JEFFERSON CITY -- State Rep. Larry Thomason of Kennett has found himself in the middle of what promises to become a legislative battle that will virtually touch every Missouri vehicle owner.

Efforts to resolve the matter have failed over the years because of disagreements between lawmakers and interest groups. As chairman of the House Motor Vehicle and Traffic Regulations Committee, Thomason hopes to build a consensus on the issue: Missouri's need for a new license plate design.

Earlier this week Thomason's committee held hearings on 12 bills related to license plate designs, requests for special plates by organizations, and dealing with slogans for new plates.

Missouri's standard license plates were issued in 1979 and were originally designed to be used for three years. But many of the plates are still in use.Not only are the plates old, but in contrast to most other states they are considered ugly. Several people who appeared before the committee cotended that Missouri's plates tie with Arizona's in ugliness. The only difference between the two plates is a small cactus on the Arizona plates.

Over the years, state legislators have approved the sale of vanity license plates and special plates for such things as state universities and veterans.

Thomason said the proliferation of new plates has left the state without uniformity, and that causes law enforcement officials problems. "My intention is to work with the committee toward a more uniform license plate," said Thomason.

Thomason said he was amazed to find out from the Missouri Department of Revenue that there are 360 different types of license plates that can be purchased in Missouri for various types of vehicles and trailers.

Thomason hopes a standardized license plate can be approved, with space for any special logos or wording for specialized plates. He said Georgia recently did that, and he has offered their plates as an example of what might be considered in Missouri.

While that might seem reasonable, previous legislation altering license plates has prompted controversy.

For example, a longtime member of the House committee that deals with tourism, the late Martha Jarman, battled unsuccessfully for several years to change the color of Missouri's plates. She also wanted to replace the Show-Me-State slogan on the plates with the tourism slogan, Wake Up To Missouri.

One of the bills heard by the motor-vehicle panel called for a new slogan: Where the West Begins.

Rep. Marilyn Williams, D-Dudley, joked that with all the effort in the Generual Assembly to designate the mule as Missouri's official animal, it might be nice to put the mule on Missouri's new plates. Williams suggested the head of the mule be on the front plate and the tail on the rear plate. Although Williams was not really serious, her suggestion illustrates the kinds of things that come up when license plate designs are discussed.

"Bills to change the slogan or color always open up a real fight," said Thomason.

He would like to take license plate decisions out of the legislative process by passing legislation to set up a five-member committee for that purpose. One senator and one representative would be a part of the panel.

Thomason also hopes guidelines can be enacted outside the legislature for groups that want special plates."Our current system is not orderly," said Thomason.

Some of the special-plate requests this year are from Ham radio operators, masonic groups, and veterans designating wars they fought in. Safety is another consideration in redesigning license plates. Missouri plates do not have the latest reflective materials. The committee was advised that by using the latest reflective materials, accidents that occur when moving vehicles hit stopped vehicles parked along roadways would be reduced by 25 percent.

A license plate bill has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Bill McKenna, D-Barnhart, and Thomason said his committee may take a look at it.

He plans to talk with representatives of the departments of Revenue, Public Safety and Corrections about a broad-based bill."I personally won't be ready to put together a package until I get more information," said Thomason.