The plates also would serve as an entrance pass to all North Dakota state parks.

“Throughout the years, I’ve watched these volunteer emergency responders,” said Norval Semchenko, a retired farmer from Max who’s leading the effort behind the measure. “They do this job without any reimbursement and are on call 24/7, ready to help those of us in need. I’ve really come to appreciate these people.”

Semchenko said, without volunteers’ efforts, North Dakota would be “a whole different society” and he came up with the license plates as a way to “send a thank you note” to recognize them.

"This is one of the things I think is really cool about North Dakota. Some guy wanted to do something nice for volunteers and he did it, even if it's not the perfect solution," said Sen. Kelly Armstrong, R-Dickinson, who was a volunteer firefighter in Dickinson from 2006-2012, before running for office.

Armstrong said the licenses plates could serve a practical aspect, helping identify the volunteers when they roll up to a scene, often in their personal vehicles. And even if the license plates aren't the answer, free state park entry is "the least we could do for them," he said.