‘Boston Strong’ license plate solicitations under scrutiny
The Attorney General’s office is investigating a charity soliciting money for “Boston Strong” license plates before the plates have been approved by the RMV, but the charity is claiming they have the go-ahead to ask for cash.
The RMV allows charities to propose new license plates that will be sold to raise money for a cause, and once a design is approved, charities collect checks for $40 from at least 750 people to pay to start production.
But Boston Strong Disaster Relief, a nonprofit founded by a New Jersey man in 2015, has asked people to send checks now before the design has been approved — along with a suggested separate $10 donation to BSDR as well.
An RMV spokeswoman said the agency has not approved the design and that applications and payments are not accepted until the design has been officially approved.
A spokeswoman for Attorney General Maura Healey said the AG’s office was looking into the solicitations.
“The AG’s office does not look kindly on organizations that misrepresent their support for survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing,” said spokeswoman Chloe Gotsis. “We understand that the license plates never went into production and the Registry did not have any pre-orders for this plate for which the organization was reportedly soliciting. We will be reaching out.”
In 2014, the state Legislature approved creating “Boston Strong” license plates to raise money for victims of the 2013 marathon bombing, but they were never produced. Those plates were designated to benefit One Fund Boston, which shut down in 2016.
The new “Boston Strong” plates would benefit Boston Strong Disaster Relief, which raised $540 in 2016, according to tax returns filed with the Attorney General.
BSDR founder Stephen Brick told the Herald the RMV approved the group’s solicitations.
“We are collecting applications as per RMV instructions without a finalized approved design and are awaiting approval to hold a design contest,” Brick said in an email.