Lone Star Texas License Plate Set to Hit Texas Roadways
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Jun 3, 2009, 0 Comments
AUSTIN – Eight-year-old John Thomsett of Gilmer, Tx. joined Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials on Tuesday to announce that the colorful new general-issue license plate, Lone Star Texas, is about to hit Texas’ roadways.
“My fellow Texans, I am pleased to announce that the new license plates have left the factory,” John said during a TxDOT press conference at the Travis County tax office in Austin. “You will begin seeing it on cars and trucks near you real soon.”
TxDOT began shipping the new general-issue plates to the 254 county tax offices statewide on Monday. County tax offices should have the Lone Star Texas plate in stock by no later than June 12.
“Because our state is real big, it will take about two weeks for the plates to arrive in all the county tax offices,” John explained. County tax offices will need to exhaust their current plate inventory before issuing the Lone Star Texas plates.
In February 2008, John and his classmates at Gilmer Elementary School helped to choose the Lone Star Texas design as part of TxDOT’s first online vote for a new general-issue license plate. John’s teacher, Kerry Hradecky, cast the vote for the class.
“I was very excited that my students could be involved and have a voice in voting for such a prevalent symbol – our state license plate,” said Hradecky, who teaches first grade at the Gilmer Elementary School. “We discussed that different states have different license plates based upon state characteristics and our privilege as Americans to vote.”
Cindy Jones, who can trace her Texas roots back to an ancestor in the Republic of Texas Navy, said she cast her vote for the Lone Star Texas plate because it shows off the state’s majesty and pride.
“The license plate was an inspiration – and I never thought I’d say that!,” said Jones, who lives in Mason. “Allowing everyone to vote was a great idea.”
Ed Serna, TxDOT assistant executive director for operations, said at the press conference the new general-issue plate goes by a special name at the agency. “At TxDOT we affectionately call it ‘The People’s Plate,’” Serna said.
