New Bucs, Rays license plates for sale

Calling all Bucs and Rays fans: Local tax collector's offices across Florida will begin selling redesigned team license plates Friday.

The Bucs plate will feature the same skull and swords flag, but will include the lettering that's painted on the Raymond James Stadium end zone. The Bucs plates are the most popular specialty plates in the state, with more than 31,000 of the old design sold.

The Rays plate will have the new blue-based color scheme and trademark star instead of the old devil ray. About 1,000 Rays plates are now being used.

Proceeds from both plates support the Professional Sports Development Fund and the Florida Sports Foundation.

Two more plates recently approved by the Legislature -- a tennis-themed tag and one celebrating the Florida Lighthouse Association -- will also go on sale Friday. Sales of the tennis plates will support the Florida Sports Foundation, the U.S. Tennis Association's Florida unit and the association's foundation. Funds from lighthouse tag sales will help the Florida Lighthouse Association preserve the state's 29 historic lighthouses.

The specialty fee is $25 annually in addition to the routine registration fees.

Kim Wilmath, Times Staff Writer

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