Refreshed specialty Md. license plate supports funding for coastal bays
MARYLAND – Coming soon to a Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) office near you: a refreshed specialty license plate design.
“Shadow of the Chesapeake”
Tuesday morning, lawmakers, MVA officials, and stakeholders gathered on the edge of the Sinepuxent Bay in Berlin to unveil the new tags.
The redesign doesn’t change the rendering of the iconic Maryland blue crab, nor that of the revered (or feared, depending on who you ask) Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Rather, the new specialty “bays license plates” give a deserved nod to Maryland’s five coastal bays: the Assawoman, Chincoteague, Isle of Wight, Martin River, Newport, and Sinepuxent Bays.
“The coastal bays have always been in the shadow of the Chesapeake,” said Executive Director of the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Kevin Smith. “That’s changing.”
Refreshed Redesign
The first iteration of the specialty bays plate was introduced in 1990. Before, it only bore the name of the Chesapeake Bay.
“There is more recognition of [the coastal bays] watershed and the importance that this place plays for Marylanders. And, not just Marylanders, but people from all over the nation who come here, and the world, really,” Smith said.
So far this year, about 40,000 specialty bay plates have been issued in Maryland. With the redesign, however, those who know plate procedure best predict a nice boost in sales.
Jody Palmisano, owner of West Ocean City and Salisbury Tag and Title, says some Eastern Shore customers used to shy away from choosing a specialty bay plate because it made no mention of their neck of the woods.
“I do believe that the new design saying ‘coastal bays’ will greatly increase sales of the bay tag on the Eastern Shore,” Palmisano said.
Sales Not Just Symbolic
And, those sales aren’t just symbolic.
Every time a bays plate is purchased or renewed, the fee helps support funding for education and community outreach about the importance of conserving the coastal bays. The funds also provide resources for boots in the water work, under the Chesapeake Bay Trust and Maryland Coastal Bays Program.
Dr. Jana Davis, president of the Chesapeake Bay Trust, says bay plate funds have helped support the construction of rain gardens, living shorelines, terrapin nesting habitats, and stormwater projects.
“We should have pride in the fact that we have these [waterway] systems in our state, and celebrate them,” Dr. Davis said. “We are so excited to continue supporting, and sending the dollars from the bays plate back into communities so that these groups can be empowered to do the work, and be part of the solution.”
Maryland MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer says she is excited to see how the potential increase in funding for coastal bay projects will impact young people, in particular. “They’re dedicating that money to local programs throughout the state, really, to educate young people, help protect the bays, and [support] various projects,” she said.
A Consequential Question
Speakers at the event repeatedly thanked State Senator Mary Beth Carozza for helping to make the plate redesign possible.
The story goes: when recently registering a newly purchased vehicle, Sen. Carozza asked off-hand why the coastal bays were not named on the specialty bay plate, and only the Chesapeake. It wasn’t long, stakeholders say, before the change was made.
“There has been a lot of interest here on the Shore about what we can do here,” Sen. Carozza said, “And, one way to do it is to raise the visibility, by including the coastal bays on the license plate.”
Sen. Carozza, who is a member of the Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee, hopes the new plates will serve as a reminder to every Marylander, just how crucial the inland bays are.
“I spend a lot of time with my colleagues on that committee, reminding them that it goes beyond the Chesapeake Bay,” Sen. Carozza said. “What we’re doing together, is protecting all of Maryland’s waterways. Maryland’s five coastal bays are important to do so.”
How to Snag A Pair
“You can order the plate online, and you’ll get it reflected with the new ‘coastal bays’ at the bottom of it,” said Nizer. “Our offices on the Eastern Shore have them, as well as dealers and tag and title shops.”
First-time vehicle registration tag fees depend on what kind of vehicle you’re registering. The bays plate carries an annual $10 renewal fee. Switching from a regular Maryland tag to a specialty tag comes at a cost of $20.
For more information about specialty license plates in Maryland, click here.
