Alaska brings back grizzly bear licence plates
Alaskans now have the choice of two licence plate styles with the revival of a plate design originally issued for the United States' bicentennial in 1976.
The plate features a grizzly bear reared up against a sunset backdrop. The standard licence plate in Alaska is solid yellow, with an Alaska flag in the centre.
Retired legislator Peggy Wilson sponsored the bear plate through the Alaska legislature. She said the grizzly design is a conversation starter, particularly for Alaskans road tripping outside the state.
"When you are from Alaska, people just want to talk about Sarah Palin. And now, this is something else. The licence plate, it gives them another conversation starter."
She said she plans to change her plates immediately.
Wilson said the original idea to bring back the bear plate came from a constituent who had the original version on his car. That constituent will be the first person to be issued the new plates.
According to Alaska's Division of Motor Vehicles, starting Thursday people registering vehicles will have the choice of either plate, and people with the yellow plates can change them to grizzly bear plates for a $5 fee.
