Choose Life tags now in 14 states

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—With the Ohio legislature’s recent approval of Choose Life license plates, 14 states now offer drivers the bright yellow specialty tags. The national movement, which began in Florida, now boasts contributions nationally of more than $3.7 million for agencies that encourage adoption.

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Currently, Choose Life groups in 46 states work to lobby their state legislators to adopt the plates or encourage drivers to purchase the tags. Only Wyoming, New Mexico, Maine and Alaska do not have Choose Life promotion groups.

Opposition to the Choose Life license tags is felt both in state legislatures and courts. In some states opposition groups have had some success in claiming the specialty plates are a “free speech” arena and the legislatures must remain “opinion neutral” and may not regulate which groups can have access to this “free speech forum,” according to the Choose Life Web site, www.choose-life.org.

“This issue of whether specialty plates are public speech or state speech will most likely be resolved in the U.S. Supreme Court,” wrote Russ Amerling, Choose Life national publicity coordinator.

Three lawsuits in Florida against the license plates have been unsuccessful. The U.S. 11th Circuit of Appeals ruled “The first amendment does not require states to authorize the speech of those who have expressed no interest in speaking; it only protects the rights of those who wish to speak.”

“This is a significant ruling as it establishes, at least in the U.S. 11th Circuit, that states with reasonable application processes are not discriminating when the opposition does not use that process to apply for a plate, and they cannot claim standing in court unless they do,” Amerling said.

The purchase of the Florida specialty tag contributes $20 to agencies, in the county of the purchase, such as crisis pregnancy centers, mater-nity homes and non-profit adoption agencies. The contribution is tax deductible.

More than 40,400 Florida drivers display “Choose Life” tags, and have contributed $2.9 million to local agencies promoting adoption. Six counties—Broward, Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, Palm Beach and Pinellas—have more than 2,000 Choose Life tags on the road. Hillsborough County drivers have purchased the most tags—2,621.

Florida drivers may switch to a Choose Life license plate by mail, and Choose Life, Inc. will pay the switching fee of $19.65. A driver does not have to wait until his renewal date to take advantage of the organization’s offer. Several donors have given funds to allow Choose Life to ask drivers to switch their tags without the extra fee. Choose Life, Inc. must handle the process.

For more information, call 352-624-2854, e-mail russ@choose-life.org, or write Russ Amerling, PO Box 830152, Ocala, FL 34483-0152.