FW, Article 2/26/08

Sunday, 24 February 2008
Reps. sponsor bills funding license plates
Rette Speight - DAILY HERALD
It seems there are more Utah license plates than types of vehicles to put them on.

Currently, the state of Utah has 32 different specialty license plates, 11 collegiate plates, three wildlife plates and four more going through legislation. As of last year, 72,878 specialty plates were gracing Utah's vehicles. What makes these glorified bumper stickers so appealing?
The specialty plates were originally created to raise money for certain charitable causes. The plates can cost the driver anywhere from $13 to $35. All of the plates pass through the Legislature.

In the past, the initial start-up fees were completely covered by the state. Legislators are now getting creative in their quests to sponsor more plates.

Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Salt Lake City, recently proposed a bill to the House funding cancer-screening awareness plates. The cost to get these plates on the road would be $8,200. She proposes the state government fund the initial cost to be paid back as the plates are sold.

Her proposal addressed a big concern for legislators, said Rep. John Dougall, R-Highland.

"Everybody wants to help out these worthy organizations," Dougall said, "but let the organizations do their own fundraisers. We don't need the tax commission and Legislature to be involved."

Moss's plate passed, even though many representatives spoke out about having too many plates in the state already.

Rep. Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley City, said the bill neither directed funds to charitable associations nor brought money to the department of health. Instead, the money would be used to fund an existing government agency.

"Sometimes we put a really beautiful coat on a process that isn't really good, and it does make it look better," Bigelow said about the cancer plate. "If you really want to fight cancer, fund the program. Take the people's money up front and fight it. Don't pretend to fight it."

Rep. Rebecca Lockhart, R-Provo, said she did not vote for the plate. Not because she doesn't agree with the cause, but because the state shouldn't be involved in supporting or not supporting all the causes brought before it.

"What about all the other legitimate causes that don't have a plate?" she asked.

Rep. Bradley Last, R-St. George, sponsored a bill this session to provide funds for a Zion National Park plate. Enough individuals agreed to purchase the plate, even though it had not been created, therefore ensuring the plate would be cost-efficient to the state.

Most legislators feel that no matter how good the cause, another license plate is simply that -- another license plate taking up government time and funds.

"Even though most of the plates are good ideas for good causes, they actually lose money," said Rep. Steve Sandstrom, R-Orem. "There are much better ways to get donations that don't leave taxpayers holding the bag."

Some of the license plates benefit specific charities, organizations and groups, such as the Boys and Girls Club, the Boy Scouts of America or the area universities. There is no question as to where the money is going. But what about broader issues, like the No More Homeless Pets plates or Children's Issues plates?

The Children's Issues plates actually separate the funds raised between the Guardian Ad Lien Services Account and the Children's Museum of Utah. How many donors realized they were actually giving half of the money to a museum?

Some plates don't actually bring in as much money as intended. The Boys and Girls Club only brought in $500 in the year 2007. The snowmobile plates were not purchased once in 2007.

Some of the plates have specific requirements. The Vintage Vehicle plates require the vehicle to be older than 1973.

Charlie Roberts, of the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles, said that in order to have the Clean Air plates, a vehicle must have a clean-fuel certificate. For a regular vehicle without the certificate, the plate could cost upwards of $82, because those with Clean Fuel plates aren't paying the regular fuel taxes, Roberts said. There are currently 1,211 registered Clean Fuel plates, he added.

Most legislators are against the creation of more specialty plates because they require precious time and funds that could be used for other things. Dougall said that a few years ago, the average bill cost about $10,000 to process.

"They're a waste of legislative time," Dougall said. "It's just a special group's sticker on a plate."

A common idea among representatives is to create a plain white plate with an area designated for a sticker. Groups could create their own sticker and individuals could place it at their own cost, with no drain on government funds and resources.