What Ever Happened To The Sunshine State?
Remember the days when states each had one license plate, proudly declaring something special about its people or place? Florida was The Sunshine State, Missouri was The Show Me State, Kentucky - The Bluegrass State, New York - The Empire State.
Gone are those days.
Florida long ago abandoned it’s claim to sunshine in favor of saving the whales, the turtles, the dolphins, the panthers, the manatees, the everglades, bears, the Buccaneers, and unborn children.
Now a new plate is being debated, the “I Believe” plate. Considering that we already have 8,342 plates, I have to say, this isn’t much more than shrug worthy - until another group applies for the “God Is Dead” plate. And you know its going to happen.
Florida will be sorry it didn’t stick to sunshine.
Currently Available Florida License Plates:
ENVIRONMENTAL
- Animal Friend
- Aquaculture
- Conserve Wildlife
- Discover Florida’s Oceans
- Everglades River of Grass
- Fish Florida
- Indian River Lagoon
- Large Mouth Bass
- Panther
- Protect Florida Springs
- Protect Florida Whales
- Protect Our Reefs
- Protect Wild Dolphins
- Save Our Seas
- Save the Manatee
- Sea Turtle
- Sportsmen’s National Land Trust
- State Wildflower
- Tampa Bay Estuary
- Trees Are Cool
MISCELLANEOUS
- A State of Vision
- Agricultural Education
- Agriculture
- American Red Cross
- Boy Scouts of America
- Challenger/Columbia
- Choose Life
- Corrections Foundation
- Donate Organs
- End Breast Cancer
- Family First
- Family Values
- Florida Arts
- Florida Educational
- Florida Golf Capital of the World
- Florida Salutes Veterans
- Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranch
- Florida Special Olympic
- Hospice: Everyday is a Gift
- Imagine
- Invest in Children
- Keep Kids Drug Free
- Kids Deserve Justice
- Live the Dream
- Motorcycle Specialty
- NASCAR
- Parents Make A Difference
- Police Athletic League
- Police Benevolent Association
- Salutes Firefighters
- Share the Road
- Stop Child Abuse
- Stop Heart Disease
- Support Homeownership For All
- Support Our Troops
- Support Soccer
- U.S. Air Force
- U.S. Army
- U.S. Coast Guard
- U.S. Marine Corps
- U.S. Navy
- U.S. Olympic
- U.S. Paratroopers
- United We Stand
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS
- Florida Marlins (Baseball)
- Florida Panthers (Hockey)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (Football)
- Miami Dolphins (Football)
- Miami Heat (Basketball)
- Orlando Magic (Basketball)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Football)
- Tampa Bay Devil Rays (Baseball)
- Tampa Bay Lightning (Hockey)
UNIVERSITIES
- Barry University
- Bethune-Cookman College
- Clearwater Christian College
- Eckerd College
- Edward Waters College
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Flagler College
- Florida A & M University
- Florida Atlantic University
- Florida College
- Florida Gulf Coast University
- Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences
- Florida Institute of Technology
- Florida International University
- Florida Memorial University
- Florida Southern College
- Florida State University
- Jacksonville University
- Lynn University
- New College of Florida
- Nova Southeastern University
- Palm Beach Atlantic University
- Ringling School of Art and Design
- Rollins College
- Saint Leo University
- Saint Thomas University
- Southeastern University
- Stetson University
- University of Central Florida
- University of Florida
- University of Miami
- University of North Florida
- University of South Florida
- University of Tampa
- University of West Florida
- Warner Southern College
The sleek, strong iconic aesthetic of license plates was so appealing; I miss them. Putting what’s tantamount to an ad on them seems lame.
What’s more, don’t they know the Buccs are beyond saving?
Alright, that was cruel. I think they were only 11-5 last season.
In any event, some plates I’d like to see spat from Flordia’s vanity binge:
* Blackula Commemorative Plate
April 24th, 2008 at 6:45 pm* Douglas Adams Plate
* $2.99 Steak and Eggs 4-Ever Plate