New General Issue License Plates (Coppell, Lone Star: high school, vehicles, best)

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by majicdonjuan

I'm not sure where you got the idea that I was complaining as I specifically said I liked the new plates (I just like the current ones better).

I have no idea what an "outgoing sticker" is.

So who is forcing what opinion on whom? I already have the 2009 plates on my car in Texas. I have nothing to complain about. And clearly if your opinion was in the majority more states than just Texas, California, Virginia, and Louisiana would have plain, white plates.

This is simply a discussion of opinions. Please treat it as such.

Sorry, I guess when you said "some of us", I thought you were including yourself. I also interpreted "outgoing" as "vibrant, clashing and lurid" as opposed to "in the process of being replaced".

I heard something interesting today about Indiana's "In God We Trust" plates. The slogan is so large, a part of the license number has to be very tiny, so drug dealers and gang members are plating their cars with Indiana God plates, because the cops have to be standing a couple of feet from the parked car in order to read the number plate. Probably also less likely to be pulled over in routine traffic stops by redneck cops. The ticket-mailing robo-cams might not be able to read them at all.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZjvO2XTqIN8/0.jpg

There are also a couple of states that kept on using very objectionalbe plates, because it rasied so much revenue from people ordering special plates, just to avoid them. The Kentucky smiley-face was one.

http://geomattix.com/wp-content/uplo...uckySmiley.jpg

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by majicdonjuan

Some states have some really striking designs. I like Arizona, Wyoming, New Hampshire, and Alabama the most, as well as the current Texas design and the current California design (plain, yet the lettering is unique, gives it a "California look").

Honestly, the diversity of the plates is one of the many things (some positive, some not) that make driving interesting in a lot of places in the country. Though I'm sure some people would be perfectly content if all of the states had the same basic plate design. Sounds like the epitome of boring to me.

Me, too.....

I see mostly NM, CO, TX, UT and AZ plates here, with the occasional California plate thrown in from time to time. I like AZ, too, with the purple saguaro, LOL!!

The new basic issue plate for TX is so plain and boring that I might have to get custom plates in spite of myself! I may end up getting Tech plates, annual fee or not!!

[TXRyan23]

Originally Posted by ged_782

I started noticing the new black-on-white plates around here a couple of weeks ago. Counties are supposed to start issuing the new plates to passenger cars, upon exhausting their inventories of the old series. Trucks are supposed to be phased in at a later date, and there will no longer be a separate series with the "Truck" designation, as there was in the past. There will be no distinction made between truck plates and car plates, when the phase-in is complete.

I just got my registration renewal notice a few days ago, with the **NEW PLATES REQUIRED** message emblazoned on it. But I have a truck, so it looks like my "new" plates will be the "old" series.

I'm good with it, I really don't like the new design, but my plates are only 3 years old, so according to the states FAQ's http://ftp.txdmv.gov/pub/txdot-info/...lassicfaqs.pdf, I still have 4 more years of use out of my 2009 A-series truck plates. Who knows, by the time 4 years passes, Texas will likely have a new design again.

[elan]

Oh well, at least it's not yellow jacket colors.

1950 Texas License Plate Pair Restored Better Than New from texstuff on Ruby Lane

[The Right Side_TX]

Already? That was fast! Didn't like the current plate during the voting period, and still don't care for it. Granted it grew on me a little.. was just too colorful though. Like this one more, but just blah and plain. Favorite still has to be the 2000-2008. Lucky for me that's the one I still have on my car. Also liked the style from the 90's Simple, but had some color.

Also like someone mentioned already, really miss raised plates.

[KerrTown]

Rick Perry is pushing austerity with black-and-white plates. More to come (from the Republicans, of course)!

Surprised no-one got the message with the new plates introduced at this moment in time. 2009 was optimism, 2012 is austerity in Texas.

Black-and-white is as austere as it comes.

[majicdonjuan]

I'm telling you, my hunch is that it's simply for ease of current and future electronic scanning. So it will be easier for toll roads to scan your plates, police to run them, red light/speed cameras to read them, etc. That's what this is all about.

I'm no economist, but I'd be willing to make an educated guess that it probably cost the state more to design, approve, and begin to manufacture new plates only THREE years after the old ones went into circulation than if they had simply kept the 2009 ones for a 7 to 10 year run. I reject the idea that this is austerity - when it's all said and done it probably costs us more than if they had simply stuck with the 2009 plates.

[ged_782]

Originally Posted by ged_782

I started noticing the new black-on-white plates around here a couple of weeks ago. Counties are supposed to start issuing the new plates to passenger cars, upon exhausting their inventories of the old series. Trucks are supposed to be phased in at a later date, and there will no longer be a separate series with the "Truck" designation, as there was in the past. There will be no distinction made between truck plates and car plates, when the phase-in is complete.

I just got my registration renewal notice a few days ago, with the **NEW PLATES REQUIRED** message emblazoned on it. But I have a truck, so it looks like my "new" plates will be the "old" series.

Update:

Just got my new plates after doing an online renewal, and they are indeed the older multi-color background plates that are being phased out.

I read a newspaper report that quoted an official in one Texas county who said they don't anticipate exhausting their current older-series multi-color truck plate inventory until early 2013.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

While I understand the reason that they went to the plain and simple design, I want the existing ones with the mountain on them.

You and I don't usually disagree on issues of "Texana", but c'mon sis...there is only a very small section of Texas that has any mountains at all. That is not typical of the state...Hollywood imagery not withstanding. Cotton fields would actually be MUCH more realistic from the amount of acrege in the state! LOL But -- I hasten to add -- I would object to that one too, simply because -- real as it actually is -- cotton is not usually the commodity most popularly associated with us.

And I would object to wildflowers as well. Much as I love to look at them along the beautiful Texas highways -- and plant them in my own backyard each year -- they are just not "right" as the main backdrop theme for a license plate representing our state.

"Flower Power" might be a good one for those where a lot of residents are comfortable with sitting around on the floor singing Joan Baez tunes, reading poetry, meditating, feeling each others faces, and crying, but not here. In Texas, flowers are to be admired, picked, planted, and presented to loved ones on special occasions. Not on our license plates. To boot, our best flowers grow wild and free and independent! Like true Texans do. Simple as that, by golly!

(Note: To the totally literal minded: While the thesis above has a basis of seriousness? I was also intending to be a bit humorous and playful with it. I mean/intend no offence in the least, to anyone! Texan or not.

Anyway, while I am resigned to the fact I am going to be in the minority here, I like them new plates! They are, well "Texas"! They are to the point, simple without being bland, unpretentious, and incorporate the essential features to advertize Texas; A single star and the prominately featured slogan "The Lone Star State".

I mean, c'mon y'all...what works better than that?

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by TexasReb

......

Anyway, while I am resigned to the fact I am going to be in the minority here, I like them new plates! They are, well "Texas"! They are to the point, simple without being bland, unpretentious, and incorporate the essential features to advertize Texas; A single star and the prominately featured slogan "The Lone Star State".

I mean, c'mon y'all...what works better than that?

LOL!! But that's the point....they ARE bland! Also simple to the point of being just plain BOOORING!

But....we'll just have to agree to disagree....and if I move back, I'll be stuck with that bland black on white plate, whether I like it or not.

MY Texas has mountains......and if I can't live in the Davis Mountains area, I'll just stay right here where I am, LOL!!