FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, February 15, 2005

Trees in Texas communities have long been a source of beauty, but they also provide much-needed shade and improve air, water and soil quality. Motorists now may choose to purchase a new specialty license plate that supports the Texas Urban Forestry Council’s efforts to plant and preserve trees in urban areas and provide education.

"Trees benefit our communities in so many important ways," said Desiree Brooks, executive director, Texas Urban Forestry Council. "Proceeds from the new Texas Urban Forestry Council license plate will support our vision to foster cooler, greener forested communities throughout Texas."

The Texas Urban Forestry Council specialty plate design features a colorful, stately pecan tree with a Texas silhouette in the background. The words "Texas Trees" run along the bottom of the plate. The license plates are available for passenger vehicles and light trucks and cost $30 annually, plus $40 if personalized, in addition to regular registration fees. Of the $30 annual fee for the plates, $22 will be deposited in the urban forestry account in the state treasury. The money will be used by the Texas Urban Forestry Council for tree planting, tree preservation and tree education programs.

Applications for the specialty license plate are available at the county tax office, on the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT’s) Web site (www.dot.state.tx.us), by calling the TxDOT Help Desk at (512) 465-7611, or TxDOT’s Fax-On-Demand forms line at (888) 232-7033.

TxDOT started its specialty license plate program in 1965. Today, there are more than 100 different plate designs, many of them benefiting a particular group, organization, college or university. Since 1994, more than $10 million have been raised for sponsoring organizations and scholarship funds.

For more information, call Darah Waldrip in TxDOT Vehicle Titles and Registration Division, (512) 302-2076. Ordering information is available at http://www.dot.state.tx.us/vtr/spplates/allplates.htm.