Is there any interest in pursuing a Virginia specialized plate for DC Metro MINIs or just MINIs in VA, in general?

According to the rules (and so we can avoid the hefty admin fee), we'd have to have 350 people willing to prepay the $10 or $25 for the plate. We also get to design the artwork, subject to approval by state of VA.

Thoughts on if there's enough interest?
Thoughts on design? (Should we take pains to include "Let's Motor" on the bottom)

Check out https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/...ate_search.asp for more info on VA specialized plates.

BTW, what gave me the idea? I saw a "Parrothead" license plate design and figured we're probably just as or even more passionate and loyal than Buffet fans. Of course, some of us are both

john

PS, here's a blurb about us getting a plate made:

[font=Arial]Organizational/Individual Inquiry:

Legislation approved by the General Assembly is necessary to authorize the issuance of all special license plates. By law, special license plates authorized by the General Assembly can be developed and issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) subject to the following statutory requirements: [/font]

• If 350 or more prepaid applications are submitted to DMV within 180 days of the effective date of the authorization associated with the applications, the license plates can be developed and issued subject to the appropriate approvals.
  
• If the $3,500 administrative fee is received by DMV within 180 days of the effective date of the authorization, the license plates can be developed.
  
• After timely payment of the $3,500 administrative fee, if 350 or more prepaid applications are submitted to DMV within two years of the effective date of the authorization, the license plates can be issued and the administrative fee will be refunded.
  
• However, if 350 or more prepaid applications are not received by DMV within two years of the effective date of the authorization, the license plates cannot be issued and the administrative fee cannot be refunded. The administrative fee will be refunded only if 350 or more prepaid applications are submitted to DMV within two years of the effective date of the authorization.
  
• If either (i) the 350 or more prepaid applications, or (ii) the $3,500 administrative fee are not received by DMV within 180 days of the effective date of the authorization, the license plates cannot be developed or issued.
  
• It is DMV's policy to designate one group or individual to sponsor newly-authorized special license plates in order to coordinate the design approval process and to facilitate the collection of the applications and the associated fees.
  
• Sponsor facilitates the collection of the applications and the associated issuance fees, and coordinates the design approval process and payment of the $3,500 administrative fee, when appropriate.
  
• DMV requires written authorization for use of the design for the plate.
  
• Sponsor must provide electronic media artwork for plate design.
  
• The cost for most special license plates for organizations is $10 per year in addition to the prescribed registration fee and any other fees, where applicable. For most revenue sharing license plates, the issuance fee is $25 per year instead of $10.

My #1 concern is the reduction in the number of usable characters. I use all 7 permitted in VA on mine...

Although I'd love to get rid of the stupid "400th Anniversary" text for something much more MINI-relevant! They no longer offer "plain jane" white and blue plates!

I agree with you there - thus the reason I was looking for options. A cleaner looking one is the "Great Seal, but it breaks your characters up into 3 on the left and 3 on the right. I just picked up a "United We Stand" plate with the American Flag on it for my truck.

john

Yeah but both of the Great Seal and the United We Stand plates reduce the number of available characters. The magic number is SEVEN! In the plate design box on the DMV site, it appears as eight boxes, because you are permitted to also have one space.

Just so there's no confusion, as cool as MINI-related plates would be, I won't be participating if the design has any less than 7 permitted characters (which does NOT mean "six plus one space"!). That means that any image or text used will have to be in the background or around the border. However, I don't think that we need an image of the MINI when it's mounted ON a MINI! Text would be nice - something simple like "DC Metro MINIs" in the bottom section underneath the plate number. Maybe the DCMM logo as a background image, if it's faded enough that the DMV feels it doesn't obstruct the ability to view the plate...

This sounds very cool - but are there 350 of us in the DCMM club? I have no idea!

Remember that anyone in the entire STATE of Virginia can obtain this license plate. Maybe we should try to create a basic MINI license plate (not club specific) and get all of the clubs in Virginia to join in.... I'm very certain we could get 350 then! I'd definitely sign up, I don't care to have a personalized plate, so it wouldn't matter to me.

Great idea, though!

The trouble is we're not even close to 250 members spread out accross two states plus DC (with some members with cars registered outside the National Capitol area) let alone the 350 Virginians needed...

Plus we're not a Virginia only club, in order to do something like this it's only right to also persue something similar in MD (I don't believe DC offers anything like this...)

It's a great idea... but the club is still to small to pursue it...

DC does offer organizational plates. 25 members are required to state that they will display the plates in order for the organization to qualify. Here is some more info:

http://www.dmv.dc.gov/serv/plates/organization.shtm

MD allows them. Only need 25 members!

See http://www.marylandmva.com/VehicleSe...Inform_org.asp

$25 for a logo plate

See a sample, Mustang Club of MD http://www.marylandmva.com/VehicleSe...sp?PLATEID=591

It seems almost too easy to do this.....
Though if the group follow through with it I will be part of it.

Sounds like a good idea but I'll be sticking with these plates!

I'd definitely be in for MD plates! Only 25 people? We can do that!

Yeah, I'm in

If you're interested in doing this for your state.... I'm really not comfortable with anybody striking out on their own to do this.

I would like one person to coordinate this per state/DC. If you're willing to spearhead this for your state/DC step up here and let us know. Then compile the information and present it to the board at our next board meeting on Sept 3 (during the really long named party above). The board will work with you to come up with a design, ideally we should use the same design all around.

Please do not submit any money or sign any papers to start this process within your state/DC without coming to the board first...

The MD paperwork is here http://www.marylandmva.com/VehicleSe...Plates/mva.pdf

must be filled in by the chair of the organization and proof of non-profit status from IRS. Not clear if you can retain your vanity plate or not.

FYI,

DCMM is in the process to submit the non-for profit status request to the IRS. I am working on that and I will keep you posted if and when the non-profit status will be officially accepted. .
After that we can discuss tag issues...


Please note the non-profit status the DCMM is seeking is 501(c) (7)


"Donations to exempt social and recreation club - 501 (c) (7) - are not deductible as charitable contributions on the donor's federal income tax return" IRS Publication 557


MD STREGA2
DCMM Treasurer

Why would we have to wait for non-profit status to pursue a tag?

I think someone made the point that perhaps it would be best to pursue a "MINI Enthusiast" tag that will appeal to all MINI owners vs. a DCMM specific tag. In VA, that would certainly help us expand the number of folks who might sign on, including the Riverside Motoring club down in Richmond. Does Hampton Roads have a club, too?

John

[QUOTE=jdandeneau]Why would we have to wait for non-profit status to pursue a tag?

I am not familiar with each state regulations, I have posted an update of the present status of the DCMM club.

While none of us is making a profit (quite the contrary, many of us are putting money into the club) there are legal issues and financial obligations like paying taxes (as a club) to Uncle Sam. I don't want to bore anyone with IRS publications and notices but the fact that we exist as a group opens a different level of responsability.


Thanksto Donna & Mike and the original group of MINI owners; DCMM exists today, as we expand we can enlist more volunteers and exlpore new actities... So to all DCMM members : continue to search for new ideas, let's create committees and let's continue to MOTOR ..

MD STREGA2
DCMM Treasurer

Because to do so in MD requires proof of non-profit from the IRS (as well as registration from the Chair only).

Dont know about VA

Hampton is the only one of the three clubs that operate in VA (DCMM, River City MINIs, and Hampton) that isn't organized. They don't have a board, bylaws, or any actual organization beyond an e-mail list.

There may be enough people between the three clubs to get an enthusiast plate independent of the three clubs, but since it wouldn't be a DCMM exclusive, a better place to discuss it might be over in the Mid-Atlantic forum....