For the first time since 1976, Pennsylvania will re-issue license plates statewide, replacing the millions of worn and faded license plates with a new design that features the state's website address. Pennsylvania is the first state in the country to put their web address on its license plate.

"License plates are 72 square-inch billboards advertising our state," said Governor Tom Ridge. "And right now, our old plate says we are tired, worn and fading. That's not what the 'New Pennsylvania' is all about. So...our Commonwealth kicks into high gear with a new plate for a 'New Pennsylvania.' With our new web address emblazoned on the bottom, this new state plate will send a strong and positive signal to all who see it - that Pennsylvania is high tech, high energy and ready for the new millennium."

The new license plate keeps Pennsylvania's traditional blue and yellow color scheme. The plate features a white background with dark blue letters and numbers, a blue band across the top and a yellow band across the bottom. In the center is a blue keystone. Across the top reads "Pennsylvania" in all capital letters. Across the bottom reads "WWW.STATE.PA.US."

"Our website, recognized as the best in the nation, is a gateway to a host of important information about our state - information for tourists, motorists, families, employers and students," Governor Ridge said. "This new plate will bring millions of people into the Pennsylvania homepage - people who may someday visit or even move here."

Transportation Secretary Bradley L. Mallory said PennDOT will replace the state's roughly 9 million license plates over a three-year period - at no cost to motorists. PennDOT first will replace about 1 million standard-issue yellow plates, introduced in 1976. Many of these yellow plates have lost their paint and are in varying stages of deterioration. Motorists with yellow plates will receive the new plate in the mail between September 1999 and February 2000. Motorists may take their old plates to their curbside recycling bin or to a PennDOT county maintenance office for recycling. Before recycling their old plates, motorists should remove the registration stickers or cut the plate in half.

From March 2000 through June 2000, PennDOT will replace about 325,000 yellow and blue personalized (vanity) plates.

Starting in July 2000, PennDOT will begin to replace about 8 million blue plates through the normal registration renewal process.

The final phase, beginning in spring 2002, will replace the state's approximately 70 different special organization plates, including those bearing the inscriptions of colleges, universities, and groups such as the Lions Club, Army Reserve and Ducks Unlimited. About 73,000 motorists have these special organization license plates.

Beginning in July 2000, motorists registering their cars for the first time will receive the new license plates.

Pennsylvania's $1.9 billion-a-year Motor License Fund will absorb the cost of the license-plate replacement, expected to total about $32 million. PennDOT will not charge motorists a fee for the new license plate unless they want to buy one before their scheduled replacement time. Motorists who want a new plate sooner will pay $7.50. Motorists who have personalized (vanity) plates will get the same message on their new plate at no charge.

The replacement program will not affect the Constitution plate, or the Preserve Our Heritage (train), Wild Resources Conservation (owl), Zoological (tiger), Flagship Niagara or D.A.R.E. special fund license plates. Also, the re-issuance will not affect motorists who have other license plates that are not blue and yellow, such as antique or Purple Heart plates. State Police Commissioner Col. Paul Evanko said the new design meets the State Police's need for excellent readability to identify vehicles.

Mallory said too many Pennsylvania cars wear faded, beat-up license plates, making it hard for the police and other motorists to identify them. The new license plates will be easy to see and easy to read.

Correctional Industries will manufacture the new license plates using reflective-sheeting technology, resulting in greater visibility. The existing plates use a "beads-on-paint" system, in which only the numbers and letters, not the background, are reflective.

PennDOT established a toll-free hotline to answer questions about the new license plates. The number is 1-877-PA-NU-TAG (1-877-726-8824). Information also is available on the Commonwealth's website at www.state.pa.us.

Once completed, PennDOT expects the statewide license plate replacement to result in a 4 percent to 5 percent increase in vehicle registrations. This is because motorists must have a valid registration to receive the new license plate from PennDOT. PennDOT estimates this boost in registration fees would generate about $13.8 million a year - more than covering the cost of the re-issuance within three years.