Maryland Choose Life License Plates Begin Production
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 5, 2003
Annapolis, MD (LifeNews.com) — Maryland becomes the eighth state to offer residents the opportunity to purchase Choose Life license plates that will fund abortion alternatives.
However, the plates have already drawn criticism from pro-abortion groups, who have sued in other states to prevent them from being produced.
Anne Ferro, head of the state Motor Vehicle Administration, says the state must accept the plate unless it has an obscene slogan or artwork. The regulations allowing any plate were put into place years ago following a successful lawsuit by one organization that was prevented from issuing vanity plates.
Ferro said abortion advocates can ask to have the MVA’s decision reviewed.
Robert Baldwin, a former state lawmaker and head of the Choose Life plate organization in the state, said 40 people so far have received the plates.
"We just want to get out the idea of ‘Choose Life,"’ Baldwin said. "Let people think about it."
Don Clements, an attorney who is the board chairman of Planned Parenthood of Maryland, says a legal battle is forthcoming.
"This appears to be the state endorsing political speech. Using state license plates for the purpose of making a political statement is inappropriate and will be legally challenged," Clements told WBAL News.
In addition to Maryland, the plates are also being issued in Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Mississippi and Oklahoma. Louisiana’s pates are currently under dispute.
They have raised over $2 million for abortion alternatives in Florida. Funds raised from the Maryland plate will also go to support pregnancy centers.
Related web sites:
Choose Life Inc. — https://www.choose-life.org
