MISSOURI'S NEW LICENSE PLATE NOW ON VEHICLES

The colorful license plates being seen around town don't belong to out-of-state visitors: They're the new plates now available to Missourians.

More than 400 of the license plates have been distributed in Cape Girardeau since they became available statewide Nov. 6, said Norma Wildman, Cape Girardeau License Bureau manager.

The new plate fades from white on top to light blue in the middle to green on the bottom. The letters and numerals are a darker blue. Missouri is in green block letters across the top of the plate.

Underneath the state's name is a blue wavy line representing Missouri's many rivers, lakes and waterways. The words Show-Me State are printed in blue block letters at the bottom.

"They're a lot prettier than the plain-old red ones," said Peggy Cordia, 25, of Cape Girardeau, who got her new plates Wednesday.

As a former soldier in the Army, Cordia encountered license plates in Texas, Colorado and South Carolina. She thinks Missouri's red plates are the worst she has seen.20"Now we've got a real pretty license plate, too," she said.

Wildman agreed. "Everyone's response has been positive," she said. "I like them; I really think they're pretty."

The collegiate plates are slightly different than the old ones, Wildman said. They have the new Missouri wording, colors and wavy line, but maintain the design the schools already have in place.

The personalized plates no longer have wording in a different color.

The new tags are pre-printed with a 1998 expiration date, Wildman said. People with plate expiration dates into 1997 can keep the red plates until then, but will have to replace their tags for 1998.

"A lot of people will want to keep their old plates because they've memorized the numbers," Wildman said. "That won't be possible. By 1998, there won't be any of the red license plates left."

Those with personalized plates will be able to keep the wording on their new plates, Wildman said.

People wishing to get the new plates before the old ones expire will be able to do so, Wildman said. They need to take their license plates in along with their original personal property tax receipt.

They will be credited for whatever time remains on their old plates and pay for any extended time on the new plates, Wildman said.

People who are renewing their license plates at their normal time do not need to bring the old plates with them, Wildman said.

New aesthetically attractive license plates were mandated by legislation enacted last year. A special panel created by the legislation held public hearings statewide and sorted designs earlier this year.

The winning design was by William O'Donnell, a Eureka artist who sketched numerous proposals during his lunch breaks at Maritz Inc.