​A bill that would let drivers buy the license plate that graced Garden State cars and trucks between 1979 and 1991 that was proposed more than a year ago by State Senator Kristen Corrado, R-Passaic, cleared a crucial committee Monday and is a step closer to putting the blue plate special in drivers’ hands.
The state senate Transportation Committee voted 6-0 Monday to release the bill that she introduced on Nov. 16, 2020. A companion bill in the state Assembly that was also proposed in Nov. 2020 hasn’t been as lucky. It is still waiting for a hearing by that body’s transportation and independent authorities committee.
The next step for Corrado’s bill, S-3181, would be posting it for a vote by the full Senate.
The target audience for the throwback license plates are car collectors who would be likely to buy a vintage style license plate to adorn their classic ride, Corrado said.
“The idea to revive New Jersey’s vintage license plate was recommended by a constituent,” she said in a statement. “Many New Jerseyans, especially classic car enthusiasts, favor the vintage license plate design that gained popularity in the ‘80s. My legislation will actually give drivers the opportunity to purchase something that is truly different and unique.”

New Jersey wouldn’t be the first state to do it. That honor goes to California and Montana. California's legacy black plate with yellow writing that resembles the 1963 plate and is very popular, raising in excess of $50 million per year.  Montana also lets motorists choose from any one of the previous passenger base license plates, back to 1987.
Neighboring New York state has a variation of that concept. It offers drivers the opportunity to register a classic car that is at least 25 years old using a set of vintage New York license plates that were issued the year the vehicle was manufactured that the owner already possesses.
“Various states have brought back retro license plates and found there to be great demand,” Corrado said. “In fact, these plates have proven to be very profitable.”
There’s a long road before the baby blue plate can join the other specialty license plates offered by the MVC. First, there has to be enough of a demand by drivers to cover the $25,000 cost to design, produce and market the throwback license plate, before any are made.
The plate would cost $50 to buy and an additional $10 annually, added to the vehicle registration fee.
Since the proposed laws require sales of specialty license plates to cover their costs, Corrado said in an earlier interview there is little cost or financial risk to the state.
“The way the legislation is structured, there’s no reason not to do it,” she said.

At the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida Highway Patrol is assisting the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Health (DOH) with checkpoints for motorists entering Florida on I-10 and I-95.
The checkpoints were set up in late March as part of an effort to get travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Louisiana to self-isolate upon arriving in Florida.
New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Louisiana were targeted because they were hotspots for the virus.
Motorists traveling from Alabama into Florida on Interstate 10 will no longer face being stopped for COVID-19 checks.
The Florida Department of Transportation announced Friday that a checkpoint east of the Florida-Alabama border is being deactivated as part of Gov. Ron DeSantis starting the second phase of a COVID-19 economic recovery plan.

​The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission offers 17 dedicated plates that cost $50 for the initial purchase and an additional $10 a year that goes to causes ranging from supporting parks to endangered species to helping children of fallen law enforcement officers. The Battleship New Jersey plate has a $15 annual renewal fee and the Garden State agriculture plate carries no renewal fee, but it costs $70 to buy.
Some plates issued in the past for specific causes have been discontinued because of lack of sales.

The MVC initially resisted issuing "Choose Life" plates requested by the Children First Foundation to promote adoption because it was seen as weighing in on the more controversial abortion issue, but in 2010, the plate was made available. While MVC officials said that plate is still offered, sale figures were not included among statistics the commission provided to the state legislature earlier this year. It also is not listed on the MVC website with other dedicated plates.

​1. Shore to Please (43,763).
With 130 miles of oceanfront coastline, proceeds support special New Jersey shore cleanup programs.

​2. Law Enforcement Memorial (31,262).
This license plate is a visible and financial show of support for families of police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice. The proceeds help fund scholarships for children of officers who died in the line of duty. The scholarship is administered by the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. 

​3. Conquer Cancer (19,356).
Helps the fight to find a cure and express visible support to others fighting the disease. Proceeds from the plate help the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research support cancer research projects in the state. 

​4. USS New Jersey/ ‘Battleship’ (14,447).
The historic World War II battleship preserved in Camden. Built in 1943, the Battleship New Jersey was decommissioned in 1991. Proceeds from sales help support the battleship's restoration and exhibition through the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial. Last year, sales increased 4,628 increase from 2017 sales.

​5. Animal Friendly (13,295).
The letters IM are placed so the plates read “I’m animal friendly” and proceeds benefit low cost neutering and spaying programs in the state. This is the second version of this popular plate. The first 1995 version featured a dog and cat and paw prints as the design. 

​Wildlife Conservation (Bald Eagle) sold 10,132, United We Stand 9,742, Agriculture/Garden State 7,166, Treasure our Trees 3,838 and Pinelands 3,599, round out the top 10. Sales of the Pinelands plate literally contribute to more Pinelands by helping to buy more land for the Pinelands National Reserve that spans seven southern counties.