CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in Question of the day

Re: Question of the day

Anonymous Driver — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:41:16 -0000

I drive a plain and simple vehicle with plain and simple generic plates. I have no bumper stickers to advertise my political views. I don't even have a bumper sticker announcing that "My Goat Is Smarter than Your Honor Student."

If the government could not raid the funds, they might be worthwhile. As it is, however, they are a glorified tax, and the little portion of money they raise is subject to government confiscation at any time. Personally, I prefer to give to charities directly and not give the government a cut of my charitable contributions.

Re: Question of the day

HelpMeUnderstand — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 01:21:53 -0000

I guess if you don't beleive in the GOVERNMENT and in the idea that the will of the people is to have a unique way to showcase their interests and give to a charitable cause, then I could see why you wouldn't want the specialized plates.

I don't see the inappropriateness of this, nor do I think it causes that much of a strain on our public safety officers.

I would like to purchase the Iraqi Veteran plates.

Re: Question of the day

getting too old for this — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:56:38 -0000

To start off, I have a specialty plate and have had them since the E-plates came out in 1994, although I've since moved on to a different plate (Route 66 series). In my travels, other Illinois motorists have commented on the attractiveness of the plate and where they could get one. Drivers from outside of Illinois have also complimented me on the plate. When I had the E-Plate and traveled in Southern Illinois, occasionally I was asked if it was a St. Louis Cardinals fan plate!

Posting specialty stickers on to existing plates would look rather silly. Think about it, a six or seven character plate with a specialty sticker no larger than a renewal tag would have to be placed in a corner of the plate that would be difficult to read. Why waste money on that? However, it would probably help to raise the threshold for issuing a plate to 1,000 or 1,500 in order to better justify the plate and hold costs down.

Re: Question of the day

Aaron slick from Pumpkin Creek — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:36:38 -0000

Personally, I don't have nor do I ever want any special plates. Curmudgeones that Andy Rooney and I seem to be, I prefer to drive down the roads of Illinois without making any social statement (or any other type of statement for that matter)to other drivers.

My wife, on the other hand, has to tie a yellow ribbon on her vehicle (actually a pink breast cancer awareness magnet) and if she could tell the world to "Hug a tree" or "Save a whale" she would probably have that also pasted on her already cluttered automobile. My philosophy regarding special license plates is "whatever gets you through the night" or "trips your trigger" and makes you feel good about yourself. However, YOU BETTER NOT MAKE ME AS A TAXPAYER PICK UP THE TAB FOR YOUR PSYCHOLOGICAL "FEEL GOOD" THERAPY. That is where I draw the line and start getting upset. Make sure to use your own wallet to pay your own way and not the Illinois taxpayer's wallet.

Re: Question of the day

Arthur Andersen — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:33:09 -0000

AA has a couple vanities, a low-digit (worried for weeks if I was on that d*** list-nope) a University and a personalized plate in the family fleet. Yes, my gas bill is horrendous and no SUVs in the whole batch.

If the regular plates didn't look so hideous, I wouldn't have bought the University plates for my whip. I would also vote to can the front plate because it looks like crap on most new cars (and those jagoff photo radar stoplight cameras can't get you as easily..)

Going back to the school colors wouldn't be all bad. Having said that, there are at least a few of us around here to remember the white on purple Northwestern plates that followed the yellow on Green John Deere plates in the 60s.

On Dad's Red Buick, it wasn't pretty.

Great topic, Rich.

Re: Question of the day

Little Egypt — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:12:46 -0000

I do have vanity plates on two vehicles which indicates the college and year of graduation for Little Little E#1 and Little Little E#2. I love to brag about our sons and what better way to do it than to flaunt it? I would glady pay more for these two plates.

Re: Question of the day

Anon — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:03:42 -0000

I don't have, nor do I plan to get, specialty or vanity plates. I agree with those who remember that the objective for the plates is to identify a car and that "standard" plates probably do help the average citizen should the need ever arise.

Those who feel it necessary to have their car "make a statement" for them, can find other ways to decorate it.

I also agree with those who think this is a ridiculous topic for our legislators to be debating. We should have just stuck to the objective and this would be moot.

Re: Question of the day

Freezeup — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 19:52:38 -0000

I do not have specialty plates. I would rather write the check directly to the charity as others suggested.

I might go for an "Indict Blago" plate though.

Re: Question of the day

Man Who Grew Up Reading Chicag — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:40:14 -0000

I checked out that website with Rhode Island and clicked on Illinois' previous plates.

I loved Illinois 1954-78 plates. Taxis still have them.

They should go back to those for all classes of vehicles (with different colors for 'B', etc.) and make them multi-year with a small decal.

Front plates are worthless and either 1)ruin the clean lines of today's cars or 2) fall off in winter or at the car wash, requiring another useless replacement plate.

I still don't believe the 2001 "contest winner" was the legitimate winner--no one who likes cars could have voted for those. They look like circus posters with Lincoln's visage inappropriately attached.

They remind me of the 1976 Bicentenial plates that were designed by some kid who also won some sort of a "contest." Or City of Chicago vehicle stickers, which, on a regular basis, defy narrative description.

Re: Question of the day

Mr. Luxury Yacht — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:39:31 -0000

I take whatever number the state gives out. I expect the police officer thing is about plate legibility - number and state - at speed, i.e. it's not so they can read it and give you a parking ticket.

I agree with the "just write them a check" sentiment for charities. Otherwise it seems like yet another tax or an everyman's version of having a wing at the hospital named after you.

Do what Indiana used to do - have the colors of the plates rotate through the state-funded four-year universities. In our case it would be orange and blue, then a basket of colors no one cares about or could even remember.

gauntlet...

Re: Question of the day

Bird Man — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:06:29 -0000

From 10:40 a.m.

Final Jeopardy correct response:

"What is Minnesota?"

10,000 Lakes.

Re: Question of the day

Game eater — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:55:13 -0000

I have a sporting series plate (chose the deer instead of the fish or duck). I'll admit that the structure of the numbering/lettering is goofy, and am sympathetic to the idea of standardizing the template (no pun intended).

Re: Question of the day

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:48:16 -0000

"Special" plates are like special lottery tickets for good causes - they generate very little for the worthwhile cause. And with so many, I think it is a very good idea either to end them or limit the number of "special" plates

Perhaps Jesse's 1,500 limit is a good idea - but I think 2,500 would be a better number.

Doug Dobmeyer

Re: Question of the day

downhereforyears — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:26:02 -0000

My vote....get rid of them. People ( including police officers) have a hard enough time now determining what state the plate is from. Adding another 8 just makes no sense at all. Lets find another way to honor our military heros.

Re: Question of the day

anon — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:23:15 -0000

Maybe we can get plates for Madigan's legal defense fund. This way he can continue to do defy the law at our expense.

Re: Question of the day

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:49:47 -0000

If it's such a great idea, why not have special charity driver's licenses too!? And while we're at it, how about business licenses, since those often get hung on walls. Hmm, what other government administrative function can we spin into a non-essential service?

Re: Question of the day

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:42:39 -0000

I would probably purchase a U of I plate for scholarships, but now that BLago raids these to, i am not going to. But if u want to take the chance, go ahead. I really DONT CARE>

Re: Question of the day

yinn — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:37:07 -0000

We've had the same plain plates for 20+ years. I'm plenty vain and support several causes but have never been much interested in advertising either of them in such a way; it offends my sense of frugality.

Re: Question of the day

Rich Miller — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:35:59 -0000

Strict conformity and vehicular monotony seems to be ruling the day. lol

Re: Question of the day

YouNeverSawMe — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:05:52 -0000

Although, I think that the NUMBER of plates can be a little over the top-- I think that they are a great way to bring public awareness to a cause that you are in support of or HAVE supported.

Look at this way... Its better than seeing "2HOT4U" on the road or personal liscense plates taht you can hardly recognize that is being said.

Re: Question of the day

Doodles — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:05:46 -0000

Gosh, for such a nondiscript qotd, there's a lot of touchy bloggers out there. First, the qotd was about SPECIALTY plates, not vanity plates. They're two separate things. Second, I don't think most people are trying to make a big statement about themselves or think they're better than others, etc. Geez, they're just contributing to a cause they believe in. Third, the State still collects its full plate revenue, with only a portion of the extra charge going to the special fund. I doubt the collection costs are breaking the bank. Fourth, while law enforcement originally opposed the multitude of plates, they've since taken a neutral stand, esp as the plates have been improved to make them more readable. Finally, while Illinois lawmakers continue to search for the magic non-tax revenue source, most notably gambling, for big-ticket programs, why belittle these small VOLUNTARY revenue sources for the many little programs that are often shorted in the budget process? If you're for expanding gambling to pay the bills, then don't be against specialty plates. And yes, I have a specialty plate.

Re: Question of the day

Robbie — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:51:19 -0000

no special plates. if you want to advocate a cause on the back of your car, buy a bumper sticker. the plates should be for identification only. they are not advertising spots. plates are plenty expensive, the state doesn't need the extra bit of money it gets from the custom ones.

Re: Question of the day

no purpose... — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:52:02 -0000

Please, Have we not already wasted enough of our tax payers moneies????? New topic please.

Re: Question of the day

Blah Blah Blah — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:30:59 -0000

We have one specialty plate on one vehicle and a regular plate on the other. I agree that the number should be increased to at least 1500. I also think Illinois should follow suit with other states and that all specialty plates should be hugely increased. I think it is california that charges $500 for a specialty plate of any type. Immagine the money could bring in with that. I always get questions from friends from out of state about the amount of specialty plates that IL has.

Re: Question of the day

Dollar USA — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:25:02 -0000

I do not have a specialty or vanity plate. I suggest going to one state plate and letting the individual put whatever they want on the front plate.