Kansas scraps new license plate design after complaints: 'Looks too much like New York's'

Kansas is back to square one on a new license plate design.

The state has paused production on the license plate design unveiled last week after hundreds of people complained that it resembled license plates of other states and others said the new plates don't represent Kansas.

A Facebook post announcing the new design last Wednesday received numerous complaints about the lack of originality.

"I hope you reconsider these designs. Looks too much like New York's. Should incorporate wheat or sunflowers," one user commented.

"It doesn’t celebrate anything as it doesn’t show case those things that are iconically Kansas," another user said.

Other complaints came from politicians and a column in the Kansas Reflector titled, "Face it, Kansas: Our new license plate design looks slapdash and dull. Surely we can do better."

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“I promised to be a bipartisan governor, and I think we can all admit – I succeeded at bringing Kansans across the political aisle together in disliking this new license plate,”said Gov. Laura Kelly in a news release Tuesday.

“I’ve heard you loud and clear. Elected officials should be responsive to their constituents, which is why we are adjusting the process so Kansans can provide direct input on our state’s next license plate,” Kelly added.

According to the news release, Kansans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite design among several options, and the state will share more details on license plate designs and the voting process soon.

In the news release announcing the new license plates last Wednesday, Kelly said the design "promotes the state and our sense of optimism as Kansans travel near and far."

The new plates are part of the state's initiative to replace embossed standard plates because of safety concerns.

"Many of the embossed plates out on the road have become difficult to read due to significant deterioration," said David Harper, director of the Kansas Department of Revenue's Department of Vehicles, in a news release last week.

“Replacing these plates will not only help law enforcement but ensure that drivers can be easily identified in case of emergency,” Harper said.