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<p>Tennesseans on both sides of the emotional debate over abortion could have the right to get a special license plate under legislation that moved out of a Senate committee yesterday.</p> <p>A ''Choose Life'' plate was approved by the state legislature last year. Yesterday, state Sen. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, persuaded the Senate Transportation Committee to recommend a pro-choice specialty license plate.</p>

Friday, Apr. 30, 2004 11:19 AM EDT More Kerry Car Troubles: 'Purple Heart 3' Vanity Plate, Outsourced SUV Unlike most combat vets, Sen. John Kerry has never been shy about bragging on his wartime experience. But even we were surprised to hear that his 1985 Dodge is plastered with vanity plates that read "Purple Heart 3." The Boston Herald's Howie Carr has done some research into the Kerry family's fleet of vehicles, and has turned up some interesting details. Apart from the Purple Heart plates, Carr has discovered that Kerry's wife Teresa is hiding another family SUV at their estate...

THE phrase that came to his mind was evocative, to the point, and in perfect conformity with the eight-figure character as allowed by the Custom Plate Unit of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. His muse had surely blessed him, he thought; it seemed that he had achieved a kind of license plate haiku. He typed in his phrase, sent it to the department's online service, and imagined the day when he would join the ranks of anonymous poets whose license plate musings linger in the thoughts of readers for a moment or for an hour, depending on...

U-WIRE) CHICAGO – A bill before the Illinois General Assembly would establish a new class of eye-catching license plates on the highway to identify drivers convicted of driving under the influence. The bill, proposed by Southwest Side Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago), would require Illinois drivers convicted of driving under the influence three or more times to display brightly-colored license plates. “Some judges are granting leniency to drivers convicted a third time of driving under the influence and letting them continue to drive. Other drivers should know that that person has a habit of not following the law,” Mendoza said. Despite...

Appeals Court Rules 'Choose Life' License Plates Unconstitutional Federal Judge Made Similar Ruling Last Year A federal Appeals Court has upheld a ruling that South Carolina's anti-abortion license plates are unconstitutional. A three-judge panel of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia unanimously ruled Monday that the plates violate the First Amendment. The plates bear the slogan "Choose Life." The judges said the plates give anti-abortion advocates a forum to express their beliefs, without giving abortion rights supporters a similar forum. Senior U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman found the plates unconstitutional in a ruling in December. Gov....

<p>For years, Georgia has raised money for wildlife protection by selling custom license plates with wildlife scenes. Sales skyrocketed this year for new tags featuring the bald eagle and the American flag.</p> <p>But some environmentalists say they do not want to contribute to the state's wildlife protection fund through a flag-waving symbol they believe will be seen as being linked to President Bush.</p>

Hartford, CT (LifeNews.com) -- Connecticut drivers are taking advantage of a new program which allows them to show their support for life -- and for adoption. Five months ago, the state began offering "Choose Life" license plates to benefit adoption. The auto tag features a drawing of two children and the slogan "Choose Life." Some 125 plates have been sold so far at a price of $65 each. Money raised from the plates go to pregnancy help centers which provide brochures about adoption and trained counselors who wish to show pregnant women that adoption is a loving option for their...

<p>Wearing your allegiances above your rear bumper has never been easier in Michigan. From lighthouse lovers to farming fans, the state has a specialty license plate for you.</p> <p>The 22 university and special-cause plates are a hit with motorists. But they’re a headache for police and a source of friction in Lansing, where lawmakers sometimes have trouble saying no to good causes but worry about creating alphabet soup on the roads.</p>

<p>A Sacramento federal judge has permanently barred California from issuing new vehicle license plates that promote the interests of private, nonprofit organizations.</p> <p>The section of state law granting the Legislature "unfettered discretion" as to which organizations will benefit from special-interest bills authorizing plates is unconstitutional, U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. ruled.</p>

Nashville, TN (LifeNews.com) -- In an attempt to halt the sales of "Choose Life" specialty license plates, the ACLU has filed a lawsuit that would shut down the entire specialty plate program in Tennessee and cut off $11.5 million in funding to non-profit organizations statewide. Their actions have upset numerous nonprofit groups in the state whose plates, and the donations they generate, are possibly in jeopardy. One of those organizations, the Tennessee Arts Commission, receives about $3.3 million annually from specialty plates, which accounts for three-quarters of its grant budget – money used to fund arts programs statewide. "It would...

Environmentalist Mike Moody wants to contribute to Georgia's wildlife protection fund, but he's not sure he wants to do it by buying and displaying a license plate adorned with a bald eagle and an American flag.    / (ENLARGE)   Moody has nothing against eagles, yet he dislikes what he sees as a red-white-and-blue symbol of political views he doesn't share.   The 55-year-old outdoorsman runs a canoe and kayaking operation east of Athens on the Broad River and belongs to the river's watershed association. The state's eagle-and-flag wildlife license plate in December replaced a tag that for seven...

African-American representatives within the Tennessee General Assembly are backing legislation to ban all Confederate emblems from any license plate and to keep the recently issued Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) specialty plate from being renewed. A House bill...would prohibit “any motor vehicle registration plate that depicts or otherwise displays any flag of the Confederate States of America or contains an emblem, logo, or other design based upon any flag of the Confederate States of America.” Another section of the proposed legislation specifies that the Tennessee Department of Safety cannot renew any previously issued motor vehicle registration with the flag, which...

<p>State officials this week rejected an application from an anti-abortion group that wanted to produce special license plates featuring the slogan "Choose life" and its drawing of two smiling children.</p> <p>The Children First Foundation, which is based in New York, had raised $12,500 in donations to cover the application fee for the special plates and submitted the names of 500 New Jersey residents it says would have put them on their vehicles.</p>

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Opponents on Thursday sued to block the state from issuing "Choose Life" license plates, saying the tags discriminate against people with opposing views. "The state of Tennessee has opened a state-created forum to one viewpoint alone in the public controversy over abortion," says the federal suit, filed by Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union. The General Assembly approved the plates in May. Gov. Phil Bredesen let the bill become law without his signature, but expressed reservations. An attempt to amend the bill - to create a license plate with a pro-choice message - was...

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Some lucky Rhode Islanders won the lottery Tuesday -- not for money, but for low-number license plates. The state's occasional license plate lottery was held at the State House. Gov. Don Carcieri picked the first few winners.More than 3,000 people entered for a chance at 25 plates. The most coveted was taxi plate 1. A couple of three-digit plates and several four-digit plates were also up for grabs."There's a perception that having a low plate on the car means a person is well-connected. Or, that they're from an old-money family," license plate historian Richard Dragon said. "It's...

A group that helped raise a huge Confederate flag above a North Florida highway now wants to bring the symbol to state license plates. The Sons of Confederate Veterans is planning a campaign to create a specialty automobile license tag honoring what supporters call the state's Southern heritage."We know the flag is controversial because it's been misused by misguided people," said John W. Adams of Deltona, division commander for the organization. "But this tag is not intended to be divisive."Black leaders said the emblem symbolizes oppression and are beginning to mount opposition to the plate along with others who criticize...

ANGLETON -- Moved by the horrific attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, Texas graphic artist David Paranteau created a logo that's become one of the most widespread symbols used to remember that day. His logo has appeared on pins, T-shirts, uniform patches and decals all over the world. Thursday, it came home to Texas when transportation officials unveiled "Fight Terrorism" license plates with the logo. Paranteau refused to take any money for his creation, insisting that all proceeds go to charity. But Thursday he walked away with the first set of Texas special license plates using his logo. The special plates...

Towson - Maryland has joined a growing number of states offering license plates carrying the anti-abortion slogan "Choose Life," prompting complaints from pro-choice groups that the state is endorsing the message. The head of the state Motor Vehicle Administration, Anne S. Ferro, said state officials cannot reject an application for a specialty tag if the proposed slogan or logo is not obscene, sexually suggestive, racially offensive and meets other agency regulations. The regulations were adopted about five years ago after the Sons of Confederate Veterans won a court battle after the MVA refused an application for a license plate carrying...

'Native Texan' license plate unveiled04:00 PM CDT on Friday, September 5, 2003Associated Press SAN ANTONIO - Texans now have one more choice when it comes to finding the perfect license plate. The "Native Texan" plate was officially unveiled Friday in San Antonio. For an extra $30, drivers can adorn their bumpers with images of the Alamo and the San Jacinto Monument set against a Texas flag background. Texas DOT "Finally we have a license plate for very special people -- native Texans," said Elaine Milam Vetter, historian general of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, which operates the...