As revenue boosters, plates keep on truckin.'

Personalized license plates offer drivers the opportunity to display a wide variety of individual messages to their fellow travelers, such as "GR8MOM," "NUTBUS" or "IMLUVN."

Drivers can choose special license plates that raise money and show support for various causes. Colleges, professional sports teams, club membership or employment status also may be identified on license plates.

The trend toward more personal and unique plates continued in 1995; 33 states passed more than 80 special license plate bills.

So what new messages will we begin to see as we travel along our nation's highways?

In the spirit of the 1996 Olympic Games, states have been enacting legislation allowing commemorative plates. The sale of Olympic plates helps support the U.S. Olympic Committee and state athletic programs. In New Jersey, the Olympic plates cost $50 in addition to the regular registration fees. After administrative expenses, the funds will be divided equally between the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Garden State Games, a sports festival for amateur athletes.

Plates designed to raise money for causes or projects bring in dollars for everything from the manatee to Chesapeake Bay to children's charities. In Massachusetts, "Preserve the Trust" plates have raised more than $1 million for environmental projects.

License plates are an increasingly popular revenue source for states facing budget constraints. In fact, these efforts have become so successful that special plates are even receiving their own recognition.

The California Assembly went so far as to declare last June 23 as Yosemite License Plate Day. California set aside the day to recognize the license plate as the greatest selling special plate in the history of the state. Since October 1993, sales raised more than $1.2 million for preservation and...