Pre-Sells Kick Off for Salton Sea Specialty Plate

The following information was submitted for publication by the office of Assemblyman Brian Nestande:

Tuesday marked the official kick off of a campaign to pre-sell 7,500 Salton Sea Specialty License Plates with the unveiling of SaltonSeaPlate.com. The new website will initially take pledges from motorists willing to purchase the plate and will then serve as the portal for pre-sales beginning in early January when AB 1096, which created the Salton Sea License Plate and was authored by Assemblyman Brian Nestande (R-Palm Desert), goes into effect.

Once pre-sales begin, people who have pledged to purchase a plate will be sent follow-up information on how to sign up. The plate has one year to receive 7,500 pre-sales before it will be produced by the California DMV--making a robust marketing effort key to its success. The Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) designed the website and will be assisting with marketing efforts.

“Today marks an important step in the two-year journey to create the Salton Sea License Plate,” said Assemblyman Nestande. “My wife Gina and I have already pledged to purchase one for our vehicles. We now need people from all over the Coachella Valley and California to step up and make the plate a reality. I hope everyone will to go to SaltonSeaPlate.com and pledge to purchase one.”

Proceeds from the sale of the Salton Sea License Plate will go to the Salton Sea Authority to fund restoration efforts of the sea. Other specialty license plates have been successful in securing funding for environmental projects such as the Lake Tahoe License Plate which has generated more than $12 million in revenue since its creation in 1996.

“Tourism generates more than $5 billion to the Coachella Valley economy and supports in excess of 46,000 jobs,” said Scott White, President & CEO, Greater Palm Springs CVB. “Experts have shown us that the Salton Sea has the potential to have a negative impact on our economy, as well as our health. We hope this project will bring more awareness about the issues and turn this potential negative situation into a very positive one.”

The license plate was designed by a local Palm Springs High School student through an art contest organized in conjunction with the Palm Springs Art Museum and The Desert Sun newspaper. The design was adjusted to meet DMV and CHP safety standards.

“The Salton Sea specialty license plate is an important opportunity for all California drivers to help the Salton Sea,” said Riverside County Supervisor and Salton Sea Authority Board Member John J. Benoit. “With the overwhelming support restoring the Salton Sea has here and around Southern California, I know we can reach 7,500 pre-sales.”