Low-Digit License Plate Act of 2004

 CHICAGO - Today Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn and Better Government Association Executive Director Jay Stewart held a press conference to push for approval of the "Low Digit License Plate Act of 2004" to reform the way low-digit plates are issued.

 

            The selling of prestigious low-digit license plates for political contributions or bribes was standard practice in the Secretary of State's office under George Ryan.  During the trial of former Ryan Chief-of-Staff Scott Fawell - now in federal prison - details of the practice came to light.

 

            More than 200 donors to Ryan's 1994 campaign fund held low-digit plates, averaging more than $1,000 per plate per donor.  The practice continued well into Ryan second term as Secretary of State according to federal court documents.  Larry Hall, who pled guilty to corruption, said he used perk plates to raise at least $10,000 in campaign funds and testified that Fawell saw this as a "cash cow".

 

House Bill 5105 - sponsored by Rep. Eddie Washington (D-Waukegan) - will be heard by the Illinois House State Government Administration Committee this Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.  Both Quinn and Stewart are scheduled to testify.

 

The Low-Digit License Plate Act requires that certain low-digit plates be distributed by the Secretary of State in a random fashion.  It applies to issuance of license plates numbered 1 through 9999 (with no letters) and plates containing single-, double- or triple-letters.  It would cover "open" plates only, meaning plates that have not already been issued or plates that have not been renewed.  It would not apply to "vanity plates" such as "DA BEARS" or "JOEY 123".

 

Under the Act, the Secretary of State will maintain an internet listing of available low-digit plates.  Once a plate becomes "open", any applicant who has paid the proper fees has 60 days to apply.  If more than one person applies, there will be a random lottery.  A low-digit plate could be transferred to a child or other family member.

 

            "Our license plates read ‘Land of Lincoln', not ‘Land of Political Insiders'.  Instead of handing out low-digit plates to big-shots, let's allow everyday people to be eligible," Quinn said.  "This bill goes to the heart of the problem of high government officials selling perk plates for campaign cash."

 

            This is the second reform pushed by Quinn and the BGA to grow out of the wrongdoing in Ryan's operation.  "The Inspector Misconduct Law" cracked down on state employees who shake down owners of businesses they regulate.

           

            "A lot has been done at the Secretary of State's office to clean up the mess of the license-for-bribe scandal," Stewart said.  "They've reformed Commercial Drivers License testing and named an Inspector General, but the low-digit plates still pose the potential of abuse or the appearance of impropriety.  This bill opens up low-digit license plate issuance process."