License plates up for voting

A new license plate is in Indiana's future. More specifically, the change will come in 2003, and Indiana residents are responsible for its design. \nWhile Indiana residents have designed the state plate since 1988, the governor has previously been responsible for choosing the final design. This year, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles decided it will allow the public to choose which design will be displayed on more than 5 million passenger vehicles in the year 2003.\nIn January of this year, the BMV hosted a License Plate Design Contest. Indiana residents were encouraged to enter designs that captured Indiana's heritage and history in both a symbol and a slogan. There were more than 1,400 entries, and the field has now been narrowed to only five. \nIn a press release, BMV Commissioner Gary A. Gibson said Indiana plates not only reflect the Bureau, but the state and its heritage as well. \n"When people from other states see our license plates, they see people saying, 'We're proud to be from Indiana,'" he said.\nThe five choices mirror Indiana's passion for sports as well as the state's rural nature, but there are mixed reviews from Indiana residents about which design should represent the state. \nJosep Sobrer, a professor of Spanish and Portuguese, was not interested in any of the new designs when he was stopped on the street. \n"The attempt to associate Indiana with one thing, one symbol is impossible," he said.\nThe design showing the state seal won the approval of many citizens because of its simplicity. \nThis design, entered by Michael Macik, a graphic design artist from Munster, shows the Indiana seal centered in gold and set on a white background.\nBloomington resident said he Ethan Bernhardt liked this design the best. \n"It's basic and neutral and it seems like it won't offend the people," he said. \nMacik, 23, actually has two designs that are finalists. \nHis other design shows the state in gold just left of center over a red, white and blue background. The theme of both of his designs is "Hoosier Heartland."\nAnother design is characterized by both a sports and rural theme. The design, entered by Sara Berger of Brownsburg, depicts the silhouette of people playing basketball on a farm against an orange sunset. The theme "just feels like home" runs along the bottom of the design.\nWhile Dustin Baron, of Louisville, liked this design and slogan of the plate the best, he believed that it also "pinpoints every stereotype about Indiana."\nOne of the final designs has a racing theme. Entered by Ross McGloshen of New Albany, the design shows an Indiana state flag morphing into a checkered race flag. The theme "world center for racing" runs along the bottom of the plate. \nYet another finalist represents Indiana's agricultural roots. This design, entered by Douglas David from Indianapolis, is entitled "back home again." It shows a green field with wispy grass and a white farm in the distance. \nSherri Savko, a student from California, preferred the "back home again" plate because it shows Indiana accurately. \n"It reminds me of Indiana just by looking at it," she said.\nThe verdict is still out on which plate will appear on Indiana's cars in the future. Residents can vote online at the BMV's Web site, www.bmv.in.gov, or at any of the 170 BMV offices statewide. \nVoting on the designs closes May 18, and the final decision will be announced May 31.