Image courtesy of DOT

You may have noticed an influx of atypical license plates on vehicles throughout Iowa over the last several months, and if you’re wondering how to acquire them, Dallas County Treasurer Mitch Hambleton has your hook up.

The new “blackout” license plates have been a hot item at treasurer’s motor vehicle departments across the state, to the point that Hambleton says his office ran out of their initial supply in just nine days. Since then, the Department of Transportation has done its best to keep up with the demand. Hambleton says the plates have been popular for a couple reasons, the most evident being their simple but sleek look. The other factor is how the proceeds from the plates are used. “You know, it’s been a cash windfall for the State’s road use tax fund. So road construction, road improvements, it’s all benefitting that. And hopefully (they) will reduce future increases in registration fees.”

Hambleton points out that it’s been hard to keep the new plates in stock since they first came out, but his office has devised a way of letting the public know if they’re available. On the Treasurer’s Motor Vehicle Department website, there is a banner on the right side that looks like the blackout plates, and it will either read “In Stock” or “Sold Out.” Hambleton hopes this will save people an unnecessary trip to the courthouse in Adel if they’re out of plates. He also reminds people they can order personalized blackout plates at any time through the DOT’s website, and pick them up at his office.

To learn more about this and other Treasurer’s Office topics, click the first link below to listen to the Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program with Hambleton. To access the Treasurer’s website, click the second link below.

https://www.raccoonvalleyradio.com/2019/09/18/lets-talk-dallas-county-9-18-2019-mitch-hambleton/
https://www.dallascountyiowa.gov/government/county-government/treasurer/motor-vehicle