TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Time is running out to “Save The Bees” as a specialty, honey-colored license plate bearing the flowery message nears a June deadline with only about a third of the pre-sale vouchers it needs to become reality.
As of March 24, the “Save The Bees” specialty plate had secured 1,071 voucher sales. The nonprofit Florida State Beekeepers Association said it has until June 30 to sell 1,929 more of them, or else the plates won’t be manufactured.
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That’s because at least 3,000 pre-sale vouchers must be bought within 24 months of the initial offering date of a specialty license plate before it goes into circulation, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
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The FSBA has spent months promoting the specialty plate, which it says will help fund a grant program meant to be used for honey-bee-related research, education, outreach and husbandry.
The plate will provide a yearly stream of income for the FSBA to continue and increase funding for honeybee research and education. Funds will be used for FSBA member-directed research and education grants, as well as to continue funding the UF honey bee research and extension laboratory.
flstatebeekeepers.org/the-plate-voucher (excerpt)
Pre-sale vouchers currently cost $33, not including a potential $1.95 convenience fee for online payments made with a debit or credit card.
Other specialty plates currently gathering presale vouchers include “Universal Orlando Resort” with 674 preorders, “The Villages: Dreams Come True” with 352 vouchers sold and “Margaritaville” far in the lead with 2,632 preorders, presumably close to finding its lost shaker of salt.
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Vouchers can be bought for yourself or for others as a gift. If a proposed specialty plate reaches its 24-month deadline with fewer than 3,000 vouchers sold, a refund may then be requested through FLHSMV but not for gift certificates.
Check out which specialty plate pre-sale vouchers are currently available by visiting your local tax collector’s website.