New License Plate in Georgia Pays Homage to Linemen

The State of Georgia unveiled a new specialty license plate that honors electric utility line workers that was signed into law by Gov. Nathan Deal in May. Representatives with Georgia EMC, Electric Cities of Georgia, and Georgia Power attended the unveiling.

According to the state's utility partners, the timing of the unveiling event is especially meaningful after Tropical Storm Irma caused more than 1.5 million outages in Georgia. The unprecedented damage set in motion a massive restoration effort involving more than 13,000 utility personnel and additional resources from across the country.

Proceeds will benefit the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation (SFBF) which provides assistance to burn patients at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta; a place to stay for patients' families at the Jeffrey Vaden Chavis House, just a few steps from the Burn Center; and meals and transportation to and from the hospital. After patients are discharged, the SFBF also provides assistance with prescriptions, anti-scarring garments and transportation to follow-up doctor visits.

For the first 1,000 plates sold, the one-time $25 specialty plate manufacturing fee will be waived by the Motor Vehicles Division of the Georgia Department of Revenue with a $25 minimum donation to the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation. In addition, by an act of the General Assembly and Governor Deal, $10 of the Georgia Department of Revenue's $35 Annual Specialty Tag Fee for "Thank A Lineman" license plates will be contributed to SFBF each year for as long as the motorist renews the specialty plate.