Oklahomans to pay $5 fee for newly designed license plates

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Every Oklahoma motorist will pay an additional $5 beginning later this month for a new license plate that features the outline of the state bird – a scissortail flycatcher – on a blue background.

Gov. Mary Fallin unveiled the new license plate during a press conference with state officials on Monday. The new plates cost the state about $2.05 to produce. Most of the additional revenue will go into a newly created State Public Safety Fund that will be available for the Legislature to spend to "support public safety" in the state.

In addition to the $18.5 million generated by issuing the new tags, tax officials predict an additional $4 million from an increase in compliance.

The new design was selected by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.