N.C. to issue redesigned license plates

RALEIGH (AP) -- After 25 years, North Carolina's standard license plate is changing colors.

Beginning on Monday, the regular plates will sport red letters and numbers instead of blue. The redesign will keep the 1980s lettering of "North Carolina," while the background retains the shadowed sea grass and Wright brothers' plane.

Officials say most states rotate their tag designs every five to 15 years, but Delaware has had the same plate since 1962. North Carolina hasn't made a change since 1982.

Division of Motor Vehicles spokeswoman Marge Howell the state has allocated a million dollars to distribute more than 600-thousand new plates during the first year to replace plates that begin with letters A to H.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)