Oklahomans React To New Official License Plate Design

People have mixed reactions to the new state license plate that will be available September 1.

Some say they like the new design, while others are wondering why it needed to change.

Almost everyone is used to the current design with the scissortail bird on the blue and white plates.

The new design has a red background, and the state department of tourism says it used feedback from the public to make it official.

A star with the number 46 splits the letters in the middle of the new license plate--a design the State Department of Tourism says pays tribute to Oklahoma's original flag. The bottom has the words "Imagine That" and includes symbols of Oklahoma landmarks like the Golden Driller and Route 66.

Related: New Official State License Plate Design Revealed For Oklahoma

The rollout is coming to cars this fall, but many have already formed their opinions on the new design.

"It is kind of ugly, yeah."

"I think the red, it just doesn't feel like Oklahoma to me when I look at it."

"The past license plate looked pretty good, but that one just doesn't look right."

Others, like Charles Beard, are excited for something new.

"I quite like this; I'd get this in a heartbeat," he said. "It's a callback to Oklahoma's history and labor movement, which is important."

Production on the new plates has been underway inside the fences of the Dick Conner Correctional Facility near Hominy. Prisoners have been printing the plates for the last year and already have more than 250,000 ready to roll for the September 1st launch.

Shop manager Kevin King says more prisoners have been added to make plates to accommodate the demand.    

"Quite a few different designs have been gone through and tossed around from a lot of different people," he said.

The new design closely resembles a specialty plate that's already been available by request.

The plates will be issued to new cars by tag agencies starting September 1. They won't be given out automatically—if you'd like to get the new plate, you'll have to pay a $4 fee when you next pay for your registration.