Richmond, VA (LifeNews.com) -- Motorists in Virginia now have a way to express their pro-life views and support adoption and abortion alternatives at the same time. A new state law allowing the purchase of Choose Life license plates went into effect yesterday and proceeds from the sales of the plates support those pro-life efforts.

Virginia drivers pay an additional $25 to get the yellow affinity plates and $15 of that fee, after the first 1,000 plates are sold, goes to Heartbeat International to provide women with tangible pregnancy help and options.

Senator Ken Cuccinelli was the sponsor of the Choose Life plate bill that pro-abortion Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine reluctantly signed in March.

"As of today, you can now purchase a "Choose Life" license plate by going to the DMV's web page," he told LifeNews.com.

"The proceeds go to crisis pregnancy centers around Virginia to help women at an extremely difficult moment in their life. Thanks so much to all the volunteers who do so much work to help these expectant mothers cope with tough circumstances," he added.

Although a state Senate committee defeated the bill, Cuccinelli didn't give up and amended another license plate bill on the floor of the Senate several days later with the Choose Life plate on a 20-19 vote.

Kaine said he signed the Choose Life plate bill only because he thinks state residents should have the right to a specialty plate. The bill includes other license plates, which may have made it easier for Kaine to sign the legislation into law.

"I sign this legislation today in keeping with the Commonwealth's longtime practice of approving specialty plates with all manner of political and social messages," he said in a statement LifeNews.com obtained.

Kaine also said he would sign a bill brought by abortion advocates for a pro-abortion plate.

"If Planned Parenthood ... or another similar organization ever chooses to seek a specialty license plate in Virginia, I believe the constitution would require the state to approve that plate to protect against any viewpoint discrimination," he said.

Virginia became the twenty-third state to have a Choose Life license plate, where portions of the proceeds from the sale of the plates fund pregnancy centers and adoption programs.

Victoria Cobb, the head of the Family Foundation, had been asking pro-life advocates to contact Governor Kaine urging him to support the plate. The Virginia Society for Human Life and other pro-life groups also supported the plate.

Related web sites:
DMV Info on Choose Life plates -
http://www.dmv.state.va.us/exec/vehicle/splates/info.asp?idnm=CL

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