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This page features my collection of real license plates that have God's name in the plate design. Latest noteworthy updates to this page
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Now before you get all riled up, please realize that the statement immediately above was made tongue-in-cheek. I fully endorse the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prescribes the boundaries between government and religion. And at least by my own interpretation, none of the plates pictured on this page violate this amendment in any way.
Shown on this page are license plates that feature God's name on them. I'm not talking about novelty plates from the local Christian bookstore, or even vanity plates that slipped past the censors – these state-issued real license plates all mention God somewhere in the actual plate design. The mixing of religion with patriotism is the common theme. The slogans themselves are all expressions that have stood the tests of both time and lawsuits from atheists.
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Alabama God Bless AmericaAlabama introduced this no-extra-cost optional issue in October 2006, and it's quickly become quite a popular choice. When I visited Alabama in June 2007 I saw them everywhere. Early issues like the top one shown at left had embossed serial characters and an "AM" serial prefix, but most of them now on the road are completely flat, like the plates at middle and bottom left. These flat plates can have either serial prefixes or suffixes; in both cases, the letters began at "AM" and have progressed from there. |
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Iowa God Bless AmericaIowa worked overtime on the patriotic theme of this plate. There's a U.S. map outline, the American flag, and the Statue of Liberty all in a single image. By contrast, the God Bless America legend is rather subtle. But Iowa gets extra credit for being the first state outside of the Bible Belt with the guts to issue a God plate. |
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Indiana In God We TrustIndiana introduced this plate in 2007 as a no-extra-cost optional plate, and as in Alabama, it's become quite popular. The stacked prefix letters are reported to cause difficulties for law enforcement; the letters vary from plate to plate, and their small size makes them hard to read at any distance. The "10" sticker in the lower right corner indicates that the motorist resides in Clark County. |
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Mississippi God Bless AmericaMississippi takes the prize for making God's name the most prominent. Proceeds from the sale of this plate benefit the Sunflower Consolidated School Preservation Commission. Examples shown are an embossed 1997 base and a flat 2002 base. The "30" sticker in the upper right corner of the latter plate is a county code which identifies the motorist as a resident of Jackson County. |
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North Carolina In God We TrustBesides the legend In God We Trust at the top, the image of the yellow ribbon bears the words Support Our Troops. Proceeds benefit the North Carolina National Guard Soldiers and Airmen Assistance Fund. This is the only North Carolina plate with the biplane graphic that doesn't say First in Flight. |
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Ohio One Nation Under GodThis plate is probably the least interesting-looking of all the God plates issued by various states. It didn't take much creativity to slap a generic U.S. flag graphic onto the left side of the plate. The "48" sticker in the lower left corner shows that the motorist resided in Lucas County. |
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South Carolina In God We TrustSouth Carolina offers this plate as an optional issue at no additional cost. The image in the center is a U.S. flag on a pole with the state flag underneath. Demerits to South Carolina for using a low-contrast color for the slogan. Since about late 2007, this plate has been issued with flat, rather than embossed, serial characters. |
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Tennessee In God We TrustThis plate is actually a special interest plate promoting the American Eagle Foundation, as evidenced by the www.eagles.org web address under the state name. This group, according to their web site, is "dedicated to the preservation and protection of the majestic Bald Eagle, the U.S.A.'s National Symbol". A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this plate support the group's public education and eagle care and recovery efforts. |
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Texas God Bless AmericaTexas has not used expiration stickers on their plates since 1994, instead using a windshield sticker to indicate that a vehicle's registration is current. Proceeds from this extra-cost specialty plate benefit the Texas Department of Transportation's Safe Routes to School Program. A motorcycle version of this plate is also available. |
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Texas God Bless TexasNot only does Texas implore God to bless America, but also to specifically bless Texas. This is the only such plate in the U.S., where God is associated with state pride rather than national patriotism. Texans have never lacked state pride, that's for sure. This is another extra-cost specialty plate that also benefits the Texas Department of Transportation's Safe Routes to School Program. A motorcycle version of this plate is also available. |
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Texas One Nation Under GodThis plate is a special interest plate that promotes the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men's fraternal service organization, and provides financial support to its charitable programs. |
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