design services and $2.50 production cost per plate. The organization may then sell plates at whatever fee they decide above PennDOT's required $20 fee for specialty plates.
The organization's name and logo will appear on the traditional blue, white, and yellow Pennsylvania tag.
Interested organizations may contact PennDOT beginning in June for program kits with further details on eligibility, guidelines and an application.