What's Happening in Allen, TX…

Unless their popularity increases dramatically, the eagle-embossed school plates denoting our city’s pride may soon be pulled from the specialty plates offered by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

Allen isn’t alone in losing a license plate denoting pride or particular interest in a place, institution, or cultural icon. The Fort Worth Zoo plates and plates featuring Dr. Pepper soda may also get the cut. In all, about five dozen plates have been deemed not popular enough to continue producing.

Due to police complaints over license tag confusion brought about by customized sales by the state’s exclusive vendor five years ago, the DMV is tightening license tag policy. A minimum of 200 active users will now be required by the DMV for specialty tags.

The DMV has informed My Plates, the contractor, that new designs won’t be considered unless it has at least 200 potential orders. My Plates, for its part, has sent word to schools and charity groups of the DMV’s popularity rule and the possibility of their plates being phased out next year.

Those interested in preserving the plates could consider launching a campaign to increase their popularity will need to be launched. With the help of a flyer printing service, they may be able to drum up enough support to keep their plates on local cars.