RICHMOND, Va. — Equality Virginia is seeking to bring its advocacy message to the streets and highways. However, it cannot do this without having 450 people pre-register to sport an Equality for All license plate. It now has met half of its goal and needs the rest to complete the process.
Once pre-orders are in place, the group will be able to petition the Virginia Commonweath’s General Assembly for the privilege of developing the allotment for approved usage.
The Department of Motor Vehicles says that it must have pre-paid applicants before it can issue the license plates. But first, the initiative needs legislative sponsorship and approval from the General Assembly. Once secured, the bill will go to the governor for signature and the plates can go into production.
Cost for the specialized plates will be $25 for non-personalized ones and $35 for personalized styles. After 1,000 plates are sold, then $15 of the proceeds of the plates will go back to support the work of Equality Virginia.
Pre-registration is available online through the organization’s website.
South Carolina Equality already has this initiative in place. Applicants are able to obtain one for $25 by asking for plate NPEQ through their regional Division of Motor Vehicles.
Unlike Virginia, however, personalized plates are not available. Fifty percent of the fee goes directly to support South Carolina Equality educational and outreach work. One hundred plates have been reserved for those who wish to make an additional $250 contribution to the SC Equality Foundation. After orders have been received, organizers will send a “Driving toward Equality” T-shirt and reserve plate form to be used to make application.
For more information, email ryan@scequality.org.
info: equalityvirginia.org. scequality.org.
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