Update: Georgia "Share the Road" Tag Initiative

[TandemGeek]

*************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***************

(ATLANTA, GA) Senator David Adelman (D-Dekalb) introduced legislation today that would create a Share The Road license plate and a bicycling safety activities program to be administered by the Governors Office of Highway Safety.

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A downloadable version of the Press Release is available here: http://home.att.net/~thetandemlink/SharetheRoad.doc

You can also read the entire Press Release on the Web and learn more about this initiative at: http://home.att.net/~thetandemlink/GATagInfo.html

There is still a lot of work and uncertainly ahead; however, this is a major milestone that was definitely on the critical path. More to follow....

[Bobatin]

Thanks for the update, it has been hard to find information on this. :)

[ZackJones]

Mark: Thanks for the info. If we're lucky we'll get them next year. I talked to the DMV folks last Friday and was told that everyone would be getting new plates next year. They're changing the design of them. Hopefully the share the road plate won't run $70.00 like the Desert Storm Vet plate runs.

Zack

[TandemGeek]

Originally posted by ZackJones
Mark: Thanks for the info. If we're lucky we'll get them next year. I talked to the DMV folks last Friday and was told that everyone would be getting new plates next year. They're changing the design of them. Hopefully the share the road plate won't run $70.00 like the Desert Storm Vet plate runs.

The actual fee schedule is still TBD. Unfortunately, like most of the Georgia speciality tags, it is very likely that the acquisition cost for the first year less your ad valorem tax would be about $70 which includes:

$20 - Annual vehicle registration
$25 - Special Tag Fee
$25 - One-time manufacturing fee

Annual renewal would be $45 thereafter. However, unlike many of the other speciality plates, if the Bill passes the $25 special plate fee/other proceeds above and beyond the cost of manufacturing the plates and administering the program would be used for a safe cycling education program overseen by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety instead of going into the State's general fund. The latter is what makes it an attractive proposition; otherwise, it's just another commemorative tag that would divert money away from cycling advocacy groups.

Again, none of this is anywhere near being a "done deal" and Georgia's cyclists will most certainly need to get behind the Bill to ensure it's passage in the Legislature and perhaps even at the polling booth next fall. Well, that and they'll need to back up their support by filing a special tag application and making a refundable deposit of $50 for each plate that they would agree to purchase to guarantee the surety bond this spring.

As I said, more to follow.

[SamDaBikinMan]

Cool :D

[TandemGeek]

ATTENTION GEORGIA CYCLISTS

Please contact your State Senator* TODAY and urge them to support the
passage of Senate Bill 283 - "License plates; special; "Share the Road"
message" during this legislative session.

If passed, SB283 would authorize the State of Georgia to issue a "Share The
Road" (STR) motor vehicle license plate AND set aside proceeds from the sale
of the STR license plates for a state-wide bicycle education and awareness
program. The STR license plates could be available for purchase as early as
next year IF Georgia's cycling community acts now. Don’t' assume somebody
else will do it -- pick up the phone, send an Email, or mail a letter TODAY!

SB283 was introduced by State Senator David Adelman (D-Dekalb) on March 24.
The Bill already has bipartisan support from Senators Don Balfour
(R-Snellville), Robert Lamutt (R-Marietta), Kasim Reed (D-Atlanta), Chuck
Clay (R-Marietta), and Steve Henson (D-Tucker). These friends of the
cycling community need to be thanked but also encouraged to get the Bill
passed during this legislative session.

Additional information regarding the Georgia STR License Plate Initiative
can be found at: http://home.att.net/~thetandemlink/GATagInfo.html.

**A list of Georgia's General Assembly is available on the Web at:
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/cgi-bin/gl_peo_list.pl?List=stsenatedl If you
are not sure which district you are in or who your State Senator is, please
go to this URL where you can type in your zip code to get a list of
your local representatives: http://tinyurl.com/88y5 OR http://www.sos.state.ga.us/elections/locator.htm
if the VoteSmart Web site (tinyurl shortcut) is down.