‘Choose Life’ plates sent to motorists in Va.

Neon-yellow “Choose Life” Virginia license plates will appear on roadways as early as this week, making Virginia the 24th state to allow motorists to feature the slogan on state-issued tags.

The state has begun shipping the plates, after Gov. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, signed a bill in March authorizing their production. As of Friday, the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles had received 538 applications for the plates, which became available July 1. Officials said 481 motorists submitted paid applications for the plates in advance of their availability.

That figure is well above the 350 applications required for the state to process a specialty license plate but about “comparable” to the number of applications received for other specialty plates, DMV officials said.

Those who lobbied for the “Choose Life” license plates said they expect the number of applications to increase.

“I’ve been sending out e-mails, and I think the number will jump by leaps and bounds shortly,” said Shawn Doran, outreach coordinator of the Richmond Coalition for Life, a nonprofit organization that sponsored the “Choose Life” license plate campaign.

After the first 1,000 plates are sold, $15 of every $25 raised from the purchase of “Choose Life” plates will fund Heartbeat International, a nonprofit Christian association of pregnancy resource centers, which will distribute the money to approximately 40 centers in Virginia that meet the group’s standards.

“I will definitely invest in one, not only because I like the idea of having that license plate, but also because the money goes toward pregnancy resource centers,” said Charleen Huguet, 30, who is affiliated with the Richmond Coalition for Life. “I think it will be encouraging as we drive around to see people of the pro-life cause.”

Lori and Glen Sturtevant, who helped collect the requisite number of prepaid motorists, continue to spread the word.

“I decided to get involved because I’m pro-life, and I like that fact that I can show the support for the cause just by riding around town,” said Mrs. Sturtevant, a librarian at St. Benedict Catholic School in Richmond.

The “Choose Life” plate is among the latest of more than 200 specialty plate options offered in Virginia.

Mr. Kaine, a Catholic who said he is personally opposed to abortion, signed the legislation after his predecessor, Gov. Mark Warner, also a Democrat, vetoed a similar bill in 2003.

The Democrat-controlled state Senate approved the license plates after state Sen. Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, Fairfax Republican, attached the proposal to an omnibus license plate bill. Mr. Cuccinelli said he is pleased at how many license plates have sold.

“I think once people start to see them, they’re visually going to reach a lot of folks,” he said. “People will just discover them on the road.”

Chris Freund, vice president of policy and communications at the Family Foundation of Virginia, which advocated for the bill, agreed.

“I don’t have any doubt that we’ll get to 1,000 based on people we’ve talked to around the state,” he said. “It’s going to be folks who are very motivated in the beginning, and as different folks’ registrations come due, they’ll make the switch to ‘Choose Life.’ ”

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