NYS DMV's list of most popular custom plates include doctors, veterans, Yankees fans

More and more New Yorkers are showcasing their profession, their sports' allegiances and other affiliations on the road, choosing to adorn their vehicles with one of the more than 200 custom license plates that the state offers.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles this week announced the top 15 custom plates in the state, with doctors and veterans topping the list.

Custom plates differ from personalized plates in that they feature a special logo, emblem or slogan, while personalized license plates simply have a customized plate number.

There are 209 designs available with the state offering 195 custom picture plates and 31 professional plate categories.

Picture plate categories include: Causes; Colleges, Fraternities and Sororities; Counties and Regions of New York State; I Love New York Adventure; Military and Veterans; Organizations; Sports; and, Zodiacs.

Professional plates include: Emergency Services; Medical Professions; and Other Professions, with Certified Public Accountants, Architects, Engineers and members of the Press among those.

You're a fan of the Long Island Ducks, the Islanders, Mets, Jets, Yankees, Knicks, Brooklyn Nets? There's a plate for you.

Maybe you want to remember the Giants won the Super Bowl in 2012 or that the Yankees won the World Series in 2009. Yup, the state has those, too, along with plates announcing you're a fan of the Rochester Raging Rhinos soccer team or NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr.

There's even a plate announcing you're from Long Island.

NYS DMV Commissioner Mark F. Schroeder said in a statement: "Our custom plates let people show their pride in military service, highlight their professions, cheer on their favorite sports teams, and display their love for our state."

The top plates in demand are: Medical Doctor (11,164); U.S. Veteran (8,336); Volunteer Firefighter (7,261); U.S. Army Veteran (5,888); New York Bluebird Environmental (4,002); U.S. Marine Corps Veteran (3,110); New York Yankees (2,886); U.S. Navy Veteran (2,818); U.S. Vietnam Veteran (2,604); U.S. War on Terror Veteran (2,514); Fraternal Order of Police (2,455); New York Buffalo Bills (2,408); 9-11-01 Remembrance, Never Forget United We Stand (2,343); U.S. Air Force (2,269); and, Volunteer Ambulance Service (2,059).

Fees vary by plate designation and according to whether you elect to personalize that plate with a special plate number.

College plates include Stony Brook, Fordham, City College, Skidmore, Clarkson, St. Lawrence University, Syracuse and Iona College. There are even plates for a handful of non-New York universities: Indiana University, Penn State and the University of Michigan.

Plates for causes include a range of support and awareness groups: Cure Childhood Cancer; Drive Out Diabetes; Keep Kids Drug Free; Domestic Violence/New York State Supports Survivors; and Down syndrome Awareness, whose plates are tagged with the line "Down Right Perfect." Plates for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals read: "Reject Speciesism."

Custom plates come with no special rights or privileges, and the DMV said many require the registrant to show proof they are a member of a specific group or organization.

The DMV also said it's possible for an organization or individual to develop a new custom plate.

For more information on how to order or develop a custom license plate, visit the DMV website.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”