CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Citizens around the state will soon have the chance to show their support for local law enforcement noticeably on their vehicles.
The Back the Blue License Plate was unveiled by the West Virginia State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) in a ceremony in Charleston on Friday.
Dozens of law enforcement, state and federal officials, family members of fallen officers, and Gov. Jim Justice were on hand to view the new plate.
“Being here with fallen members families, it makes it extra special,” Boone County Delegate Rodney Miller said.
“Because these folks go out without question and they are very selfless and they dedicate themselves to their communities. This is the least we could do.”
Miller was the lead sponsor on a bill last session that the FOP and other legislators worked on to get passed through quickly. House Bill 2846, signed into law by Justice, allows the residents of the state to purchase the plate.
With over 30 years of experience wearing the badge including as Boone County Sheriff and being the current Executive Director of State’s Sheriff Association, Miller said Friday’s unveiling was a special day for him.
“These are the people that keep us safe, give us the low crime rate that we traditionally have in West Virginia and make it a place that we want to stay, we want to invite people to come, we want to live and raise our children,” Miller said.
Applications for the blue license plate are being taken now by the DMV as the plate will become available on January 1.
Funds collected for extra payment for the plates currently go to the state’s road funding, per the state’s constitution. Miller and other legislators at the ceremony said they will work to amend that part of the constitution to direct funding from the platers to law enforcement agencies around the state.