Oklahomans caught a sneak peek of the state’s new license plates Monday afternoon. Gov. Mary Fallin unveiled the new design, which features a large outline of the state’s bird, the scissor-tailed flycatcher. The plate also displays a backdrop of lakes, mesas and mountains along with the address of the state tourism department’s website.
Oklahoma Department of Public Safety chief Ricky Adams says the new tags will be easier to read and will help law enforcement crackdown on uninsured drivers.
“As the tags are changed out, it makes it very easy for us to identify those vehicle that have been touched and have had recently had their insurance verified, that they actually had their insurance at the time they got their tag,” Adams said.
Additionally, Fallin says the plates will be easier to read than the current design, have a new reflective coating, and force compliance among uninsured drivers. It will also generate additional revenue for the state.
“It does have a little bit of extra money that we’ll be bringing that will go to public safety in the state of Oklahoma, especially during a time when we had a budget shortfall. So I think those are all great reasons why it’s important to have the tag,” Fallin said.
The new plates, which cost about $2.05 to make, will cost will drivers $5.00. All drivers will be required to purchase one. The state estimates the new plates will generate $18.5 million. Oklahoma tax commission vice-chairman Dawn Cash says the state will also gain about $4 million from non-compliant drivers who haven’t paid their motor vehicle registrations fees.
Even though the measure is intended, in part, to force uninsured drivers to get insurance in order to register their vehicles, Oklahoma insurance commissioner John Doak admits that the new plates won’t do anything to prevent drivers from cancelling their insurance after acquiring a new tag.
The new license plates will go into effect at the beginning of next year.
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