The state's new general-issue license plate, a black-on-white retro design dubbed The Texas Classic, is making its debut in the Houston area and by next month should be showing up on more cars.
With three letters and four numbers, the classic plate is easier to read and remember than its more colorful 2009 predecessor, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles said. The characters are a bit bigger than on the previous general-issue plate.
Most of the state's drivers use general-issue plates, which are included in the cost of vehicle registration.
"This is a very clean, simple look and appears to be very popular with the citizens of Texas," Victor Vandergriff, department chairman, said of the new design.
Vandergriff, board chairman since the department's inception in 2009, also touted the new plate's readability and reflective qualities as safety enhancements.
Busy design
Some witnesses to crimes told officials they had trouble catching plate numbers because the 2009 design was too busy, the department said.
The new version lacks the old plate's mountains, clouds and red streak.
Inspiration for the new design came partly from studying other states' practices, motor vehicle department spokesman Adam Shaivitz said.
A shipment of new plates arrived last week at the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector's office, spokesman Fred King said. Before the office can issue the classic plates, it has to use its existing supply.
King said that some of the 15 branches probably will be issuing the new plates during the first week of August, and soon after that all will be.
The August time frame applies only to cars. State law prohibits using the new plates on light trucks before Oct. 15, he said.
Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector Patsy Schultz said her office began issuing the new plates Monday.
"Those who have noticed them said they like them," Schultz said. "They are nice-looking and very simple, which is good. They're easy to read."
More than 100 choices
For vehicle owners who like choices, the state sells more than 100 specialty-plate designs, such as Animal Friendly and Red Grapefruit, as well as plates supporting various organizations and universities.
The fee for those is $30 plus the basic vehicle registration. Personalized specialty plates issued by the state sell for $40.
Myplates.com, a private vendor that contracts with the state, offers more than 140 designs ranging in cost from $55 to $395 for one year and from $295 to $795 for 10 years. Half the revenue goes to the state, and the other half is split between myplates.com and the sponsoring organization.
Typically, the company gets 40 percent of proceeds, myplates.com spokeswoman Kim Miller Drummond said.
Period for 'eview'
An online public comment period known as an "eview," for seven new specialty-plate designs, continues through Monday. The seven designs can be viewed at www.myplates.com/go/eview.
"Every plate we put out passes the same tests as any license plate in Texas," Drummond said.
The Department of Motor Vehicles board has final say on design approval.
One of the seven is a redesign of the University of Houston plate, which myplates.com began selling in September 2010. The state has made a University of Houston plate since 1991, Shaivitz said. Both UH plates are still available.
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