Give state Sen. Mike Fasano some credit. At least he's trying to find ways to increase state revenues - and reduce the sting Floridians are feeling due to a hefty increase in driver's license and vehicle registration fees adopted by the Legislature last year.
But the New Port Richey Republican's idea to essentially sell advertising space on license plates and give discounts to motorists purchasing them should be parked.
Foremost, Florida already has too many specialty tags featuring sports teams and other causes, many of them notable. Allowing corporations to put their stamp on them would only add to the clutter and could make law enforcement's job even tougher.
The other issue is that the state would be put in the position of having to decide what would be allowed and what wouldn't. The "Choose Life" license plated generated a great deal of controversy, and we can envision entrepreneurs such as Tampa's Joe Redner seeking to promote nude-dancing clubs, condoms and other eyebrow-raising businesses on the back of vehicles. The Cafe Risque billboards along Interstate 75 are bad enough.
Rejecting tasteless ventures while approving inoffensive products and businesses could open the state to costly litigation. It's just not worth it.
Lawmakers have much better ways to raise revenue; reviewing sales-tax exemptions and reaping sales taxes on Internet and other purchases that are going uncollected are just two examples.
Using state license plates for corporate advertising isn't in the best interests of the state or motorists.
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