License plates benefit search and rescue

Looking for a unique holiday gift?

What about a Nevada license plate that commemorates Search and Rescue volunteers?

The plates became available in September, and Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini was the state's first customer, earning plate SR0001.

The license plate reads Search and Rescue and depicts a search and rescue member rappelling with a rescue litter. The plates also display the Search and Rescue seal and motto, "So that others may live."

Many members of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue team purchased the commemorative plates at the Department of Motor Vehicles office.

Search and rescue units are the designated emergency service organizations in each county used to search for persons lost or in distress throughout rural Nevada. Volunteers respond to emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"All citizens can show their support for search and rescue volunteers by purchasing these special license plates for any of their vehicles," Pierini said, a longtime supporter of search and rescue.

"Purchase of the license plates is one way to provide funds for search and rescue units as a portion of the revenue generated from the sale and registration of these plates will go directly to Nevada Search and Rescue units," he said.

The cost of the initial search and rescue license plate is $61, or $96 for a personalized plate. The annual renewal fee of $30 or $50 for a personalized plate.

Douglas search and rescue receives $15.50 per initial plate sold in the county and $12.40 each year per renewal.

The state Office of Emergency Management will receive $7.50 for each initial plate sold in Nevada. Those funds will go toward statewide search and rescue training, Pierini said.