November 7, 2008
South Carolina begins making "I Believe" license plates
by Adelle M. Banks
Religion News Service
South Carolina has announced it is ready to start making controversial "I Believe" license plates, a move that is already the subject of a lawsuit.
The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles posted an announcement on its Web site that it has received enough pre-applications to begin manufacturing the plates.
"Once the plates have been produced, they will be available to the public in SCDMV offices," it says.
The Hindu American Foundation and Christian and Jewish leaders sued state officials in June over the plates, which feature the words "I Believe," a yellow Christian cross and a stained glass window. Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington watchdog group, is representing them in a suit that claims the plates give preferential treatment to a particular faith.
The state's General Assembly unanimously passed legislation in May that authorized the plates. Gov. Mark Sanford allowed the bill to become law without his signature.
