02.05.01

By Laura Davis

There’s the butterfly heritage license plate, the Chesapeake Bay plate, the horse enthusiast plate and the National Air and Space Museum plate.

Traveling along Virginia’s highways, you see many different license plates: The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles offers a selection of about 180 special choices.

But some types of license plates aren’t available for just anyone.

Members of the state Senate and House of Delegates have their own license plates, complete with recognizable numbers. Delegates’ plates state "House of Delegates" at the top, while senators’ plates have "Senator" at the bottom. Low-digit numbers adorn these.

"It makes the plates distinctive," said Marc Copeland, senior policy analyst for the Virginia DMV, adding that this type of plate has been issued since 1980.

The DMV offers numbers one through 100 to delegates for their plates, he said, and it offers one through 40 for Senate plates.

"Those numbers are assigned," Copeland said, "and they’re based on seniority."

Delegate William K. Barlow, D-Smithfield, has number 44 on his license plates.

"I’m pleased to have that," he said. "As far as I know, all the legislators do that."

Because of his distinctive plate number, Barlow said, people can easily recognize him.

"You have to be careful where you go with those plates," he joked. "You don’t want to be seen at a place that’s not reputable."

He added that some legislators are hesitant to use the plates for that reason.

"I don’t have anything to hide," Barlow said.

Delegates and senators aren’t the only governmental figures with special plates.

Other elected officials, Copeland said, have their own plates as well, and anyone can request a number of their choice.

Virginia DMV spokesperson Brian Matt said the DMV commissioner issues numbers, beginning with 101.

For more information about making requests, visit the Virginia DMV’s Web site at www.dmv.state.va.us.