State offers incentives to buy license plates that help coastline

The state Coastal Commission has a great deal for motorists, one that directly benefits California’s spectacular coastline, but there may be only six days left to take advantage of it.

A 1994 state law can provide much-needed additional funding for programs to clean up beaches and secure public access to the coast through the sale of special license plates. The plates, designed by environmental artist Wyland, feature the image of a whale’s tail.

The special plate will cost motorists an extra $50 the first year and then $40 each year thereafter. (The Department of Motor Vehicles will issue the plates and administer the program after Jan. 1.) Half of the plate fee goes directly to organized coastal cleanups, adopt-a-beach programs and beach access and restoration projects. The other half goes into the state’s special fund for environmental protection and restoration.

But unless the commission receives orders for 5,000 plates by next Tuesday, Dec. 31, state law specifies that the program must die. So far, the commission has about 3,000 orders, close but not enough. So it is offering to the first 5,000 Californians signing up for the plates Sea World discount coupons and a choice of other incentives including a free ski lift ticket at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, a free whale watching excursion or two children’s tickets to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

The Whale Tail license program is similar to the special plate program that benefits Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe. These programs work--Yosemite receives about $1.5 million annually from the sale of about 39,000 license plates with an image of Half Dome. The Whale Tail program can work too.

To Take Action: To learn more or to order a Whale Tail plate, call (800) COAST4U [(800) 262-7848] before Dec. 31.