Provides for the advertisement of the availability of specialty and prestige plates (OR +$230,080 SG RV See Note)
The bill mandates that organizations or entities associated with special prestige plates must pay a fee to cover the costs of advertising. This fee is in addition to the standard motor vehicle license fee and is specifically allocated for advertising purposes. If an organization does not comply with this fee requirement, its respective plate will not be advertised. However, organizations that do not charge a fee are exempt from these advertisement guidelines, allowing their plates to be included in the advertisements without incurring costs.
House Bill 613 proposes the establishment of a structured advertising process for special prestige license plates within the state of Louisiana. Under this bill, the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C) is tasked with developing advertisements for these plates that will be displayed in all motor vehicle offices throughout the state. Specifically, the advertisements will take the form of posters and brochures depicting each special prestige plate, with the design and size of the advertisements determined by the secretary.
The sentiment around HB 613 appears to be generally positive, particularly among those advocating for greater visibility and awareness of special prestige plates. Supporters argue that such advertising can enhance public knowledge about available plates and potentially increase interest and participation among vehicle owners. However, there may be concerns about the financial burden placed on organizations that do charge fees and the implications for non-compliance with the advertising provisions.
A notable point of contention surrounding this bill can be the concern regarding the financial implications for smaller organizations wanting to have their plates advertised. Stakeholders may worry that the imposed fees could discourage participation from various groups, particularly non-profits, which may not be able to afford additional charges on top of existing costs. Additionally, there may be debate over how effectively these advertisements will reach potential customers and whether the bi-annual updates will be sufficient to keep the information current and relevant.