South Carolina Now Sells Specialty "I Believe" Plates

AP reported yesterday that South Carolina motorists can now purchase "I Believe" license tags. They have been available since January 4, when they were added to some 130 other specialty plates. By the end of January, 56 pf the new tags had been sold. Specialty plates cost an added $25 which goes to the sponsoring charity.  The new plates are sponsored by www.IBELIEVEsc.net, which will use the profits for nonpolitical community efforts. The plates (photo) feature the letters "JC" between 3 crosses on a hill and the plate number, and also display the sponsoring charity's name.  In 2009, a federal district court held that a special South Carolina government-sponsored statutory authorization of an "I Believe" license tag violated the Establishment Clause. (See prior posting.) The new plates are being issued under the general provisions of SCL Sec. 56-3-8000 "Non-profit organization license plates."