Texans allowed to pick new plate style

AUSTIN - For the first time in the Lone Star state's history, Texans can vote online for a new general-issue license plate.

Voting started Monday and runs until noon Monday, Feb. 11 by going to www.txdot.gov.

Texans can vote for one of four new license plate designs or to keep the current generalissue plate.

As of 9:45 a.m. Tuesday the plate called Lone Star Texas was leading with 69,425 votes. Natural Texas had 42,989, Traditional Texas had 31,464, New Texas had 19,738 and My Texas (the current generalissue plate) had 16,342.

Texans have, for decades, had one of the plainer plates in the country. This online referendum allows Texans to finally do something about that.

When Texans started logging on Monday morning to make their selections, TxDOT's Web site crashed, but there should be any more problems making choices.

All of the plates feature the state name on the top and "The Lone Star State" on the bottom. They are divided into four categories, a representation of how Texans see the state:

• Traditional Texas. The plate features blue highlights with a gold Lone Star, and bold, red "TEXAS."

• Lone Star Texas. A white Lone Star stands out in the top, left-hand corner of the plate. Wide brushes of red and blue punctuate the Texas sky on the top half of the plate and a low-lying mountain range on the bottom.

• Natural Texas. The entire plate is covered with wildflowers.• New Texas. This red, white and blue plate features a composite of modern landmark buildings from several Texas cities, including Houston.

• My Texas. This is the current general-issue license plate that was introduced in 2000.