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License plate honoring fallen officers available, but only if more Utahns sign up

Posted at 2:32 PM, Jun 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-15 16:43:09-04

SALT LAKE CITY -- On Utah’s Capitol Hill there's a quiet area remembering those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The Law Enforcement Memorial is adorned with 140 names, each representing a police officer killed in the line of duty.

Now, there's another way for Utahns to remember fallen heroes, one that fits right on your car.

“This is a sacred spot for me, and I think for other families and law enforcement personnel,” said Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.

Herbert gathered with other state lawmakers at the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial this week for a ceremonial signing of House Bill 167.

Utah Rep. Lee Perry and Senator Karen Mayne sponsored the bill, which allows family members, co-workers, friends and other supporters to honor fallen officers with a special license plate.

“This is a way to keep their memory alive and their name alive and remember their service and their sacrifice,” Herbert said.

Organizers said it's been a difficult road to making the memorial plate a reality.

"It’s taken three years, three years plus to get it going,” said Danny Driggs, executive board member with the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial.

Driggs and the other board members started the process back in 2012, but they missed the deadline for the legislative session.

Finally, this year, the bill passed both the House and Senate.

"It sailed right through, unanimous votes in both committees, and pretty much on both floors too,” Driggs said.

But, it's not a done deal yet. So far, only 200 people have signed up to receive the license plates, and the law requires a minimum of at least 500.

“That’s not very many, and we ought to be able to do that and get that done this year and start supporting our law enforcement and have all of us with a license plate that says: ‘Remember our fallen officers,’” Herbert said.

The plates cost $54 the first time, and each year after that the cost is just $35. The money will help pay for maintenance at the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial on Capitol Hill.

For more information about how to get the plates, click here.