Maine’s tradition of specialty license plates is hard to avoid. Each time you drive along a Maine roadway you’re apt to stare at any number of colorful, message-bearing license plates. There’s one for agriculture, one for conservation, one for the University of Maine, one standard-issue, no-nonsense Vacationland plate and others. Registration of each plate helps direct state revenue to specific causes. Well, there’s a new cat in town. Earlier this week Governor Baldacci signed into law an “Act to Create the Support Animal Welfare Registration Plate."  The effort was spearheaded by the Maine Adoption Leaders Team and the Planet Dog Foundation. The new plates will be available October 1, 2009 for  $20 for the license plate and a $15 annual registration thereafter.