CHICAGO –– Secretary of State Jesse White today unveiled a new license plate soon to be available to Illinois motorists that honors the victims of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
White displayed the new "America Remembers" plate during a press conference at the James R. Thompson Center.
"This plate will not only honor those whose lives were lost on Sept. 11, it will provide funding for our state to combat further acts of terror," White said.
Motorists will now be able to sign up for the plate, which is red, white and blue with the American Flag waving on the bottom of the plate. Centered at the top is "America Remembers…" while centered at the bottom is "September 11, 2001." "Illinois" is displayed on the left side of the plate.
The license plate costs $118 for the initial purchase ($40 plus the standard $78 registration fee) of which $25 is deposited to the Sept. 11 fund. Customers will pay $105 for their annual renewals ($27 plus the standard $78) of which $25 goes to the Sept. 11 fund. Customers who need to switch plates will also pay a $14 fee.
Dollars raised from the sale of the "America Remembers" plate will be appropriated to the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs to fund grants to local governments. Those grants will cover the costs of training, equipment and other items related to public safety initiatives to prevent further acts of terrorism or to respond to further acts of terrorism or other disaster or emergency situations in Illinois.
Once the Secretary of State's office has 850 motorists signed up for the new plate, the production process will begin, White said. To sign up for the plate, motorists can be put on a list by going online at www.cyberdriveillinois.com or calling
217-558-6148.
The initiative was sponsored by: Sen. George Shadid (D-Edwards), Sen. Lisa Madigan (D-Chicago), Sen. Barack Obama (D-Chicago), Sen. Evelyn Bowles (D-Edwardsville), Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood), Sen. Lawrence "Larry" Walsh (D-Elwood), Sen. Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete), Sen. Kathleen Parker (R-Northbrook). Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), Rep. Timothy Osmond (R-Antioch), Rep. George Scully, Jr. (D-Flossmoor), Rep. Thomas Holbrook (D-Belleville), Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago), Rep. Gary Forby (D-Benton), Rep. Sidney Mathias (R-Buffalo Grove), Rep. Harry Osterman (D-Chicago), Rep. Jack McGuire (D-Joliet), Rep. Terry Parke (R-Hoffman Estates), Rep. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Bluff), Rep. Tom Berns (R-Urbana), Rep. Karen May (D-Highland Park), Rep. Cynthia Soto (D-Chicago).
