There's one for pets, one for wildlife and another for Route 66.

There are others for the Children's Trust Fund, retired firefighters and organ donors.

And now, thanks to Gov. Bill Richardson on Monday signing a new law, there's a license plate for those who want to help the city of Santa Fe celebrate its 400th anniversary.

The governor enacted a measure (SB631) that allows drivers to pay extra for a special plate for the upcoming celebration.

Drivers who choose the anniversary plates will pay $35, in addition to the regular fees for motor-vehicle registration. The plates are expected to be available July 1.

Of the $35, $10 will go to state Motor Vehicle Division for the cost of making the special plate while $25 will help pay for the anniversary events, slated to start on Labor Day weekend this year and end on New Year's Eve 2010. The plate will only be issued until July 1, 2012, but could be kept in use after that by paying the regular renewal fee for a new sticker.

Members of the 400th anniversary committee will work with the state and a designer on the artwork for the plate, to be unveiled in about a month, said Libby Dover, executive director of the committee.

Dover said she expects that at least 1,200 people will buy the plates.

Sen. Phil Griego, D-San Jose, carried the bill.

Along with the Santa Fe celebratory plate, other special plates include collegiate and military ones, as well as breast cancer awareness plates.

Last year, the state issued 25,000 special license plates. According to a legislative analysis of the bill, the most popular plates were military and collegiate.

To add to the list, Richardson on Monday approved legislation that created six additional special plates.

There's the farm and ranch license plates (HB567), the Scout plate (HB671); the deceased service member license plate (HB164); one to support 4-H (HB772); one for retired law-enforcement officers (HB801) and one for bass fishing (HB 645).

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.



SPECIAL PLATES

Apart from New Mexico's two standard license plate designs (one with a hot air balloon and one with red writing on a yellow background) motorists can buy vanity, or personalized plates. The state also offers special plates for the following types of people or causes:

• Disabled person
• Horseless carriage
• Medal of honor winner
• Prisoner of war
• 100 percent disabled veteran
• National Guard
• Purple Heart
• Pearl Harbor survivor
• Colleges, including UNM, NMSU and New Mexico Tech
• Amateur radio operators
• Armed forces veterans
• Children's Trust Fund
• New Mexico Rangers and Mounted Patrol
• Firefighters and volunteer firefighters
• Pet care (spay-neuter)
• Fraternal Order of Police
• Wildlife artwork
• Route 66
• Retired Firefighters
• Active duty uniformed service members
• Retired state police
• Organ donor awareness
• Emergency Medical Technicians
• Patriot
• Breast Cancer Awareness

Source: Motor Vehicle Division