It’s small and subtle, but a new design of Oklahoma’s license plate includes an image of a Route 66 shield and POPS in Arcadia.
The Sooner State rolled out the new design last week that pays homage to the state’s inaugural star-46 flag. Oklahoma became the 46th state in 1907. It also includes the state’s “Imagine That” motto.
Anyway, the license plate in the lower right includes a silhouette of the 66-foot-tall pop bottle that stands in front of POPS, a Route 66 landmark in Arcadia, Oklahoma. Next to it is a classic Route 66 sign shield.
Here is a close-up of those two items:
The other images on the lower part of the license plate:
- An American bison (or buffalo)
- A wind turbine (Oklahoma is a major producer of wind energy)
- Skydance Bridge over Interstate 40 in Oklahoma City
- The gates at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
- A red-tailed hawk
- Sacred Rain Arrow statue at Tulsa’s Gilcrease Museum
- Waving wheat plants
- The Golden Driller statue of Tulsa
- A crescent moon with three stars and fluffy clouds that represent Oklahoma’s sky.
The previous license plate design was pale blue with black lettering and the form of a white scissortail flycatcher in the background.
However, that design received almost immediate criticism — especially from law enforcement — for being too difficult to read. The new design shouldn’t have that problem.
After Sept. 1, any licensed Oklahoma driver can replace their current plate for a $4 fee when his or her plate comes up for renewal. The fee will be $9 for any Okie driver who wants to replace the plate outside of their renewal period.
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