It was with much
press coverage that Governor Jindal signed a bill into law last week allowing “I’m
A Cajun” to be stamped on your driver’s license.
Proving again his
progressive leadership on vital state issues, Governor Jindal quickly signed
the bill while avoiding all talk of a possible Special Session for legislators
to fix Louisiana’s tattered budget, one-time money, or the state’s school
voucher program.
A study showed that Virginia had the highest percentage of
vehicles with vanity plates at 16.19%. Texans, on the other hand, must not be
interested in having everyone know their business as Texas is dead last with
0.5% of their registered cars containing a vanity plate. This figure includes
pure vanity plates where you can call yourself almost anything you want on your
car.
Every state has vanity license plates and they are huge
money machines for the state and for some charities, but not many states do it
bigger than Louisiana.
Louisiana has over 240 vanity license plates with everything
ranging from current members of the Armed Forces and veterans, to supporting
your favorite college high school or sorority; supporting your cause du jour (Protecting Wild Dolphins? Didn’t
know that was a “hot button” issue in Louisiana); to proudly proclaiming that
you are Pro Life or telling the world “In God We Trust”.
Earlier this year, the state legislature did vote against
allowing “I’m A Republican” or “I’m A Democrat” on your license plate.
Something about a rise in the amount of people who wanted to drive around with “I’m A Communist” on
their license plate.
But, do we really need a license plate telling the world
that you are a proud graduate of “River Parish Community College” or that you
are “Animal Friendly”? We should all be “Animal Friendly” not just those people who buy a license plate proclaiming that fact.
And, what happens if you are a “Cajun American Indian Amateur
Radio Operator who is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, supports
Breast Cancer Awareness, 4H, Ducks Unlimited and Child Safety, and drives an
Antique Car”? What do you do then? And, what if, after you get that license
plate you decide you also want to support Coastal Conservation, Endangered
Species and the Girl Scouts?
To the best of my knowledge, stamping “I’m A Cajun” on your
driver’s license is a first. Previous license stamps were reserved for Organ
Donation.
In fact, even though I’ve only lived in Louisiana for 18
years, I considered getting “I’m A Cajun” stamped on my driver’s license. That
is, until I heard there was test you had to pass.
I think it’s great that Louisiana residents are proud of
their heritage and want to express that on their license plates and driver’s
licenses. Bernadette Lee on KPEL 96.5fm in Lafayette said she hoped it would
dispel some myths about Cajun folks and driving to work on alligators.
And, she’s right (not about the driving alligators part – I know
that happens).
Being the person that I am, when I read a law I always try
to consider “unintended consequences”. Hopefully, when a Louisiana resident
pulls out their license to buy beer in some Midwestern state, the clerk doesn’t
read “I’m A Cajun” on their license, flashback to Duck Dynasty, and charge the
man MORE money.
In that case, we may need the “I’m A Cooyon” stamp on our
driver’s licenses after all.
Just not on mine.
