My Plates' personalized license plates R now 4 sale at prices lowered for 2day's economy.

In 2007, the Texas Legislature became the first state government in the nation to create a public/private license plate program that offers vehicle owners more choices in license plate design, while at the same time raising money for the state.

My Plates got off to a roaring start but then sputtered and finally stalled completely after the original vendor ceased operations last fall. Soon after the program rolled to a halt, Pinnacle Technical Resources of Dallas and Etech, Inc., of Nacogdoches contacted the Texas Department of Transportation, which awarded a new contract to Pinnacle and Etech's joint venture, which is operating under the name My Plates.

My Plates operates in partnership with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), a new state agency that oversees the state's motor vehicle services, including registration of passenger vehicles and license plate sales. The new and slightly lower-priced My Plates went on sale November 19.

Prices range from $55 to $195 for a one-year plate, depending on how many letters and numbers are needed to make the plate distinctively yours. If you purchase a five- or 10-year plate, annual fees go down.

Each plate's cost is from $10 to $200 less than last year. The State of Texas receives revenue from the sale of every plate with a guaranteed minimum return of $25 million over five years.

Texans may create their plates by logging on to www.myplates.com or by calling toll-free (888) 769-7523 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

My Plates come in colors and designs that may be adapted to fit each Texan's personality. One real estate company has an officially sponsored design that may be purchased and personalized by the company's agents.

The Texas Exes Association also officially sponsors a design that their members may personalize. If you are a University of Texas alum who bleeds orange or a loyal Aggie, as I am, a plate is ready and waiting that allows you to show your true colors.

In addition to colors that may reflect your alma mater, there are hot pink, red, black and white plates as well as plates with vintage, western and Texas themes and plates for motorcycles, buses, trailers and motorhomes.

My Plates' Web site has a link to the TxDMV Web site where you may order charity plates that honor sports teams, universities, disabled veterans, and many other groups and organizations.

Take a basic plate, use your own Texas ingenuity, and create a plate that is expressly you. At the same time, you will be helping out the state budget. Now that is a 2-4-1 Texas deal.