New Mexicans Have Pick of Plates
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SANTA FE, N.M. — Vets got ‘em. Neutered pets got ‘em. So did soldiers, rodeo riders and a variety of retirees. Their own license plates, that is.
New Mexico lawmakers passed, and Gov. Bill Richardson signed into law, more than a dozen bills that create license plates for groups ranging from retired letter carriers to wildlife lovers.
The state already has two standard plates -- the traditional bright yellow and the newer hot-air balloon plate -- as well as dozens of special plates.
There are bright red plates for elected officials, dark blue plates for the military and multicolored plates for government vehicles. The Children’s Trust Fund has its own plate, as do the National Guard, firefighters, volunteer firefighters and fans of state university sports teams.
The plethora of new plates -- which carry an added fee of $15 to $35 -- led to some grumbling.
“It’s not the Land of Enchantment anymore. It’s the Land of Special Plates,” said Democratic state Rep. Henry Kiki Saavedra.
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