Specialty license plate will assist abused children
By Randall Franks-Staff Writer, The Catoosa County News, Sept. 10, 2006

Georgia voters will decide in November whether to allow a constitutional amendment to let the state legislature dedicate revenue from a long list of new auto tags for various organizations. One of these tags is for Child Abuse Prevention with funds benefiting the Foster Family Foundation of Georgia for the development of programs to help victims of child abuse.

Catoosa County Tax Commissioner Sandra Self said if voters and the legislature approve the measure, when the tag office begins accepting applications in January 2007, the tag could fail if individuals do not make 1,000 requests for it within two years. “It is one of thirty different tags that most likely will be available for application,” she said. “We have over 120 different tags available in office today with the possibility of 30 more and some that have already been approved, which means we offer a lot of variety.”

In order to secure one of the special tags an individual must pay a $25 manufacturing fee, a $25 annual special tag fee, $20 regular registration fee plus any ad valorem taxes that may be due on a vehicle. If the minimum order is met the tags will be issued, according to Self. Self said the $25 special tag fee is divided with $1 to the county tag agent; $2 to the Georgia Department of Revenues; $12 to the Georgia State Treasury; and $10 to the organization or fund.

Carleena Angwin, program director of Lookout Mountain Court Appointed Special Advocate, said that it will be a positive move to support the ballot issue and the tags. “Applying for the Prevent Child Abuse license plate would not only help support foster children in our communities, but would also raise public awareness of the destructive, cyclical problem that is child abuse,” she said. “With awareness comes community action and with action there is hope for a better way of life.”

Terry Catlett, Catoosa County Department of Family and Children Services director, said without question she supports the initiative to educate the public about the child maltreatment problem, and to publicize the prevention message.

“Child safety is everyone’s business, in my opinion,” she said. “The purchase of a license tag seems to me a great way to get the message out. The Adoptive and Foster Parents Association of Georgia has also supported this initiative.”

Catlett expressed one question, however, how will the proceeds be allocated, and by whom. "The info we’ve received so far doesn’t address that,” she said.