HELENA — All of the Montana specialty plates in danger of being revoked under an updated law, now have until July to reach the minimum number of 400 registered plate sets.
The 85 currently affected nonprofits received a letter from the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) outlining the new grace period.
On July 1, MVD will take a new snapshot of registered plates.
The letter states this is a one-time on extension: “If your organization does not meet the 400-plate minimum sales threshold by July 1, 2020, its specialty plate will be revoked. There will be no exceptions and no additional grace periods."
MVD Administrator Sarah Garcia told MTN News that starting in March, a monthly plate snapshot will be available on MVD’s website to help nonprofits track their progress. She believes the online tool will help prevent any surprises for nonprofits and the public moving forward.
Prickly Pear Land Trust Executive Director Mary Hallow said the grace period and ability to check where they’re at will make reaching the minimum 400 plates more attainable. She notes it’s still going to be a hard climb for a lot of nonprofits.
“It will definitely be a push for everybody,” said Hallow. “We not only have to meet 400 minimum plates per year, but we really need to exceed that because plate numbers sort of ebb and flow.”
Hallow says the specialty plate programs have been great for people to show what organizations and causes they support. Many of the nonprofits affected have already started new campaigns on social media and want people to know they can change out their license plates any time of the year.
“I think it is attainable for us, and people will be compelled by this to really get out there and support the nonprofits in our community,” said Hallow. “But it’s really important for us to get as many PPLT plates as possible.”
The full list of specialty plates in danger of being revoked are:
- Lewis & Clark Humane Society
- Bike Walk Montana
- Benefis Mercy Flight
- Prickly Pear Land Trust
- Mariah's Challenge
- Missoula Freestyle Team
- Richland Youth Hockey
- Richland County
- Stafford Animal Shelter
- International Christian Cycling Club Montana Spoke
- St Jude Thaddeus Catholic School
- CMR Partner Inc
- Bitterroot Humane Association
- Missoula Art Museum
- Disability Rights of Montana
- Capital High School Booster Club
- Rotary District 5390 Foundation
- Montana Area Agencies on Aging Association
- Beaver Booster Club IncRuby Habitat Foundation
- Magic City Soccer Club
- American Diabetes Association
- Whitefish Legacy Partners
- Flathead Valley Skiing Foundation
- Anaconda Community Foundation
- PSIA-NRM Educational Foundation, Inc
- Bagdad Temple
- Montana Utility Coordinating Council/Montana 811
- Missoula Youth Football Inc
- Sidney Soccer Association
- March of Dimes
- Planned Parenthood of Montana
- Friends of the Beartooth All American Road Inc.
- Central Ed Foundation of Silver Bow
- MSU Billings Foundation
- Montana CASA Gal Association
- Missoula Area Youth Hockey Association
- Glacier High School Booster Club
- Carroll College Saints Athletic Association
- Friends of Beaver Creek Park
- Child Bridge
- CAN AM Lifeline Search and Rescue
- Richland County Ambulance Service/Sidney Health Center
- Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter
- Montana Swimming Inc
- Crime Stoppers
- Montana Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation
- Flathead High School Booster Club 2014
- Montana Masonic FoundationMontana Watershed Coordination Council
- Montana Heritage Commission
- City of Bozeman
- Libby School District Number 4
- City of Lewistown
- Butte School District
- The Tribal Council of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes
- City of Shelby
- Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians
- Crow Tribe Executive Branch Humane Society of Western Montana
- Northwest Healthcare Foundation
- Boy Scouts of America, Montana Council
- AniMeals
- Gallatin Hockey Inc DBA Bozeman Amateur Association
- Swan Valley Connections
- Algeria Shrine Temple
- Alzheimer's Association Montana Chapter
- Big Sky Economic Development
- Whitefish Historical Society
- MT Cutting Horse Association
- Brennan's Wave
- Department of Montana Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Friends of the Wild Swan
- Havre Wrestling Club
- Friends of Makoshika
- Big Sky Education Foundation
- Sierra Club
- Manhattan Christian School
- Browning Public School District Number 9
- Great Falls High School
- Eureka Public Schools 2018
- Billings Catholic Schools
- Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes
- Blackfeet Tribe
