 Charleston, South Carolina – November 3, 2018 – As part of a move to small ‘decal’ size images for license plates in South Carolina, the ‘Protect Wild Dolphins’ license plate, designed by marine artist Steve Diossy, will be replaced in the new year. South Carolina DMV and Michael D Towner, CEO of Iconic Legacy, have begun the process of redesigning and approval for the reduced decal design and it should be completed and replace the original design in January, 2019. Michael D Towner was responsible for the development of the program, along with the Protect Wild Dolphins license plate program in Louisiana. In Lousiana the full color plates are produced at the state prison, and by a machine invented in the early 1900s at Angola, a maximum-security prison farm in Louisiana operated by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections. It is named "Angola" after the former slave plantation that occupied the territory. Louisiana is continuing the use of full color designed plates. Georgia reverted back to full color designs from the decal design, after a significant decrease in specialty license plate sales due to an increase in registration fees. Other states are looking to change the colorful specialty plate designs to a decal design, including Florida, where there are 123 specialty license plates. The DMV routinely cites uniformity and law enforcement as principal reasons for this move, but there is conflicting evidence on whether the distinctively designed full color plates actually help rather than hinder law enforcement in identifying would-be offenders’ vehicles. The funds from the Protect Wild Dolphins license plate in South Carolina currently go to EarthEcho International, headed by Phillippe Cousteau Jr, the son of Jan and Philippe Cousteau Sr., and the grandson of Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the iconic oceanographer. Philippe was born in Santa Monica, California and grew up between France and the United States, attending college in St Andrews, Scotland. He and his wife Ashlan are the stars of The Travel Channel’s newest series Caribbean Pirate Treasure. EarthEcho International is a nonprofit organization founded on the belief that youth have the power to change our planet. “South Carolina has a strong marine heritage and a dynamic and beautiful environment.” Philippe states, “This funding enables us to work with strong local partners to enhance ocean and marine mammal education and conservation throughout the state and encourage its citizens to continue to be active stewards of the environment.” Towner says that he hopes the design change will not adversely affect the program and is awaiting information from South Carolina DMV on statistics showing any changes to sales for license plates that have already undergone the switch from full color to the decal format. Unfortunately, it may take at least six years to evaluate the effects due to the two-year renewal process and the ability to keep the existing license plate until the mandatory ten-year plate replacement. Michael Towner says that the new design will be a combination of the original full color design and the slogan ‘Protect Wild Dolphins’ and the draft will be available for viewing and comments in December on the website: ProtectSouthCarolinaDolphins.com.  New SC decal design The fee from the purchase of the license plate is $60.00 every two years in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee, a portion of the fees collected has been specifically earmarked to assist local organizations and agencies who have the required credentials, licenses and permits to collect, analyze and archive scientific data regarding the dolphin population in South Carolina waters.
Towner advises that the primary component of the South Carolina ‘Protect Wild Dolphins’ program is the development of educational content, support of scientific research, and development and implementation of innovative conservation initiatives. Funding is used by EarthEcho International for specific education and conservation programs, directed at strengthening and supporting existing regional efforts to protect the environment, wild dolphins, and their coastal habitats and for scientific research conducted through collaborative efforts. Learn more at www.ProtectSouthCarolinaDolphins.com
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