Wyoming Vote Tracker

Did you know that every eight years, our license plates get a new look? I have been in Wyoming through three plate designs.

When we moved up here in ‘92, the design was a simple white-silhouette mountain/blue sky background with red numerals.

The plate numbers were quite odd for a Colorado native to see. After a few weeks, we learned that the first number indicated your county, which explained why we saw a lot of plates starting with a “vertical 11.” Some plates had just three numbers following the famous bucking horse and rider (still others had fewer). To add to the creativity, some plates had a “vertical two-letter combination” at the end of the numeric portion of the plate number. There was also a commemoration of the Centennial celebrated two years earlier. That was also the end of “the Centennial Plate.”

In ‘93, the design improved greatly, adding detail to the mountains and a field of grass. Also, the text went blue.

2001 saw a blue sky return with clouds and the mountains got bucked off for our nation’s first National Monument, Devil’s Tower. This design also saw the introduction of non-imprinted plates. The vertical two-letter ending was replaced with a single additional number or letter, thus some plates would now be county/BH&R/#### and others county/BH&R/###L. In all actuality, any combination totaling four letters and numbers is possible. There is even one plate here in Cody that is 7AM. Reportedly, that is the next one that came out of the file when the vehicle was registered.

Starting next year, you can purchase the 2009 design (with a 23-month registration). The mountains are returning, specifically, the Tetons! Sorry, Chris, we have a thing for the pole-less Wyoming view of the Tetons over here

Additionally, an extra $100 will allow UW alumni to purchase a brown and gold alumni plate. Both plates will feature the famed emblem of Wyoming, per state law. Of course, not everyone agrees with the BH&R on our plate:

No matter what, all full-sized license plates must bear the bucking horse and rider. It says so in state law.

That could be disappointing news to [Heather] Chase.

“I’m not crazy about the guy and the horse,” Chase said. When asked if she’d like to see it go, she said with a smile, “I would, actually.”

This in spite of the Wyoming plate being labeled “best-designed” three times. Are we sure that this lady is not with PETA?

Technorati Tags: Wyoming license plates, Grand Tetons, Bucking Horse & Rider

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