ST. PAUL, Minn. – Governor Tim Walz has seen black auto license plates in other states and wants Minnesota to go the same route – at least for plates that espouse a cause. About 120,000 Minnesota car owners already pay extra $12.50 for specialty plates that pass on revenue to critical habitat and other causes. Other states do even a brisker business but with so-called black-out plates. Iowa has issued 450,000 this year– compared to only 230,000 two years ago.

Bumper beauty. Ordinary plates would remain with outdoorsy blue and green. How many people would opt for proposed black-out plates that promote a cause?