Ky. to Drop ‘Mr. Smiley’ License Plates
Ky. to Drop ‘Mr. Smiley’ License Plates
That smiling sun on Kentucky’s license plates was just a bit too cheerful for most drivers: Now Mr. Smiley’s headed for the recycling bin.
The sunshine plates were met with ridicule when then-Gov. Paul Patton unveiled the design in December 2002. Gov. Ernie Fletcher is scheduled to announce the change at a news conference Tuesday.
Despite the criticisms, the smiling sun won the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association 2003 award for best license plate, beating Maine’s lobster by one vote.
The Mr. Smiley plates will not completely vanish until all cars receive the “Unbridled Spirit” tags beginning Jan. 1. The new plates will have a small outline of Kentucky in the center.
[UPDATE: Here's what the new license plates will look like]
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Jul 19th, 2005 at 11:27:49
Thank God!! I hate those smiley face plates. I paid the extra $10 to get another plate.
Jul 19th, 2005 at 22:54:44
THANK GOD!!! I won’t re-register my car until i can get that plate. it expires in december (if I don’t buy another car that is). I saw a VW driving around a couple weeks ago with a VW sticker over the sun.
Obviously none of the voters for that plate were from KY.
Jul 19th, 2005 at 23:34:45
I like the new one better than the smiley face one, but I still like this one best of those in recent years:
Jul 20th, 2005 at 08:57:11
Chris I agree with you I think I liked that plate the best too.
Jul 20th, 2005 at 12:57:33
was “unbridled spirit” the thing we all voted for a fe wmonths ago?
Jul 20th, 2005 at 17:58:35
Yeah, Unbridled Spirit and that logo is what was voted on earlier in the year. It’s the official statewide logo/motto now
Jul 21st, 2005 at 17:59:15
There was another plate with horses on it that I liked. But we had to change because of copyright laws.
When talking to people outside of the state, I really didnt find many people who disliked the smiley face that much. I was somewhat ambivalent to it and at this point it really doesnt matter much since I have switched to supporting my alma mater with one of the Independent College plates.
Jul 21st, 2005 at 18:29:49
I’m with Chris and Sean, I liked the plate prior to the smiley face. I couldn’t stand the smiley face…