Until recently, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Tennessee was in danger of losing its specialty license plate. The plates provide a key sourceof funding that enable MADD Tennessee to offer free victim support services to more than 200 victims each year. However, State Executive Director Flint Clouse said, "We now have 512 MADD license plates in circulation throughout Tennessee, which means we get to keep our plate. The fear of losing our plate has been both a humbling and inspiring experience. I am very grateful to our volunteersand supporters across Tennessee who worked so hard to save our MADD license plate."
The MADD plate costs $35 and may be purchased at the County Clerk's office when drivers renew their car tags. These license plate sales typically generate more than$15,000 annually for MADD Tennessee.
"Our MADD Tennessee license plates are rolling billboards raising awareness about drunk driving, in addition to raising thousands of dollars to help MADD's efforts in Tennessee," said volunteer Norris Skelley of Cookeville, Tenn. Norris and his wife, Aline, were two of the chief volunteers that campaigned to create and produce the MADD Tennessee plate, which went into production in 1997.
In the past year, the number of MADD license plates in circulation had dwindled below the minimum of 500. MADD Tennessee was given a deadline of June 30, to secure the additional 67 license plates needed to meet the requirement. Volunteers and community leaders rallied across the state, bringing a resurgence of interest in MADD Tennessee and its license plate. The 500 plate requirement would include new plates in circulation,as well as annual renewals. The awareness campaign resulted in 12 more plates than the 500 license plate minimum requirement.
To learn more about MADD Tennessee, visit www.maddtn.org.