New 'Sweet Home Alabama' Tags Attract Critics

Some North Alabama tourism groups andlawmakers are disappointed that the state's newly designed licenseplates featuring a beach scene didn't include a glimpse of majesticmountains.Take our poll.

By: Katie Hammond | WKRG-TV
Published: November 10, 2008

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Some North Alabama tourism groups and
lawmakers are disappointed that the state's newly designed license
plates featuring a beach scene didn't include a glimpse of majestic
mountains.
John Dersham, executive director of the DeKalb County Tourist
Association, would have preferred a design that showed both a beach
and a mountain scene to display Alabama's diversity.
Gov. Bob Riley and Alabama tourism director Lee Sentell unveiled
the plate on Oct. 7. The "Sweet Home Alabama" tag will be
available on Jan. 1, replacing the old "Stars Fell on Alabama"
plate.
Riley assigned the tourism department to design the new plate
and chose it to reflect the Gulf Coast's importance to Alabama's
tourism industry. Baldwin and Mobile counties combine to generate
more than 30 percent of the state's $9.8 billion tourism revenue.
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