-- a little race with NASCAR --
from GEORGIA BIKES! & NGBDA, 12/18/05
The Georgia SHARE THE ROAD specialty license plate is finally going to happen... once the state receives 1,000 applications of $25 each. So let’s make it quick and fun. Let’s turn it into a friendly, unofficial, competition with the new NASCAR plates to be the first to the 1,000-point line.
How do you apply for your plate? You can apply for the Georgia SHARE THE ROAD plate starting on Tuesday, January 3 at the local “tag office” in your county of residence. The application fee is $25. Be sure to receive and save your receipt. This receipt can be used later as credit for each plate’s manufacturing fee. There is also an apply-by-mail option (see the materials to the right). The $25 apply fee will also be refundable in the unlikely event that fewer than 1,000 applications are logged by the end 2007.
Can we really get to 1,000 applications first? Our team may be helped by the fact that NASCAR fans already have so many opportunities to show their support of the sport and their favorite drivers. We, on the other hand, have a number of reasons for wanting the plate beside the obvious and direct “Share The Road” and “Thank You” messages. For example, the plates show that cyclists own motor vehicles and that they pay fuel and other taxes and fees. There are also lots of people who want to support safer roadways and cycling because they have friends and family that bike. We like to think too that there are more people who own and ride bicycles in the state giving us a larger base.
Remember though, this is really win-win competition. Funds from both the SHARE THE ROAD plate (the full $25 of the annual fee) and NASCAR plates ($14.75 of the annual fee) will be directed to the Governor’s Office Of Highway Safety for use in motorist and cyclist safety, education, and awareness projects and programs.
How do you get your plate? Once the 1,000 applications threshold is crossed (hopefully we will have won the race with NASCAR), the state will begin manufacturing the plates. These will be distributed to those county tag offices where applications were submitted. You can get the plate on your normal tag renewal date (or there is the option of getting it early for an additional $25). The fees will be a one-time, $25, plate-manufacturing fee which will be credited upon showing your application receipt and the annual, $25, specialty license plate fee. You are still responsible for your standard, annual, $20, registration fee and any of your applicable ad valorem taxes.
Where do the extra fees go? In regards to the annual, $25, SHARE THE ROAD specialty license plate fee, the state says that “subject to the general appropriations process, it is the intent of the General Assembly that all such funds shall be utilized by the Governor’s Highway Safety Program to provide for motorist and bicyclist safety and interaction education and awareness programs and media campaigns; adult and child bicycling safety training, workshops, and educational materials; assistance in forming local bicycle advisory committees; law enforcement education and implementation programs for policing by bicycle and policing to improve bicycling conditions; and 'share the road/yield to bicycles/bicyclists may use full lane' sign installations.” FYI for the NASCAR plates, $14.75 of their $25 annual specialty plate fee is intended to go to the Governor's Office Of Highway Safety.
What should you do? You should apply for your Georgia SHARE THE ROAD specialty license plate by going to your local county tag office with your identification and $25 on January 3, or one day soon after that. You may also apply by mail starting Janaury 3 too (see materials on the right).
Help secure the future of this specialty license plate. Be part of the winning team in the little race with NASCAR. And assist in getting of these important tags out “on the road” as soon as possible.
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Thanks go out to the North Georgia Bicycle Dealers Association (www.Bike4Fun.com) for their help in marketing the SHARE THE ROAD plate and to State Senator David Adelman for championing the SHARE THE ROAD plate. ------------------------------------------- |