Cross Likely Won’t Appear on Florida Plates

A movement in Florida encouraging the state to offer motorists a license plate featuring a cross and the phrase “I Believe” will suffer a setback, as Florida legislators did not include it in a Tuesday bill.

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Florida senators passed a bill that could have included approval for the state’s motor vehicle department to start releasing these plates. But legislators, leery of a public backlash and court challenges regarding the separation of church and state, decided not to include the item in the bill.

On the other hand, supporters of the new Christian plate think that keeping it out of circulation is also unconstitutional and could also spark lawsuits.

State senator Ronda Storms, a Republican, believes the plate concept created a “public forum” and that restricting speech within it also violates the First Amendment. Democratic Leader Dan Gelber said that he doubts that the bill would have passed in the remaining days of session with the “I Believe” license plate portion included.

South Carolina is reportedly considering the same license plate, and the plate won approval in the state’s senate Tuesday.

The specialty plate, one of more than 100 designs in Florida, would have cost drivers $25, and the proceeds would have benefited Faith in Teaching Inc., an Orlando, Fla.-based organization that supports faith in education.

To see a rendering of the proposed plate, click here.