Warner has said the Confederate plates will offend some Virginians, but he declined to wage a legal battle that he said had "little chance of success." Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled that action unconstitutional, and Virginia agreed to issue the original plate. When the Sons of Confederate Veterans in 1999 requested a license plate sporting their logo - including an image of the Confederate flag - the legislature refused, approving instead a plate with no logo. "It's a great way to express yourself offer community pride and spirit," said Pam Gohene, a spokeswoman for the Department of Motor Vehicles, which administers the program. This year, the legislature will debate adding plates for paramedics, the National D-Day Memorial, supporters of Seton House and members of the Izaak Walton League. Such plates are approved administratively by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, not by the legislature.Īmong the plates already approved by Virginia lawmakers are those honoring certified public accountants, the Freemasons, the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, Harley-Davidson owners and the Washington Redskins. Maryland makes 595 organization plates available for such groups as the Baltimore Bicycling Club, Greyhound Pets of America, Baltimore Duckpin Bowlers, Tuskegee Airmen and Square Dancers. One of five vehicles sports one of the 180 currently available special license plates. No matter what else is going on in Virginia's General Assembly - budget crises, government reform proposals, death penalty issues - lawmakers find time to consider new license plates, which are hugely popular among the owners of the state's 6.7 million registered vehicles. Legislators will push their bills through House and Senate committees before debating them on the floor of each chamber. They will attempt to approve, one by one, legislation authorizing the creation of special license plates honoring those groups and more. With little money to spare when the legislature convenes next week, Virginia's lawmakers will nonetheless aim to please the state's veterans, horse-racing enthusiasts, scholastic rowers, abortion opponents, certified hunters, members of the Air Force Association and fans of the national motto, "In God We Trust."
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