INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) today announced the selection of four special group recognition license plates for 2010: Autism Society of Indiana, INCASA, Indiana Blood Center, and Rolling Thunder POW-MIA.

The four were selected among 14 applications received by the March 31, 2009, deadline. Each application was evaluated on criteria that included:

• Technical requirements set forth in state statute, regulations or the application guidelines.
• Standards that must be met that demonstrate, among other things, an uncommon level of distinction and benefit to the citizens of Indiana that sets the organization and its purpose for the plate apart from others.
• Proliferation considerations, including demonstration that the selection of a plate would not: open the door to a large number of other similar organizations, make proper identification by law enforcement more difficult, and weaken the distinction of existing specialty plates.

According to BMV Commissioner Andy Miller, each organization was found to be a solid asset and valuable service provider to the state or a particular community or constituency, but only four met all established criteria.

The BMV currently offers its customers a choice of 77 different license plate designs, 66 of which charge a group fee that benefits worthwhile causes and organizations.

The growth in the number of specialty plates in the past has placed an undue burden on law enforcement and created administrative and inventory challenges for the BMV, according to Miller.

As a result, the BMV has reviewed the program seeking ways to eliminate the challenges for law enforcement and the BMV and to ultimately allow more groups to participate in the program, including:

• working with law enforcement to create a standardized design.
• testing a centralized fulfillment process.
• evaluating the significant number of current groups that do not meet the statutory sales threshold.

Miller said the BMV approved a small number of new plates this year in order to test the program enhancements above. If successful, modifications will be made to the current criteria, which will allow the BMV to accept more plates into the program for 2011 plate cycle. One change will include strengthening criteria to demonstrate ability to market any new plate to ensure robust sales.

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