CHICAGO –– Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced today that with the re-plating of passenger vehicles complete, the next phase has begun. Almost 2.2 million license plates for B-trucks, motorcycles and other specialty plates will be replaced.

The first phase of the program generated more than $9.6 million for the state from scofflaws. According to White, more than 123,000 Illinois motorists applied for the new design plates that had not renewed their registration the previous year.

"The first phase of the process was a success," White said. "No other state in the nation has completed this large of a re-plating project in a one year period."

From August 2001 through July 2002, the first phase took place. Of the 7.15 million license plates sold, 71% of the drivers retained their previous letter/number combination, which is allowed under Illinois law.

"At this point, everyone who renewed their regular passenger plate by the deadline should have received newly designed plates and should now have those plates displayed," White said. "If drivers have the old passenger plates, they should notify our office immediately."

White is urging motorists who are still displaying an old design passenger license plate to call 217-558-0515. Drivers with expired registrations can be cited for No Valid Registration resulting in a $75 fine.

Starting in mid-November, the office began mailing motorists with certain specialty plates their newly designed plates.

These plates have been redesigned using larger alphanumeric characters to make them easier for law enforcement to identify. The new design also accommodates the new smaller sticker.

Those specialty plates include:

Mammogram, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Congressional Medal of Honor, Gold Star, Silver Star, Master Mason, Hearing Impaired, Disabled Veteran, Retired Armed Forces, Illinois National Guard, Peoria Wildlife Prairie Park, Ham Radio, Armed Forces Reserve, Korean War Veteran, Vietnam Veteran, Ex-POW's, WWII, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Illinois/Michigan Canal, POW/MIA, and ALL Sporting Series and Collegiate Plates

Most Illinois motorists with one of these plate categories will be receiving the new plate within the next couple of weeks. These new plates will carry the same expiration date as the old, so motorists will be required to purchase their sticker during their normal renewal month. Anyone who has not received his or her plate by mid-December should call the re-plating number listed above.

Also, phase three began this month, which includes the re-plating of: B-truck, Environmental, Prevent Violence, Fire Fighters, TA Trailers, Motorcycles, and RV/RT as they expire in calendar year 2003.

Phase three differs from phase two because motorists will receive their renewal notices in the mail instead of the actual plates. After that, those drivers will be able to renew their plates through the mail, by phone, on the Internet or at a facility.

Drivers with disability plates will be receiving specific instructions soon for the April re-plating.

Motorists with any questions or problems about their plates are again reminded to call 217-558-0515.