Single license plate proposal advanced

Owners of certain vehicles would need only one license plate under a bill advanced from general file Feb. 3.

LB53, introduced by Norfolk Sen. Jim Scheer, would exempt from the state’s two license plate requirement owners of cars not manufactured to be equipped with a front license plate bracket.

Scheer said eight similar exemptions currently exist for certain vehicles, including those owned by auto dealers.

“In Nebraska we already provide several types of vehicles with only one license plate,” he said. “[LB53] would allow Nebraskans the ability to obey the law without drilling holes into their vehicle for a license plate.”

Eligible vehicle owners would be issued a decal to be displayed on the lower left corner of the vehicle’s front windshield. A Scheer amendment, adopted 32-0, would establish an annual $100 fee for the decal.

Sen. Curt Friesen of Henderson opposed the bill. He said there could be enforcement issues if LB53 were passed.

“It would be difficult [for law enforcement] to enforce this without knowing which cars are eligible or not when they stop these vehicles,” he said.

The bill advanced to select file on a 25-3 vote.