ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – After more than a year of effort by state lawmakers and officials, New Mexico is now offering a special Smokey Bear license plate. Some fees for the special plate will go to preventing wildfires.
Lawmakers approved the idea for a special plate commemorating Smokey Bear earlier this year. The plate is a familiar yellow with red lettering, but it includes an image of Smokey Bear.
The plate will cost $50 for the initial purchase. And to renew each year, there will be a $40 dollar fee.
Of the $50 initial fee, $33 will go to the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department to be put to use in fire prevention efforts. And $5 will go to the U.S. Forest Service as a royalty, the state’s Taxation and Revenue Department says. Portions of the renewal fee also go to firefighting efforts and the Forest Service.
New Mexico offers the license plates at mvdonline.com or in Motor Vehicle Division offices. But the special plates are not available for motorcycles.
