Section 456-D - We Support Our Troops registration platesThe Secretary of State shall issue registration plates, referred to in this section as "We Support Our Troops plates," to support Maine troops and their families in accordance with this section and section 468, except that the provisions of section 468, subsection 7 do not apply. [2007, c. 703, §7(RPR).]
1.We Support Our Troops plates. The Secretary of State, upon receiving an application and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, the registration fee required by section 501 or section 504 and the administrative fee and contribution provided for in subsection 2, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of We Support Our Troops plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates. These plates must bear identification numbers and letters. [2017, c. 327, §7(AMD).]
2.Administrative fee and contribution to special programs. A person may contribute funds for the purposes of providing financial assistance to members of the Maine National Guard and their families or residents of the State who are members of the Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States and their families for emergencies and other special needs by applying for the We Support Our Troops plates and submitting, in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee required under section 501, a sum of $20, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: A. Ten dollars to the Maine Military Family Relief Fund as established in Title 37-B, section 158; [2009, c. 481, §2(AMD).]B. Nine dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and [2007, c. 703, §7(RPR).]C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. [2007, c. 703, §7(NEW).] [2009, c. 481, §2(AMD).]
3.Renewal fee. In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee required under section 501, the annual renewal contribution for We Support Our Troops plates is $15, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: A. Ten dollars to the Maine Military Family Relief Fund as established in Title 37-B, section 158; [2009, c. 481, §3(AMD).]B. Four dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and [2007, c. 703, §7(RPR).]C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. [2007, c. 703, §7(NEW).] [2009, c. 481, §3(AMD).]
4.Design. A sponsor must submit a design for the We Support Our Troops plates to the Secretary of State for approval or modification in accordance with section 468, subsection 1-B. The design must include the shape of the boundaries of the State of Maine, with an image of a curled ribbon superimposed over the shape of the State, with the words "We Support Our Troops" printed along the bottom of the plate. The Secretary of State shall provide the final design to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters prior to manufacture of the plates. The Secretary of State shall issue upon request We Support Our Troops plates that are also vanity plates. We Support Our Troops plates are issued in accordance with the provisions of this section and section 453. [2023, c. 271, §4(AMD).]
5.Duplicate plates prohibited. The Secretary of State shall issue a We Support Our Troops plate in a 3-number and 3-letter combination sequence. Vanity plates may not duplicate vanity plates issued in another class of plate. [2007, c. 703, §7(RPR).]
6.Weight limit.[2017, c. 327, §8(RP).]
7.Administration of fees. On a quarterly basis, the Secretary of State shall transfer the revenue from the issuance and renewal of the We Support Our Troops plates to the Treasurer of State for deposit and crediting pursuant to subsections 2 and 3. The Treasurer of State shall reimburse the sponsor $20,000 of the original payment from the Highway Fund after the issuance of the first 2,000 registration plates under this section.
[2009, c. 481, §4(AMD).]
8.We Support Our Troops Advisory Board.[2009, c. 481, §5(RP).]
9.Date of first issue.[2007, c. 703, §7(RP).]
Amended by 2023SP1, c. 271,§ 4, eff. 6/23/2023.Amended by 2018, c. 327,§ 8, eff. 8/1/2018.Amended by 2018, c. 327,§ 7, eff. 8/1/2018.RR 2007, c. 1, § 13 (COR) . 2007, c. 229, § 2 (NEW) . 2007, c. 456, § 3 (NEW) . 2007, c. 703, § 7 (RPR) . 2009, c. 481, §§2-5 (AMD) .