EZ-ID works and it pays for itself.
Concerns about cost are unfounded.
The cost of EZ-ID appears to be the biggest concern of legislators in adopting this new format, but it would not be a financial burden to the state. Gary Richard, inventor of the EZ-ID license plate program, Jay Gardiner, Former Director of the Molly Bish Center at Anna Maria College, legislators, the Registrar and Joseph Rebello, the new Mass Chiefs President, all visited the license plate manufacturing operation and staff at Walpole State Prison to determine if there would be any obstacles for manufacturing of the EZ-ID plates. The staff advised that there would be no obstacles, and that the cost for new tooling was determined to be approximately $36,000. Richard pledged to pay this cost if that was seen as an obstacle. Furthermore, after several meetings with the Registry, which is beginning a 3 year computer modernization program, Registrar Rachel Kaprielian expressed that the timing would be perfect to integrate EZ-ID into their computer upgrade.
EZ-ID would generate millions of dollars in new state revenues with thousands of new vanity, low number and specialty plates.
Each state would reap millions of dollars in new revenues, through the creative ways that people can use the symbols on new vanity plates. This would pay for the new system and even become a positive revenue generator for the state. While new vanity plates would raise significant new revenues for states, they would also raise money for arts and causes which may not be able to fund specialty plates.
EZ-ID would raise money for arts and causes that may not be able to fund specialty plates.
Cost Savings: The millions of dollars in savings to our society…in the costs of investigations, court costs, loss of property, loss of wages, medical costs, and more…are truly immeasurable. The savings in human life and suffering…are priceless.
Losses at tolls: An independent study, funded by the state of Texas, showed approximately 11.5% “leakage” at the tolls, monies that will never be recovered. That could equate to $38 Million dollars lost by Massachusetts each year. The EZ-ID plates would work better with the License Plate Reader (LPR) equipment used at the tolls. The LPR would be able to identify the symbol, and cross verify the symbol and location with the stacked characters.