Specialty license plates for mountain biking and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness were approved by the Idaho Senate Thursday. The extra fees for the mountain biking plate would go to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation for trail maintenance. For the wilderness plate, they would go to the Selway-Bitterroot Foundation, a conservation organization.
“Whether you live in Driggs, Twin Falls, Boise, Lewiston, Plummer, Sandpoint, Bonner’s Ferry, our state has one of the most amazing set of bike trails,” Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, said in support of the biking plate. “The mountain bike plate will recognize that.”
Several senators opposed adding any new plates. Idaho currently has more than 40 specialty license plates. “I’m not a fan of this proliferation of plates,” said Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d’Alene.
“I support cycling, but I cannot support a license plate for them,” said Sen. Elliot Werk, D-Boise. Werk has introduced several pieces of legislation related to bicycle safety this legislative session.
Sen. Joe Stegner, R-Lewiston, explained his no vote on the wilderness plate with just four words. “I don’t like it,” he said.
Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden, said he voted for the wilderness plate, but not the biking plate. “I really like the moose,” he said.
Read IdahoReporter.com’s story about a Senate committee approving the two specialty plates here. The text of the mountain biking plate legislation is available here and the Selway-Bitterroot plate is available here.
