Due to public requests for a more updated state license plate, the Iowa Department of Transportation will be issuing new license plates next month. Annual registration of the new plates begins on January 2, 1997.

The new plates will incorporate a blue country/city scene with numbers and letters on a white background. County names will be located on the bottom of the plate.

“The old blue plates have been around since 1985, which would be 12 years, and the metal used on them only has a warranty for six years,” said Dennis Ehlert of the DOT.

The new plates will standardize all Iowa plates to one format. They can either be picked up at the treasurer’s office or by mail upon request. A charge of $2.60 will be added for postage. Old plates do not need to be returned.

According to the Ames Police Department, the change will help with the identification of the origin of the vehicle.

With all of the different plates affixed on Iowa vehicles, many witnesses of crime scenes are not able to distinguish what state the vehicle was from. By the end of next year, the department said it will be much easier to identify which vehicles have Iowa plates.

Certain license plates will remain the same. These plates include the Fire Fighter, Collegiate, Department of Natural Resources and Congressional Medal of Honor.

Two new specialty plates, educational and heritage plates, will become available to the public in 1997. The application and validation fees for the educational plate will be used for assisting qualifying school districts in the transportation of students, while the application and validation fees for the heritage plates will go to the Iowa Heritage Fund.

Twelve additional specialty plates will go to drivers who qualify for Handicapped, ex-Prisoner of War, National Guard, Pearl Harbor, Survivor, Purple Heart, a U.S. Armed Forces Retirement plate for each branch, Silver Star and Bronze Star. Vehicle owners can apply for new plates or pick up new plates at the time of renewal.

Owners who wish to renew these plates will only have to pay the validation and regular registration fees. No application fee will be added.

These plates will incorporate the same blue country/city scene along with the county name, but will have one letter and four numbers. An emblem revealing what type of plate it is will be located on the left side of the plate. Personalized specialty plates will be allowed five characters.

Regular personalized plates are also available to those who currently have them. In addition to the regular registration fee, the annual $5 validation fee will be applied. No application fee is needed for renewals.