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NO. 181. AN ACT RELATING TO THE SPECIAL VETERAN AND
GOLD STAR REGISTRATION PLATES.
(S.241)
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Sec. 1. 23 V.S.A. § 304(e) is amended to read:
(e) The commissioner shall upon proper application, issue special number
plates to former prisoners of war, Pearl Harbor veterans and recipients of the
Purple Heart Medal for use only on vehicles registered at the pleasure car rate
and on trucks registered for less than 26,001 pounds and excluding vehicles
registered under the International Registration Plan. The commissioner shall
determine the design of the special plates and decals. Applicants shall apply
on forms prescribed by the commissioner and the applicant’s status as a former
prisoner of war (P.O.W.), Pearl Harbor veteran, or holder of a Purple Heart
Medal shall be certified by the Veterans’ Administration or state veterans’
affairs office, respectively. The prisoner of war (P.O.W.), Pearl Harbor, or
Purple Heart number plates shall not be subject to fees applicable to special
plates as set forth in subsection (b) of this section. The plates shall be reissued
only to the original holder of the plates or the surviving spouse. The
commissioner shall adopt rules under 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 to implement the
provisions of this subsection.
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NO. 181
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Sec. 2. 23 V.S.A. § 304(j) is amended to read:
(j) The commissioner of motor vehicles shall, upon proper application,
issue special plates to Vermont veterans, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(2), for
use only on vehicles registered at the pleasure car rate and on trucks registered
for less than 26,001 pounds and excluding vehicles registered under the
International Registration Plan. Applicants shall apply on forms prescribed by
the commissioner and the applicant’s status as a veteran shall be certified by
the Vermont office of veterans’ affairs or by other documentation as required
by the commissioner. The type and style of the veterans’ plate shall be
determined by the commissioner, except that an American flag, or a veteran- or
military-related emblem selected by the commissioner and the Vermont office
of veterans’ affairs shall appear on one side of the plate. A one-time fee of
$10.00 shall be assessed in addition to the annual fee for registration; $5.00 of
the one-time fee shall be transferred to the Vermont office of veterans’ affairs
At a minimum, emblems shall be available to recognize recipients of the
Purple Heart, Pearl Harbor survivors, former prisoners of war, and disabled
veterans. An applicant shall apply on a form prescribed by the commissioner,
and the applicant’s status both as a veteran and as a member of one of the
groups recognized will be certified by the office of veterans’ affairs. The
plates shall be reissued only to the original holder of the plates or the surviving
spouse. Notwithstanding section 502 of Title 32, the commissioner may
charge the actual costs of production of the plates against the fees collected and
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NO. 181
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shall remit the balance to the transportation fund. The commissioner shall may
adopt rules to implement the provisions of this subsection. Except for new or
renewed registrations, applications for the issuance of veterans’ plates shall be
processed in the order received by the department subject to normal workflow
considerations. The costs associated with developing new emblems shall be
borne by the department of motor vehicles.
Sec. 3. 23 V.S.A. § 304(k) is added to read:
(k) The commissioner of motor vehicles shall, upon proper application,
issue special plates to gold star family members, as defined in 10 U.S.C.
§ 1126, for use only on vehicles registered at the pleasure car rate and on
trucks registered for less than 26,001 pounds and excluding vehicles registered
under the International Registration Plan. The type and style of the gold star
plate shall be determined by the commissioner, except that a gold star shall
appear on one side of the plate. An applicant shall apply on a form prescribed
by the commissioner, and the applicant’s eligibility will be certified by the
office of veterans’ affairs. A plate shall be reissued only to the original holder
of the plate. The commissioner may adopt rules to implement the provisions
of this subsection. Except for new or renewed registrations, applications for
the issuance of gold star plates shall be processed in the order received by the
department subject to normal workflow considerations.
Sec. 4. COMMISSIONER OF MOTOR VEHICLES REPORT ON
ISSUANCE OF DISTINCTIVE REGISTRATION PLATES
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The commissioner of motor vehicles shall report to the house and senate
committees on transportation by January 15, 2009, on the best methods of
administering the issuance of distinctive registration plates, including
motorcycle plates, with the logo of the organization or group sponsoring or
requesting the plates. In addition to any other issue deemed appropriate by the
commissioner, the report shall consider the advisability of requiring a bond or
cash deposit and a minimum number of applicants before the plates may be
produced. The report shall also examine appropriate fees, the design of the
plates, such as standard plates with logo decals, and if a minimum number of
plates must be issued over a specific period in order for the program to
continue.
Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATES
Sec. 4 and this section shall take effect from passage, and the remainder of
the act shall take effect on January 1, 2009.
Approved: May 30, 2008
www.leg.state.vt.us