Washington Lighthouses
News
License plate sales benefits state lighthouses
and environmental education programs
Many Washington drivers are proudly showing off the vehicle license plate celebrating our state's picturesque lighthouses. They are helping raise thousands of dollars for lighthouse restoration and interpretive projects in Western Washington, and for environmental education programs in Puget Sound.
The "Washington Lighthouses" special license plate is offered by the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) as an alternative to the state's regular vehicle plate. It is issued to those who ask for it and voluntarily pay an additional fee, $28 of which is tax-deductible as a charitable contribution on both the original purchase and renewals. Remainder of the fee is dedicated to the DOL's costs for creating the plates and administering the program.
Most of the proceeds from the additional funds go into an account to support lighthouse restoration and education programs in Washington, and for environmental education programs including WSU Lighthouse Docents, WSU Beach Watchers and WSU Waste Wise Volunteers headquartered at Admiralty Head Lighthouse on Whidbey Island.
The cost to purchase a "Washington Lighthouses" plate is $40 plus any applicable licensing fees. When the vehicle registration becomes due, owners will pay an additional $30 to keep the Washington Lighthouses plates on their vehicle even if they have not had the plates for a full year.
Legislation authorizing the new license plate passed the Senate unanimously as SB 5424 under the sponsorship of Senator Mary Margaret Haugen of Camano Island, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. On April 13, 2005, Gov. Christine Gregoire signed it into law.
The new plates were made possible under a state law that allows non-profit groups to sponsor and receive proceeds from the sale of license plates containing an illustration chosen by the group and approved by the DOL and the Special Licensing Plate Review Committee. Gloria Wahlin, coordinator of Admiralty Head Lighthouse, explained: "Proceeds from this plate support lighthouses throughout the state. In Island County, the funds will support Admiralty Head Lighthouse in developing high-quality exhibits and an interpretive museum, environmental education and creating an endowment for long-term funding."
Washington State University houses its Island County environmental education outreach programs at Admiralty Head Lighthouse. Funds will be managed by Lighthouse Environmental Programs (LEP), a 501c (3) non-profit organization.
Art for the proposed special plate is adapted from an original watercolor by Janet Orso, a WSU/Island County Beach Watcher. The original is on display at Admiralty Head Lighthouse and will be kept in the lighthouse as part of the lighthouse's history.
For more information visit the Department of Licensing website at: http://www.dol.wa.gov/vs/tr-spreviewboard.htm. To locate your nearest vehicle licensing office, visit https://wws2.wa.gov/dol/vsagents. For instructions on how to order a special license plate or to download the order form, visit http://www.dol.wa.gov/vs/specialtyplates/tr-spp.htm.
Admiralty Head Lighthouse is open to the public through a cooperative agreement between Fort Casey State Park and the WSU/Island County Beach Watchers, Waste Wise Volunteers and WSU/Lighthouse Docents program.
