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Proposed License Plate Would Help Prison Employees and Families
From Gainesville Sun - December 4, 2006
Former longtime state prison Secretary Louis Wainwright knows tragedy can hit anyone at any time.
A house fire, car accident or serious childhood illness can be financially crippling even to families with two good incomes.
Wainwright is proposing a new specialty license plate to help families of prison employees who find themselves facing such life-altering situations.
Wainwright is president of the nonprofit Corrections Foundation of Florida, which is comprised of employees and retirees from the Department of Corrections. A recent survey found there was sufficient interest in a specialty Corrections Foundation license plate.
The next step is to request approval from the 2007 state Legislature, according to foundation Executive Director Chris Adkins. If approved, the foundation license plate could become the 105th specialty plate in Florida.
Any of the state's more than 26,000 prison employees can join the foundation by donating at least $1 each pay period. Currently, 17,000 members strong, the foundation uses the money raised to provide disaster relief to colleagues, sometimes in as little as 24 hours after a request for assistance is received.
"How much we send to someone depends on the circumstances," Wainwright said. "This is not a substitute for an insurance policy, but it is here to help people with tragic accidents or disaster relief or other unforeseen situations."
Wainwright said if his organization sold 1,000 of the specialty plates at $25 apiece, "That would be a good bit of money."
Based on the survey results, Wainwright said it appeared likely that within two to three years, sales of the specialty plate would reach 33,000, generating $825,000 for the foundation.
Frank Penela, a spokesman for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, said $25 is what most specialty license plates cost in addition to the annual renewal fee. Penela could not recall the Legislature turning down any specialty plate design requests in recent years.
"Once the Legislature approves a tag, we work with the organization that is sponsoring it and usually it takes six months to a year to get up and running," Penela said.
During 2005, the most popular of the 104 specialty plates available were: Panther - 93,684, Protect Wild Dolphins - 87,516, University of Florida - 86,788, Sea Turtle - 77,858, and Save the Manatee - 74,726. A complete listing of license plates available in Florida is available at the department's Web site: www.hsmv.state.fl.us, with a link to "motor vehicles" and then "specialty plates sales rankings."
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I am glad to know that I chose an organization such as the Foundation. In times past, I given to a lot of different organizations and charities, but none of those were actually there for me when I personally was in need of assistance. This past hurricane season was terrible to our family. I am very thankful for the assistance extended by the foundation during our time of need.
Captain Iana Patterson, Broward CI
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