| Question: Who is responsible
for approving new specialty license plate proposals? |
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Answer: During the 78th Regular
Legislative Session, the Texas Legislature delegated the authorization
of new specialty license plates to the Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT) with the passage of House Bill 2971. |
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| Question: How can my
organization request TxDOT’s consideration for a specialty license
plate? |
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Answer: Interested groups should complete
an application form (VTR Form 950), available on the Internet or by
calling the Vehicle Titles and Registration Customer Help Desk at
512-465-7611. Only not-for-profit groups are eligible to apply. There
are two methods for an organization to request a new specialty license
plate:
1. Nominate a state agency to receive the funds derived from the
sale of your specialty plates and work with that agency to identify
how these funds are to be used. The state agency will receive $22 for
the sale or renewal of each set of specialty plates.
2. Request that TxDOT sponsor the specialty license plate. The
organization receives no revenue from the sale or renewal of the
specialty plates under this method.
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| Question: Is it possible to
request that funds received from license plate sales be sent to a
foundation for the benefit of the applying non-profit organization?
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Answer: No. In order for a non-profit
organization to benefit from the proceeds from sales of its specialty
license plates, a state agency must agree to receive the funds and then
distribute them for the designated purpose. |
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| Question: What is the approval
process, and how long does it take? |
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Answer: TxDOT’s executive director has
appointed a committee to review the specialty license plate
applications. There will be two reviews annually in the spring and fall.
Plates tentatively approved by the committee will be subject to public
comment. After the 30-day comment period, the executive director will
make the final selections. You will be notified in writing whether or
not your application is approved. |
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| Question: About how many
plates does TxDOT expect to approve each year? |
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Answer: TxDOT anticipates approving a very
limited number of plates annually. In recent history, before the
Legislature delegated this authority to TxDOT, there were approximately
two to four specialty plates approved each year. |
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| Question: What are some of the
reasons a specialty plate application may be rejected? |
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Answer: TxDOT may exclude an application
from consideration for the following reasons:
- low projected sales, lack of statewide appeal
- controversial, or litigations in other states
- considered not to be cost beneficial to the state
- partisan or misrepresentation concerns
- design considered potentially offensive, controversial, or
inappropriate to the public
- similar plate/design already exists
- proliferation of specialty plates, workloads and costs to the
state
- advertising/corporation
- use of funds considered controversial or in violation of
statute/constitution
- nominated state agency does not consent to receipt of the funds,
or
- other reasons.
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| Question: If my organization’s
specialty plate application is not rejected but the committee does not
approve it, will it be considered again at a later time, or must we
reapply? |
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Answer: TxDOT plans to consider
applications twice a year. Applications received by September 1, 2004,
will be considered in the first approval cycle. Those plate requests
submitted and not selected will automatically remain on file for
consideration during the next approval cycle. You would not need to
reapply. If your application is not approved in the second cycle, you
would need to reapply in future years for further consideration. |
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| Question: If my organization’s
plate is approved, what are the next steps? |
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Answer: If your application is approved, a
$15,000 deposit by your organization will be required prior to the plate
being manufactured. TxDOT will work with your group through the
manufacturing process. |
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| Question: Will the $15,000
deposit be returned to the organization? |
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Answer: Yes, under Texas law, once 3,500
plates are sold the deposit is returned to the organization from which
it was received. The $15,000 deposit is used to offset the initial costs
to produce, sell, and distribute the plate. |
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| Question: Does TxDOT provide
the plate design? |
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Answer: The organization provides the
preliminary design in accordance with the guidelines established by
TxDOT. TxDOT will coordinate the final approval of the design of the
license plate. |
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