02/07/11

Nebraska

PASSENGER - 2002 sand hill cranes: type II flat

Passenger:  Off and on, Nebraska has issued both yearly plates and multiyear plates, the multiyear plates being renewed with metal tabs and, later, stickers.  The last yearly plate was issued for 1965.  In 1966, the state issued its first design that incorporated the state's shape as part of the design, with the southwest corner of the state functioning as the renewal sticker placement.  For each new design, everyone received new plates for all plate classes.  The 1976 bicentennial base introduced staggered monthly renewals and was used until replaced by the plain blue/white design in 1984.  From the 1984 design forward, each design was used for three years like clockwork before being replaced with a new design, the lone exception being the 2005 issue which was used for six years.  Because Nebraska county codes the plates (see Nebraska county codes), the pages can get enormous to download.  Beginning with the "72" base, I have split the pages into the following bases, each being a link to my website page of that type:

Pre "72" base

"72" base

1976 bicentennial base

1984 blue/white base

1987 sun graphic base

1990 windmill base

1993 yellow sky base

1996 orange sky base

1999 Chimney Rock base

2002 sand hill cranes base

type I - embossed

type II - flat

2005 covered wagon base

2011 goldenrod base

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2002 sand hill crane graphic:  The following design was introduced in 2002 ("03" expiration sticker).  The design shows three sand hill cranes flying across a orange sunset with the sun at the top left of the plate.  The plate also includes the state's website, "www.state.ne.us".  The plate number format had the county number as a prefix (see Nebraska county codes page), followed by the plate number.  However, for the three largest counties, Douglas county #1 (Omaha), Lancaster county #2 (Lincoln), and Sarpy county #59 (suburb of Omaha), the plate format used was "AAA 000" with no county designation on the plate.  In early 2005, the state converted to a flat version of this design, keeping all the plate number specifications explained above (click Nebraska - 2002 sand hill cranes: type I embossed to jump to the embossed plates of this design).