Motto One Step Closer to ‘Hitting the Road’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 5, 2003
NEWS CONTACT: Joe Glover – 804-419-4483 ext. 456

RICHMOND, VA – The Virginia House of Delegates has approved legislation that would create “In God We Trust” specialty license plates for motorists in the Old Dominion. The vote, which took place just one day after the language was rolled into in an omnibus specialty plate bill that is almost certain to pass the full Senate, was 91 to 8. The bill will now be communicated to the Senate for consideration.

A late email broadcast from the conservative group Family Policy Network to its supporters in Virginia the day before the Transportation Committee considered the bill, solicited immediate grassroots support for the legislation. Just minutes after the FPN alert was transmitted throughout Virginia, Transportation Committee members began to see their computer screens fill with messages of support for “In God We Trust” plates from citizens in Abingdon, Alexandria, Bedford, Brookneal, Charlottesville, Chester, Chantilly, Colonial Heights, Fairfax, Forest, Gloucester, Glen Allen, Gordonsville, Herndon, Lynchburg, Madison, Mechanicsville, Middlebrook, Midlothian, Moseley, Norfolk, Prince George, Richmond, Roanoke, Ruther Glen, Stephens City, Virginia Beach, Woodbridge, Wythville and Yorktown.

When legislators consider authorizing new specialty plates, they sometimes question whether there will be adequate demand from motorists to purchase them. While legislators ordinarily don’t care to receive email from other legislators’ constituents, the immediate feedback from FPN supporters throughout the Commonwealth indicated a strong statewide interest in purchasing the plates by motorists.

###
VIRGINIA RESIDENTS:
Call your Senator at 1-800-889-0229 to express your
support for the “In God We Trust” license plate bill.