TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida drivers now have their chance to decide which of four new, sleek state license plate designs they like best.
On Monday, the state Department of Highway and Motor Vehicles is launching vote4floridatag.com where residents can vote on four potential new automobile tags through Dec. 14.
The winner likely will replace the state's iconic green and white license plate that showcases an orange and orange blossoms in the center of the tag number.
The state is examining a $24 million redesign and new centralized system of distributing plates because they said the current plates with raised lettering and an orange in the center were too hard for cameras to read. The state was losing thousands of dollars in toll revenue each year from scofflaws blowing through toll booths. The numbers on the plate are difficult to see in video images, making it nearly impossible for police to track down the drivers.
But the plan has received major pushback from county tax collectors, particularly the idea to centralize some of the plate distribution services. Highway Safety Director Julie Jones initially planned to seek approval of the plan last month, but after the pushback, opted to put together a work group to examine the issue and bring the proposal to Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet again in January.
A spokeswoman said that the department has moved forward in bringing stakeholders together to discuss the plan.
In the meantime, the department decided to involve the public in voting on which tag they like best.
The governor and other members of the Cabinet have expressed interest in the project, but have said there is no need to rush it.
Department spokeswoman Kirsten Olsen-Doolan said they are trying to get the word out and direct interested drivers to the website.
"We started putting the word out there, and there's been some interest," she said.
Olsen-Doolan said the license plate was last redesigned in 2003.
Copyright © 2012, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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