§524. Other special veterans registration plates

1.  United States Medal of Honor recipients; special license plates.  The Secretary of State, on application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, shall issue, at no fee, a registration certificate and set of special designating plates, to be used in lieu of regular registration plates, to any Maine resident who has been awarded the Medal of Honor by the Congress of the United States when the application is accompanied by a copy of the military orders awarding the Medal of Honor.

These special designating plates must be of a design as determined by the Secretary of State.

The Secretary of State may issue Medal of Honor plates for display only on an automobile or truck registered for not more than 10,000 pounds.

[PL 2011, c. 356, §13 (AMD).]

2.  Former prisoners of war; special license plates.  The Secretary of State, on application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, shall issue, at no fee, a registration certificate and set of special designating plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates to any civilian citizen of the United States who was interned as a prisoner of war and to any person who served in the United States Armed Forces and who was a prisoner of war at any time during tenure of service, or the surviving spouse of a former prisoner of war who is deceased, when that application is accompanied by a copy of the appropriate military form or other official form issued by the Federal Government certifying that the person is a former prisoner of war. This special license plate is issued specifically to former prisoners of war and their spouses and the privilege of using the special plate is transferable only on the death of the former prisoner of war to the former prisoner's spouse. Upon the death of the former prisoner of war, the surviving spouse may retain and display the special license plate. Upon remarriage, the surviving spouse may not use the special license plate on a motor vehicle, but may retain it. Upon the death of the surviving spouse, the family may retain the special license plate, but not use it on a motor vehicle.

These special designating plates must be of a design as determined by the Secretary of State that is unique and not duplicated by any other design.

The Secretary of State may issue prisoner of war plates for display only on an automobile or truck registered for not more than 10,000 pounds.

[PL 2011, c. 356, §13 (AMD).]

3.  Pearl Harbor survivors; special license plates.  The Secretary of State, on application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section l482, shall issue, at no fee, a registration certificate and set of special designating plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates to any person who served in the United States Armed Forces and who was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii during the attack by Japanese forces on December 7, l94l, when that application is accompanied by appropriate military certification verifying the applicant's service at Pearl Harbor during the attack. This special license plate is issued specifically to Pearl Harbor survivors and the privilege of using the special plate is not transferable.

These special designating plates must be of a design as determined by the Secretary of State.

The Secretary of State may issue Pearl Harbor survivor plates for display only on an automobile or truck registered for not more than 10,000 pounds.

[PL 2011, c. 356, §13 (AMD).]

4.  Purple Heart medal recipients; special license plates.  The Secretary of State, on application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, shall issue, at no fee, a registration certificate and a set of Purple Heart registration plates, to be used in lieu of regular registration plates, to a person who is a Purple Heart medal recipient.

An application for Purple Heart plates must be accompanied by proof that the applicant has been awarded the Purple Heart medal. The Secretary of State shall verify the documentation presented by the applicant. Misrepresentation of documents is in violation of section 2103, subsection 5.

The Secretary of State may issue Purple Heart plates for display only on an automobile or truck registered for not more than 10,000 pounds. A Purple Heart recipient may be issued Purple Heart plates for no more than 2 vehicles.

The surviving spouse of a Purple Heart recipient issued plates in accordance with this subsection may retain and use the Purple Heart plates as long as the surviving spouse remains unmarried. Upon remarriage, the surviving spouse may not use the Purple Heart plates on a motor vehicle, but may retain them. Upon the death of the surviving spouse, the family may retain the Purple Heart plates, but may not use them on a motor vehicle.

The Secretary of State shall determine the design of the Purple Heart plate. Upon request and as provided by section 453, the Secretary of State shall issue Purple Heart plates that are also vanity plates. Purple Heart vanity plates are issued in accordance with this section and section 453. The annual service fee for vanity plates required in section 453 is credited to the Highway Fund.

A Purple Heart recipient or the surviving spouse of a Purple Heart recipient who does not operate a motor vehicle or register a motor vehicle and who otherwise qualifies for the issuance of special Purple Heart registration plates may apply to the Secretary of State for a special single plate recognizing that award.

The Secretary of State shall design and identify these single plates for recognition purposes only. Single Purple Heart plates may not be attached to a motor vehicle. Only one plate may be issued to each recipient.

[PL 2011, c. 356, §13 (AMD).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 190, §1 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 645, §B11 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 31, §1 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 155, §2 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 67, §2 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 383, §16 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 356, §13 (AMD).