Mark Wyatt has been trying for years to bring Share the Road license plates to Iowa. His efforts have finally paid off.
Wyatt, director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, and Sen. Joe Bolkcom spent more than three years urging the Iowa Legislature to approve the Share the Road plates without success. The only other way a specialized plate can be introduced to the general public is to be sponsored, and earlier in 2007, the Iowa Department of Transportation volunteered to do just that.
Wyatt needed 37 orders before a new personalized Iowa license plate could begin its first production run. As of Dec. 11, he had secured 463 prepaid orders for the plates, and he thinks there will be many more.
A state-issued numbers plate will cost $35. Personalized plates are $60. All proceeds from the license plates will go toward the Share the Road Fund, which will focus on safety education and motorist awareness. Then every year, when drivers renew their license plates, they will be charged an additional $10 for the safety education fund.
"These are two areas where a little bit of money can have a really big impact," Wyatt said.
The organization has received about 800 application requests for the plates. Wyatt said that for those who don't get one of the first 500, there will be more opportunities to purchase them. The plates will be available from the county treasurers' offices in all 99 counties once the first run is complete.
At least 23 states have similar Share the Road license plates.
