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Surfers Hope License Plate Will Catch Wave Of Interest

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The Associated Press

Published: March 4, 2009

TALLAHASSEE - Surfin' dudes and wahines soon may be able to choose from two bodacious license tags to hang from the back bumper of their woody when they head to the beach to hang ten.

Bills creating the two surfing plates and four other specialty tags for the St. Johns River, autism, catch-and-release fishing and a Marion County horse park cleared the House Roads, Bridges & Ports Policy Committee on Wednesday.

One of the surfing tags would be dubbed "Let's Go Surfing" and raise money for the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame and Museum at Cocoa Beach through a $25 annual fee.

The other would be called "Endless Summer." Its $25 fee would go to the Surfing Evolution & Preservation Corp. to foster interest in the sport.

Rep. Kurt Kelly, who is sponsoring the "Lets Go Surfing" bill (HB 49), which also includes the horse park tag, said it's an economic development measure because of the surfing competitions the Hall of Fame brings to Florida.

"The other bill (HB 193) that is out there — hey listen, if people want to buy that one, that would be fine, too," said Kelly, R-Ocala. "Whichever floats your boat."

He said specialty plates give people a chance to express their support for universities, colleges and other organizations while giving nonprofits a way to raise money for their causes.

Florida already has about 150 specialty plates. Among them are tags for professional sports teams and animals such as sea turtles, manatees, whales and Florida panthers. One of the biggest sellers is the "Choose Life" tag that raises money for adoption services.

Lawmakers are expecting a rush of specialty tags bills this year to beat a moratorium going into effect next year.

"This is not just slipping under the wire," Kelly said. "There's a vetting process that's relatively expensive."

An organization seeking a specialty tag must do research to show there's a market for it.

The bills approved Wednesday will be heard by other committees before they get floor votes.

Other bills filed this year would create tags for Korean War veterans, the Fraternal Order of Police, Florida Biodiversity Foundation and Bay of Pigs Museum and Library.

Also, a Go Green tag would raise money for renewable energy and technology projects while a Trinity tag would aid the Toomy Foundation for the Natural Sciences. A Children First plate would benefit Children First Florida, an organization that distributes private school vouchers for students from low-income families financed by state corporate income tax credits.

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