Kaine OKs ‘Choose Life’ anti-abortion license plates

Virginians soon will be able to choose a "Choose Life" license plate for their vehicles.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said yesterday that he has signed legislation that approves a number of specialty license plates, including one that bears the anti-abortion slogan.

"The practice has been for the General Assembly to allow statements of social political positions on these license plates," the governor said.

"The clear trend of [recent court] decisions was if the state allows plates that have messages . . . once a state does that, these plates should be allowed."

Then-Gov. Mark R. Warner, a fellow Democrat, vetoed similar legislation in 2003.

Kaine noted that some of Virginia's estimated 200 specialty plates espouse causes, citing "Friends of Tibet" and "Sons of Confederate Veterans."

The Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union objected to the "Choose Life" plate, saying the state was tacitly endorsing a political viewpoint by allowing such plates to be issued.

Anti-abortion groups cheered Kaine's announcement. "We appreciate Governor Kaine's decision to dismiss the fallacious arguments of opponents of these plates by signing this legislation into law," said Victoria Cobb of The Family Foundation.

-- Jim Nolan