"America's Paradise" has been replaced with "Our Islands, Our Home" on the year 2000 license plates, according to a statement released Thursday by Lawrence Olive, director of the Motor Vehicle Bureau.
The colorful black on gold plates feature a new emblem, a Conch Blower, which was created by local artist K. Leba Ola-Niyi. They "establish the Virgin Islands plates as unique to the culture of our islands," said Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, the first to sport the new plate.
The new plates will be available to the public within the "next few days," Olive said. There is a one-time cost of $6, in addition to the normal registration fee, he said, and a new letter and numbering system is being instituted as well. The system will reduce the cost of the plates to the government.
On St. Thomas the plates will begin with TAA-001, on St. Croix with CAA-001 and on St. John with JAA-001. They will be issued on a first-come, first-serve basis, the director said.
License plate holders who wish to keep the same number plate will be charged a one-time fee of $20 for the life of the plate, along with regular license fees, Olive explained. Requests for these plates must be made 60 days in advance to ensure the MVD has the plate available when a motorist comes in for registration and renewal.
Personalized plates will also be reissued with the new design. The fee for these plates remains $35 a year.
