Editor's note: Additional information about BMV specialty plates. In 2005 (latest year for which statistics available), the BMV distributed 313,809 specialty plates. There are 68 specialty plates available. The most popular in 2005 were Heritage Trust (63,685 plates); Children's Trust (45,640); Hoosier Veteran (33,388); Indiana University (32,465); Purdue University (23,288). The BMV has ordered nearly 10,000 Support Our Troops plates.

Support Our Troops license plate makes debut

INDIANAPOLIS (December 28, 2006)-Governor Mitch Daniels today unveiled the Support Our Troops license plate, which will be available to Hoosiers statewide beginning January 2. Proceeds generated from the sale of the plate will be placed into a fund supporting Indiana National Guard and reservist families.

"This is just one more small way we can honor Hoosiers who serve our country and help the family members who support them everyday," said Daniels.

Proceeds from the sale of the Support Our Troops plate will go to the Military Family Relief Fund. The cost of a specialty plate is $35 (in addition to the standard plate fee of $20.75). Of that, $20 will go to the Military Family Relief Fund. Plates will be available in all BMV branches next month.

The license plate was created as a part of Senate Enrolled Act 75, which also established the Military Family Relief Fund for Indiana National Guard members and Indiana armed forces reservists called into active duty after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Senator Mike Delph (R-Carmel) co-authored the legislation during the 2006 legislative session. He also helped design the license plate, which is being produced by PEN products, a division of the Indiana Department of Correction.

"Governor Daniels and the Veterans' Affairs Commission are dedicated to our Hoosier men and women in uniform and their families," said Sen. Delph. "The Support Our Troops license plate will help contribute much needed money into the Military Family Relief Fund, which will in turn support Hoosier soldiers and their families in times of need."

In a set of 2007 legislative initiatives designed to help Hoosier veterans and military families, the governor has proposed that the state provide matching funds of up to $350,000 annually for the Military Families Relief Fund. State funds would match all private contributions to the fund as well as revenue generated by the sale of the plate.

Photos from the announcement will be available later today at: http://www.in.gov/gov/photo/index.html

The new plate design can be viewed here: http://www.in.gov/gov/images/SupportOurTroops.jpg.

For more information, visit www.bmvexpress.in.gov.