Mottos for new plate sought

Ohioans asked to say what state means to them

Sports teams, slogans, and famous Ohioans’ names are among possibilities for the plates that are to be available in December, 2012.

Sports teams, slogans, and famous Ohioans’ names are among possibilities for the plates that are to be available in December, 2012.

COLUMBUS — Ohio might be forgiven for encouraging tailgating as it plans to ask citizens to suggest numerous bits of fine print to be added as background to the state’s new matching license plate and driver’s license.

The names of famous Ohioans, sports teams, historic sites, slogans, and other snippets of information are all game. The design, the product of the Columbus College of Art & Design, features a red aviation-wing triangle on the top with the outline of the state and “Ohio” in capitals.

The background behind the large black license plate numbers and letters will include numerous snippets of Ohio-specific phrases and mottos in faded print that citizens can select via http://myplate.ohio.gov. They may pick from a number of suggestions made on the Web site or propose their own. A committee will make the final selections from the suggestions.

“We needed to find a way to incorporate everything in Ohio,” said Aaron Roberts, the senior from Bellefontaine largely credited with the aviation-themed design. “There’s a lot of different ways you can do that, but probably the best way to do that is with words. People can choose what Ohio means to them. They can actually pick a phrase or a particular pro-football Hall of Famer or a particular location that is meaningful to them.”

The new license plate will become available in December, 2012, and the new driver’s license will take effect in January 2013, according to Lindsey Bohrer, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety. The current standard Beautiful Ohio license plate, designed by former First Lady Frances Strickland, will remain available while the inventory lasts, as will the numerous specialty plates that have been authorized over the years.

Mr. Kasich has never been a fan of Ohio’s current pink driver’s license.

“I was looking at this license, and I’m thinking, ‘This is not 21st century,’?” he said. “But then I realized I’m governor. I can fix this kind of a thing.”