THE COLOUR OF WHAT?
This just makes me laugh. Laurel, really, follow texas... use a sticker not a whole plate.
From the Toronto Star:
" If you put green plates on your car, don't go near Ohio; Ontario's clean- car tags could get you branded as a sex offender in three U.S. states
It's enough to make an environmentally conscious motorist turn green.
While Environment Minister Laurel Broten plans to offer green licence plates for energy-efficient cars next year - with perks like free parking or access to carpool lanes - at least three U.S. states are considering green plates for convicted sex offenders and pedophiles back on the streets.
State legislators proposing the special plates in Ohio, Wisconsin and Alabama tout them as a public safety tool.
Critics say the green plates for sex offenders are a form of public humiliation that could encourage vigilantism.
And two Ontario border-area MPPs are worried about the dangers Ontario motorists with green plates could face travelling outside the province if the states pass the bills as part of sex offender registration and notification laws.
"Can you imagine, you're a granola cruncher, you've got a green plate, and you wonder why everyone hates you in Ohio?" said Progressive Conservative Tim Hudak (Erie-Lincoln).
"It's fraught with risk when the green plate may have different meaning in different jurisdictions," added New Democrat Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre).
"It's the scarlet letter."
Broten and Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield announced plans for the "eco-licence" two days ago, arguing that the perks would be another incentive for Ontarians to buy vehicles that are better for the environment.
Opposition critics dismissed the plate idea, which won't come into effect until well after the Oct. 10 election, as a Liberal campaign gimmick because details of which vehicles will qualify, how the plates will look and the perks haven't been worked out.
A spokesperson for Broten was initially unaware of the Ohio, Wisconsin and Alabama proposals.
But she later said Ontario will stick with its plans.
"Just as Vermont has green plates for all their vehicles, we will make sure as we design this program that the eco-licence plates are a distinctive green colour that in no way resembles the Wisconsin proposal, if it should pass through the legislature," Sandra Watts said.
In Ohio, which already has yellow licence plates for convicted drunk drivers, state Rep. Michael DeBose, a Cleveland Democrat, originally proposed pink plates for sex offenders but changed the colour to fluorescent green.
The switch was prompted because pink is the colour for breast cancer promotions, said Ross Davis, legislative assistant to DeBose, who was not available for comment.
In Broten's office, Watts said Vermont already has green licence plates for all vehicles, which doesn't seem to be causing problems.
She added that distinctive licence plates for alternative fuel vehicles are provided in Arizona, Georgia, Utah and Virginia.
California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland and Texas provide separate "green" stickers for licence plates. "
Cheers,
P
This just makes me laugh. Laurel, really, follow texas... use a sticker not a whole plate.
From the Toronto Star:
" If you put green plates on your car, don't go near Ohio; Ontario's clean- car tags could get you branded as a sex offender in three U.S. states
It's enough to make an environmentally conscious motorist turn green.
While Environment Minister Laurel Broten plans to offer green licence plates for energy-efficient cars next year - with perks like free parking or access to carpool lanes - at least three U.S. states are considering green plates for convicted sex offenders and pedophiles back on the streets.
State legislators proposing the special plates in Ohio, Wisconsin and Alabama tout them as a public safety tool.
Critics say the green plates for sex offenders are a form of public humiliation that could encourage vigilantism.
And two Ontario border-area MPPs are worried about the dangers Ontario motorists with green plates could face travelling outside the province if the states pass the bills as part of sex offender registration and notification laws.
"Can you imagine, you're a granola cruncher, you've got a green plate, and you wonder why everyone hates you in Ohio?" said Progressive Conservative Tim Hudak (Erie-Lincoln).
"It's fraught with risk when the green plate may have different meaning in different jurisdictions," added New Democrat Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre).
"It's the scarlet letter."
Broten and Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield announced plans for the "eco-licence" two days ago, arguing that the perks would be another incentive for Ontarians to buy vehicles that are better for the environment.
Opposition critics dismissed the plate idea, which won't come into effect until well after the Oct. 10 election, as a Liberal campaign gimmick because details of which vehicles will qualify, how the plates will look and the perks haven't been worked out.
A spokesperson for Broten was initially unaware of the Ohio, Wisconsin and Alabama proposals.
But she later said Ontario will stick with its plans.
"Just as Vermont has green plates for all their vehicles, we will make sure as we design this program that the eco-licence plates are a distinctive green colour that in no way resembles the Wisconsin proposal, if it should pass through the legislature," Sandra Watts said.
In Ohio, which already has yellow licence plates for convicted drunk drivers, state Rep. Michael DeBose, a Cleveland Democrat, originally proposed pink plates for sex offenders but changed the colour to fluorescent green.
The switch was prompted because pink is the colour for breast cancer promotions, said Ross Davis, legislative assistant to DeBose, who was not available for comment.
In Broten's office, Watts said Vermont already has green licence plates for all vehicles, which doesn't seem to be causing problems.
She added that distinctive licence plates for alternative fuel vehicles are provided in Arizona, Georgia, Utah and Virginia.
California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland and Texas provide separate "green" stickers for licence plates. "
Cheers,
P
posted by Patrick at
1:17 PM
3 Comments:
I agree with the sticker approach, but would caution it is more susceptible to counterfeit.
People are so cheap they have inflatable dolls in the passenger seats to use the HOV lanes; they'd also be so cheap and sneaky as to forge the stickers and place on their plates as a way to take advantage of the perks, such as free parking and use of HOV lanes.
How about rainbow coloured plates, or a nice plaid. LOL.
By
Anonymous, at 1:35 PM
GAY PRIDE FOR ALL!
Lol
Seriously, I like the differentiated liscence idea. This whole thing is really funny though.
Cheers,
P
By
Patrick, at 9:37 PM
I'm all for protecting children, but this is really getting out of hand. The cynic in me wonders if Alabama specifically chose the color of Vermont plates to symbolize the most offensive thing they could imagine. I wouldn't put it past some folks down there.
By
Dave, at 8:52 AM
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