Eighty-five percent of the money collected from the plates was supposed to go toward funding anti-terrorism efforts, while the remaining collections were to be spent on scholarships for the children of California residents who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. California raises about $1.5 million from the plates every year.
Where did the rest of the money go? Both current California governor Jerry Brown and former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger took more than $3 million from the program to cover part of the state's budget deficit. Instead of funding anti-terrorism efforts, millions was spent on unrelated budget needs like livestock diseases and workplace safety.
The scholarship fund, which the state's Department of Motor Vehicles still advertises, was curtailed seven years ago.
Photo from licenseplatemania.com
