Donate Life license plates!!! (Thanks xtrememoosetrax!)

[paddbear0000]

I wish our Donate Life license plates look like that instead of the ugly ones we have. I will not get our states Donate Life plates because they are ugly Chicago Bears colors and do not have the donate life symbol. It just doesn't represent Organ Donation.

Boy Chris, you're right. Those plates are ugly! You could always stick a Donate Life sticker on them. I've seen people stick those Fraternal Order of Police stickers on them, so I don't think you'd have a problem sticking something else on there. You could stick it right on top of that stupid football or in the upper left corner. If you guys have to put county and registration stickers on your back plates, it looks like they would cove the football anyway.

When I took the motorcycle safety course in Maryland, I recall the instructor specifically mentioning the donor card and encouraging everyone to sign it.

Did they say anything about it when you applied for your motorcycle license here in Ohio?

[Chris]

I wish our Donate Life license plates look like that instead of the ugly ones we have. I will not get our states Donate Life plates because they are ugly Chicago Bears colors and do not have the donate life symbol. It just doesn't represent Organ Donation.

Boy Chris, you're right. Those plates are ugly! You could always stick a Donate Life sticker on them. I've seen people stick those Fraternal Order of Police stickers on them, so I don't think you'd have a problem sticking something else on there. You could stick it right on top of that stupid football or in the upper left corner. If you guys have to put county and registration stickers on your back plates, it looks like they would cove the football anyway.

We are not allowed to stick anything on the plate besides the renewal sticker. If you do, expect a ticket from the bear and I can't take that chance with how fast I drive on some roads. 

[monrein]

Chris, why don't you contact the motor vehicle folks and suggest a redesign or even a second design.  I bet you could come up with a terrific one.

[okarol]

I wish our Donate Life license plates look like that instead of the ugly ones we have. I will not get our states Donate Life plates because they are ugly Chicago Bears colors and do not have the donate life symbol. It just doesn't represent Organ Donation.

The design of the plate is to honor Walter Payton, the football player who spent his entire professional career with the Chicago Bears. He was diagnosed with a rare liver disease in February 1999 and was listed for a liver transplant. Payton spent his final months as an advocate for organ transplants. He died in November 1999. Payton's legacy continues through the charitable Walter and Connie Payton Foundation. His own appeals—and after his death, his foundation's—for greater awareness of the need for organ donations are widely credited with bringing national attention to the problem. After his appeals, donations in Illinois skyrocketed, and the regional organ bank of Illinois was overwhelmed with calls. In response, the City of Chicago inserted organ donation requests into city-vehicle-registration mailings in early 2000, and by August 2000, 13,000 people had signed on to the program. The foundation continues to run a program that Payton organized to donate toys to underprivileged children across the Chicago area each Christmas.

[kitkatz]

Now I can understand the plates!

[paddbear0000]

That's a great story behind the plates. Unfortunately, they are still poorly designed. Obviously not done by a professional designer.

[Chris]

Chris, why don't you contact the motor vehicle folks and suggest a redesign or even a second design.  I bet you could come up with a terrific one.

I did, I wrote about it on the first page.

I know the story of the plates, it was big news here when the plates were issued, but after years of non notariety, the story behind the plates is lost. The plates more emphasize the looks of the Chicago Bears rather bringing forth the attention of Organ Donation in a bolder statement. When seminars or booths are set up to promote organ donation, Donate Life key chains, pins, pens are on the table and that same message/emblem should be on the license plate while still using Walter Paytons jersey number as long as it is better explained in brochures. The DMV website has the capacity to do so more easily, but when people are looking while waiting at the DMV, you need a story and a bold universal symbol to bring the meaning to the forefront in my opinion/view. (Darn, wish I wrote this to the DMV the day I sent the letter). As time goes on, people are not going to know who Walter Payton is or what the jersey number stands for and why the  plates have a Chicago Bears theme to it unless it is a trivia question that they need to look up on the internet..

I think I need to send another letter, but already started a thread to discuss ideas on the Donate Life and Gift of Hope of Illinois website forums. I just get better writting idea from here though from other peoples input. 

[MyRenalRomance]

The Donate Life license plate looks terrific!  Wish CA would get a clue and add this design to the selections we are offered.  Actually, ALL DMVs should, afterall, that's where you designate "donor" on your driver's license!

[paddbear0000]

That's a very good point myrenalromance. You'd think given how tied together the organ donor sign up and licenses are, they'd offer the plates everywhere!

[Vicky]

Figures I live in Idaho and it's not on the list!!!

[willieandwinnie]

I received my donate life tags today. I couldn't get a personalized one from Maryland. I am going to get my son to put them on and I will post pictures. It took a while to get them. 

[David13]

Very cool, W&W!   

[paddbear0000]

Apparently the fees for special plates have gone up in Ohio this year and my Donate Life KIDNY1 plates are going to cost me over $120 a year!!! WTF??!! Who the he** initiated those fees?!     I may not be able to keep them. My husband is pissed.    I LOVE my plates!

[Chris]

It has been always higher for special plates in Illinois for many years, so  to the club! 

If I had them, I do get a discount because of paperwork I filed with the state.

[paddbear0000]

They were always higher than regular plates, but only by about $10. I think they cost me about $45. The regular plates only went up $10 this year. Special ones went up over $75! And most of that increase is NOT going to Donate Life which makes me angry. What kind of paperwork did you file? I wonder if Ohio has that too?

[Chris]

Ours is $78 a year and I pay $24, for specialty plates, with out checking to make sure it's $148.

Well do to disability income I  qualify for programs from the state. It's called  a Circuit Breaker program.

[okarol]

California still does not have a Donate Life license plate. 

[Chris]

Bad economy maybe their reason now.

[wj13us]

I have one.   

Bill

[*kana*]

I wonder if the reason why Ohio has the plates available is because there is no helmet law here?       Actually, I shouldn't laugh. It's not really funny. 

My clinic actually told me to dual with Ohio because they dont have a helmet law.  I'm going with states that don't have texting and driving laws, my odds are better to get a kidney from them.