Petition Effort Launched For Mount St. Helens License Plates

VANCOUVER, WA — A community effort is underway to get Mount St. Helens its very own license plate. The Mount St. Helens Institute, a Clark County-based non-profit, is leading the charge to collect 4,000 online signatures before the 2020 legislative session begins in January. The group says that amount of signatures is the minimum required for the state Department of Licensing to consider offering the plates. The petition had more than 1,600 signatures by Thursday afternoon.

The Associated Press reports the group is working alongside Republican State Rep. Ed Orcutt, of Kalama, to gain legislative approval. A portion of the proceeds from the plates would help fund the Mount St. Helens Institute, which leads youth education projects, hikes, and other activities related to the volcano every year. The Columbian reports special plates typically cost drivers an extra $30, with the majority of funds earmarked for the organization they benefit.

The proposed design was created for free by Maple Valley artist Don Clark of Invisible Creature. The artistic agency has created many recognizable pieces, including the large murals that wrap the Cinerama building in Seattle.

May 18, 2020 will mark the 40th anniversary of the volcano's eruption.

You can sign the petition here.