Pet-friendly license plate bill gets Legislature approval
Published at | Updated at
BOISE — Idaho motorists may soon be able to express their love for their pets on their license plates.
A bill creating “pet-friendly” license plates passed the Senate with a 25-to-10 vote Wednesday. It now goes to the governor’s desk for his signature.
According to the bill’s statement of purpose, the “goals of this program are to improve the lives for dogs and cats in low-income households throughout the state of Idaho, enable veterinarians in rural and low-income areas to assist and connect with pet owners, provide relief to Idaho animal shelters and impound facilities by decreasing pet over-population and unwanted litters and provide pet care information to under-serviced communities.”
In addition to the regular registration and renewal fees, the pet-supporting plates cost $35 when they are first issued, and $25 for each annual renewal. Of this money, the Humane Society keeps $22 from the first payment for the license plate and $12 per renewal. The rest goes to the state highway fund.
The Idaho Humane Society will create a board whose members will decide where its share of the funds from the license plate sales should go. The organization will also play a role in deciding the designs and slogans of the pet-friendly plates, which the Idaho Transportation Department will then approve.