Alternative Proposal For South Carolina "I Believe" Plates Is Filed

South Carolina residents may get a chance to purchase "I Believe" license plates after all. Earlier this month, a federal district court ruled that a statute, promoted by the Lieutenant Governor, that authorizes the plates violates the Establishment Clause. The legislatively approved tags were to carry the "I Believe" message, along with a cross superimposed on a stained glass window. (See prior posting.) Today's Rock Hill (SC) Herald reports that now a private group, the Palmetto Family Council, has filed a request with the state Department of Motor Vehicles for the issuance of an "I Believe" plate under S.C. Code of Laws, Sec. 56-3-8000. That section permits non-profit groups to apply for issuance of specialty tags, carrying an emblem or symbol representing the organization. The group need only submit 400 prepaid orders or pay $4000, and must also submit a plan to market further sale of the license tags. The only grounds for refusing to issue specialized plates under this section is that they are offensive or fail to meet community standards.