Consider eliminating front license plates

We keep reading about climate change. Government demands we change our pattern and Illinois talks, but no action.

Federal government demands mileage standards. Manufacturers spend million and millions to developing vehicles that meet these standards or exceed them. Aerodynamic vehicles to slip through the air with the least resistance. Manufacturers have even installed belly pans to cut down on wind drag to obtain those mileage standards.

Then we have 32 northern states that require front license plates. Manufacturers do not design vehicles' aerodynamics with a front license plate in mind. Besides when buying a new car or truck it's extra to have a front mount for the plate.

Let's do the math here. Let's assume that by adding a front plate cuts down that mileage by 0.1 mile per gallon. Not much, right? But consider 5 million cars in Illinois all driving 10,000 miles a year. There are 32 states that require front plates. Let's say each state has 5 millions cars. now we are at 15.5 million wasted miles. Just rough numbers. Now how many tons of carbon is released because of a front license plate at 0.1 mileage loss?

Illinois said it only cost 0.30 per plate X 5 million vehicles is $1.5 million savings, not including mail costs. Law enforcement and tollways say they need the front plate. What do 18 other states do? Do they have less crime to deal with? Tollway needs the front plate to bill cars that don't pay, what do they do with cars from Indiana?

Status quo needs to change. everyone is looking for the magic bullet to fix Illinois woes in one fell swoop. Sorry. It's like eating an elephant one bite at a time. Each bite can get us to the finish line.

Michael Galorath

Rolling Meadows