June 19, 2009 in City

End of road in sight for unpopular license plates

Associated Press
 

Sell or die

Specialty plates that fall below 1,000 sales two years in a row, after a three-year grace period, are discontinued by the Idaho Transportation Department.

State lawmakers established the sales threshold to limit the number of specialty plate designs. Idaho has 30 specialty plates to choose from.

LEWISTON – An Idaho specialty plate showing a sketch of explorers Lewis and Clark with Sacagawea has failed to meet minimum sales set by the state and could be discontinued.

The plate reads “Lewiston – First Territorial Capital.”

Also facing elimination next year because of poor sales are the Basque heritage plate and the school transportation safety plates.

Specialty plates being eliminated this year for failing to meet sales goals are the Idaho Boy Scout plate and the Idaho Motorcycle Safety Program plate.

The Transportation Department said 614 of the Lewiston plates have been sold since they were introduced in 2005.

Greg Follett, chairman of Lewiston’s Historic Preservation Commission, said he thinks Lewiston drivers could keep the plate going.

“We’re looking at a pretty select audience,” he said. “Moscow drivers may not want a historic Lewiston plate, but (reaching the 1,000-unit mark) shouldn’t be a problem with the number of vehicles registered in Lewiston.”

The plate raises money for Lewiston’s Historic Preservation Commission, which promotes the city’s early history. The program has raised nearly $12,000.

© Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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