An Act To Establish a Gold Star Family Member License Plate
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1274
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: McLEOD, RA YE, BEAuLIEU, CAMPBELL, CURTIS, GIFFORD, JOY, SARTY, COURTNEY
Amends: 29-A MRSA §524

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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124th MAl E LEGISLATURE 
FIRST REGULAR SESSIOt~~2009 
Legislative Document 
No. 1274 
H.P.893 
House of Representatives, March 31, 2009 
An Act To Establish a Gold Star Family Member License Plate 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative McLEOD of Lee. 
Cosponsored by Senator RA YE of Washington and 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BEAuLIEU of Auburn, CAMPBELL of Newfield, CURTIS of Madison, 
GIFFORD of Lin yO In, JOY of Crystal, SARTY of Denmark; TILTON of Hanington, Senator: 
COURTNEY of York. 
Printed on recycled poper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec.!. 29-A MRSA §524~ sub-§5 is enacted to'read: 
5. 
Gold star family' member medal recipients; special license plates. 
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Notwithstanding the requirements in section 468-A, the Secretary of State, on application 
and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, shall 
issue a registration certificate and a set of Gold Star Family Member registration plates, 
to be used in lieu of regular registration plates, to a person who is a gold star medal 
recipient under Title 37-B, section 3, subsection 1, paragraph D, subparagraph (17). 
An application for Gold Star Family Member plates must be accompanied by proof that 
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tlie applicant has been awarded the gold star 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 Gold Star Family Member plates for display only on an 
automobile or pickup truck. A.recipient may be issued Gold Star Family Member plates 
for no more than 2 vehicles. 
The surviving spouse of a person issued Gold Star Family Member plates in accordance 
with this subsection may retain and display the Gold Star Family Member plates as long 
as the surviving spouse remains unmarried. Upon remarriage, the surviving spouse may 
not use the Gold Star Family Member plates on a motor vehicle, but may retain them as a 
keepsake. Upon the death of the surviving spouse, the family may retain the Gold Star 
Family Member plates, but may not use them on a motor vehicle. 
The Secretary of State shall determine the design of the Gold Star Family Member plate. 
Upon request and as provided by section 453, the Secretary of State shall issue Gold Star 
Family Member plates that are also vanity plates. Goid Star Family Member vanity plates 
are issued in accordance with this section and section 453. The annual service fee of $15 
for vanity plates is credited to the Highway Fund. . 
A gold star medal recipient or the surviving spouse of a gold star medal recipient who' 
does not operate a motor vehicle or register a motor vehicle and who otherwise qualifies 
for the issuance of special Gold Star Family Member 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 
Gold Star Family Member plates may not be attached to a motor vehicle. Only one plate 
may be issued t6 each recipient and a one-time fee of $5 charged. 
The Secretary of State shall begin issuing Gold Star-Family Member plates in accordance 
with this subsection no later than November 1, 2010. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes the Gold Star Family Member license plate for gold star mec:ial 
recipients. Gold star medals are awarded by the Adjutant General to express formally 
condolence and appreciation to the closest surviving family members .of members of the 
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United States Armed Forces who, since September 11,2001, are killed in action or die as 
a consequence of injuries that result in the award of a Purple Heart medal.