KWCH - Kansas News and Weather - Fewer Vanity Plates in KS

Fewer Vanity Plates in KS

(WICHITA, Kan.)

They are called vanity plates for a reason, the people who have them like to stand out.  But it turns out people with those plates aren't as special as you would think.  And most will soon be losing their plates.

You'll see them almost every time you drive down the street -- the FAIFULYs and N2ARTs of the road.  Or, like in Janelle's case -- THEKING.

"Well, our last name's King," she said, "so this here is my husband's car, The King, and mine is Mrs. The King."  If you've ever seen the movie 'Cars', you get the joke.

The people who have these vanity plates like to be recognized.  "It's funny how many people actually do notice your personalized plates," she said. "And I have people all the time who say -- Oh Yeah, I saw your car at so-and-so."

But you'll soon see less THEKINGs and MY3SUNS.

For years, personalized tags went through individual county offices.  So you could theoretically have 105 THEKINGs in Kansas.

But now the state is changing the way it tags vehicles.  Now, it will all through the state.

The first person who asked for the plate can keep it -- the rest will disappear.

Ron Estes, Sedgwick County Treasurer, said he has had some people call the office upset.  "Whether they're supporting their favorite team, or supporting their favorite phrase, or nickname, it's unfortunate that they're going to lose that."    

Which means Mrs. THEKING will no longer belong to Mrs. Janelle King.

"I rather would not have ever had them," she said, "or I would have picked something different in the first place -- so it could have been something I could keep."