License plate collectors recognize design as nation’s best
Idea to feature chile, New Mexico’s signature crop, was born from a rivalry with neighbor Colorado
New Mexico is known for its chile and now, its chile license plate.
The Automobile License Plate Collectors Association announced Monday that the Land of Enchantment’s new plate featuring red and green chile was the best to hit the roadways of any state in 2017.
“The plate is simply stunning, with its unusual black background and embossed yellow letters and numbers accented by colorful red and green chile peppers,” the organization’s president, Cyndi McCabe, said in a statement — nailing the proper spelling of New Mexico’s signature crop.
The state began issuing the plate last summer as a standard option with no extra fee for motorists registering a vehicle.
The license plate has quickly become a favorite, with the Motor Vehicles Division issuing about 140,000 since it launched the design in July. The plate was born out of competition. During the 2017 legislative session, lawmakers learned that Colorado officials were considering creating a license plate commemorating the Centennial State’s Pueblo green chile.
The prospect of New Mexico’s northern neighbor claiming the mantle of the “chile state” sent legislators into action, passing a bill to create a specialty “Chile Capital of the World” license plate for the rightful owner of the title.
Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed the bill and instead called on state officials to issue the design not as a specialty plate but as a standard option alongside New Mexico’s ubiquitous yellow background and turquoise background license plates.
“Chile plays a significant role in our state’s culture and is one of our greatest treasures,” Martinez said Monday. “This license plate lets the world know that New Mexico is — without a doubt — the Chile Capital of the World.”
New Mexico is a repeat winner of the association’s award. The state’s retro-design turquoise centennial license plate won best in America for 2011.
This year, New Mexico beat out sixteen other license plates.