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Giants fans may like the new license plates they can get in New York, but some people aren't doing the wave over the tags.

Among them is Arno Herwerth of Hauppauge, Suffolk County, who's been pushing for an official 9/11 plate. Herwerth is also fighting the state in court over its revocation of a "GETOSAMA" vanity plate the Department of Motor Vehicles issued to him, but then decided was inappropriate. The state has since offered to let him have the plate, but he wants attorney fees, which he said he'll donate to a 9/11 victims group.
Herwerth's bigger issue is a custom plate to honor the victims of 9/11, which has been done in other states, including California, which has raked in millions of dollars from it. Pataki vetoed a bill to create such a plate, and subsequent legislative efforts have stalled.
Custom plates in New York can be created by legislation. Groups such as clubs and charities can also ask DMV to allow a plate with their logo or special message. The cost is covered by higher registration fees.
New York, however, has a four-year old moratorium on such custom plates while it wages a court battle with The Children First Foundation, an adoption advocacy group whose plate was rejected by DMV on the grounds that its message -- Choose Life -- was a controversial anti-abortion statement.
Herwerth said he's baffled by the state refusing to allow a 9/11 plate, yet approving a new one earlier this year to mark the Giants' Super Bowl victory. "How can that be?" he said. "This is New York."
The Giants plate is a special case, according to DMV. The National Football League (as well as Major League Baseball) has a contract with DMV that is not affected by the moratorium. About 1,100 people have snapped up the Giants plates, which cost $43 ($68 if they're personalized). The NFL gets a 15 percent royalty.
Contributors: Capitol bureau reporter Irene Jay Liu and State editor Jay Jochnowitz. Got a tip? Call 454-5424 or e-mail jjochnowitz@timesunion.com.