Folks express it with cart plates

Hook ‘em ... Crash ... Go Fish ... Happy Hr



Matt Hancock of Port Aransas honored his dog, Fluffy, when he had a personalized golf cart license plate made this year. At least 70 personalized golf cart plates have been made in an option that’s new to the city’s golf cart registration operation this year.

Matt Hancock of Port Aransas honored his dog, Fluffy, when he had a personalized golf cart license plate made this year. At least 70 personalized golf cart plates have been made in an option that’s new to the city’s golf cart registration operation this year.

Dozens of people are trumpeting their family names, revealing personal interests, expressing their college allegiances and more with the personalized golf cart license plates that are new to Port Aransas this year.

Wayne and Lee Samson’s plate is stamped with the words “AT LAST.”

That’s for a couple of reasons. Their wedding song 12 years ago was “At Last,” by Etta James.

And, Wayne said, “we’ve been looking for a home in Port Aransas for several years, and we bought a house in Port Aransas, at last.” The Austin couple lives in Port Aransas part-time.

The City of Port Aransas began issuing 2015 golf cart plates on Dec. 15. As of Wednesday, April 1, the city had issued some 1,463 plates, 70 of which were personalized, according to City Hall.

That total number is ahead of last year’s already brisk pace. As of April 1 last year, the city had issued 1,150 plates. The city issued 2,460 in all of last year.

Interesting note: Only 19 of the 70 personal plate owners listed permanent addresses in Port Aransas.

Port Aransas Police Chief Scott Burroughs was one of the first to apply for a personalized plate after the service became available.

His plate says, “HOOK ‘EM.”

“I am an orange blood through and through,” the 1981 University of Texas graduate said. “And, even though I don’t own a golf cart, I am proud to show off my colors any chance I can. What better way than to have the first-ever Port Aransas ‘Hook ‘em’ license plate?”

Burroughs plans to display the license plate at home.

Mayor Keith McMullin has a plate that says, simply, “PORT A.”

Bill Hoke, a part-time Port Aransas resident from Austin, has a plate that says “T MASTER.”

That’s short for Thong Master. Hoke said he likes women’s thong bikinis and has bought and given away perhaps 100 of them over the past 10 years in Port Aransas.

“It’s just a fun thing,” he said. “I’ve met 100,000 people this way. It’s just fun.”

He said he’d like to go into business selling thongs and t-shirts someday.

Matt Hancock of Port Aransas put “FLUFFY” on his plate. Fluffy also is the name of his dog, a three-legged chow mix who loves to ride in the cart.

“She rides with me in the golf cart every time I go out in it,” Hancock said. “When I get the keys and get ready to go, she’s jumping up and down like a bucking bronco.”

A golf cart with a plate that says “5OCLOCK” belongs to part-time Port Aransas residents Todd and Kim Joubert of Buda.

“It’s five o’clock somewhere, and it’s time for a drink,” Todd said. “You know the old Jimmy Buffet song.”

Other personalized plates issued by the city include SARGE, CRASH, STARFISH, LOWLIFE, 180 MPH, DAISY, SRNDPTY, HAPPYHR, MIZZOU, GO SPURS, BEVO 5, GO FISH, ISL GRL, COASTAL, READ, FUNTIME, DIAZ1, CHILLIN, AUSSIE, MY CART and PAPAJIM.

By city ordinance, carts must have up-to-date registrations with the City of Port Aransas. City Hall issues license plates for a $50 annual fee. The personalized plates cost $70.

Personalized plates are issued on a first-come, firstserved basis. City Hall will reserve a person’s plate name from year to year in January and February, according to City Manager Dave Parsons. If the plate isn’t purchased by March 1, the name then becomes available to the general public, he said.

The city manager or someone he designates keeps the list and is in charge of plate name approvals, Parsons said. The city reserves the right to refuse plate names “for any reason,” he said.

Plate names are limited to seven spaces. Characters are limited to letters and numbers.

Vanity plate orders take a few weeks to process, Parsons said. Cart owners are issued temporary paper plates during the interim, he said.


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