A proposal to stop the creation of new specialty license plates has been approved by the Illinois House.
The sponsor -- Democratic Rep. John D'Amico of Chicago -- says it will help identify vehicles better. He says many Illinois drivers receive tickets that aren't theirs, especially from iPass computers misidentifying the plates.
The plan, which now goes to the Senate, would sell decals that could be placed on a regular plate. Proceeds would go to the specific cause.
One lawmaker--Democratic Rep. Will Davis--voted against it.
"I mean if we want to just cut out requesting specialty plates altogether, then let's just do that, versus creating a plate where you get a sticker,” he said. “Some of the benefit to the specialty plate is the way it looks."
Illinois has 109 specialty plates. They include sports teams, charities or simply calling attention to a cause. Motorists pay extra to have them on their vehicles, with the additional money helping the specific cause.
D'Amico says the change also will provide less confusion for law enforcement issuing tickets.
"It seems like we constantly have more and more plate bills come in before us,” D’Amico said, “and every one of them is a great cause and you can't not support them."