Production of universal license plate in Illinois stalled

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Two years after Illinois adopted a universal specialty license plate, it still hasn't been produced or issued.

The Legislature and Gov. Bruce Rauner approved a decal law in order to limit the number of specialized plates on the state's roads, The State Journal-Register (http://bit.ly/2mIXx16 ) reported. It became effective last July.

Currently, nearly 110 specialty plates support various causes, such as violence prevention, organ donation and sports teams. Motorists pay extra for the plates, and part of the proceeds supports the cause.

The new plates would be a universal design and allow for a large decal representing a specific charity. For a charity to qualify for a decal, at least 2,000 people would have to show interest in the charity and submit a deposit.

Henry Haupt, a secretary of state spokesman, said none of the interested organizations have reached the 2,000 threshold.

The deposits are usually $25, but the charitable organizations come up with the specific figure, according to the secretary of state's office. The deposit then goes to the charity.

The older specialty plates, which are on more than 327,000 vehicles in Illinois, will still be available, Haupt said.

"Some of these causes are near and dear to people's hearts. For instance, if someone lost a loved one to an illness, it's a way to raise money for that charitable cause," he said. "Also, it's just a personal thing. We want to make clear that those plates will remain on the road."

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Information from: The State Journal-Register, http://www.sj-r.com