An Act To Allow a Duplicate Vanity License Plate in a Different Classification of Plate
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0133
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: ROSEN, CELLI, PRATT
Amends: 29-A MRSA §456-A, 29-A MRSA §456-B, 29-A MRSA §456-C, 29-A MRSA §456-D, 29-A MRSA §456-E, 29-A MRSA §456-F, 29-A MRSA §468, 29-A MRSA §468-A, 29-A MRSA §523

Legislative Document 
No. 133 
S.P.52 
January 15, 2009 
An Act To Allow a Duplicate Vanity License Plate in a Different 
Classification of Plate 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator ROSEN of Hancock. 
Cosponsored by Representative CELLI of Brewer and 
Representative: PRATT of Eddington. 
Primed on recycled paper 
9tf)(J~ 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Be it enacted by the People ofthe State of Miline as follows: 
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §456-A,_ sub-§7, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 623, §4, is 
amended to read: 
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7. Numbering and lettering of plates. The Secretary of State shall issue a lobster 
plate in a 3-number and 3-letter combination sequence. Vanity nlates may not dunlicate 
v:mitv nlntsH iHHHsA in :mothsr claHH ofnlats. 
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §456-B, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 623, §4, IS 
amended to read: 
7. Numbering and lettering of plates. The Secretary of State shall issue a Maine 
Black Bears plate in a 3-numbetand 3-letter combination· sequence. Vanitv nlntsH mav 
not dunlicate vanity nlates iHfmed in another claAs ofnlate. 
Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §456-C, sub-§l, as amended by PL 2007, c. 240, Pt.LLLL, 
.13. 
§2, is further amended to read: 
1. 
Sportsman registration plates. 
The Secretary of State, upon receIvmg an 
application and evidence of payment of the registration fee required by section 501 and 
the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, shall issue a registration certificate and a 
set of sportsman plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates. These plates must 
bear identification numbers and letters. Vanity plates may not duplicate vanity plates 
issued in another class of plate. The Secretary of State shall begin issuing snoTismen 
sportsman registration plates by April 1 ,2008. 
Sec. 4. 29-A MRSA §456-D, sub-§5, as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 
703, §7, is amended to read: 
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 nlates mav 
not dunlicate vanit ... nlates issued in another class ofnIate. 
Sec .. 5. 29-A MRSA §456-E, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 547, §2, IS 
27.· . 
amended-to read: 
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7. Numbering and lettering of plates. The Secretary of State shall issue breast 
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. cancer support services special registration plates in a 3-number and 3-letter combination 
:Sequence: Vanitv nlnteH mrrv not dnnlicate vanitv nlatl'lH iHHued in another claHH ofnlate. 
Sec. 6. 29-A MRSA §456-F, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 703,§1O, is 
amended to read: 
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6. 
Numbering and lettering of plates. The Secretary of State shall issue an 
agriculture education plate in a 3-number and 3-letter combination sequence. ¥unity 
nlates mav not dunlicate vanit'.' nIateH issued in anothsr class ofnlate. 
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Sec. 7. 29-A MRSA §468, sub,:,,§6, as amended by PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. A, §33, is 
further amended to read: 
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6. 
Numbering, lettering and duplicate plates. Except as provided in section 
456-C, the Secretary of State shall issue a specialty license plate in a 3-number and 
3-letter combination sequence. Vanit .... nlates rnav not dunlicate vanit .... nlates issued in 
nnothsF Rln!';!'; ofnlnte 
Sec. 8. 29-A MRSA §468-A, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 652, Pt. B, §2 
and affected by §8, is amended to read: 
7. 
Numbering and lettering of plates. 
The Secretary of State shall issue a 
recognition license plate in a 3-number and 3-letter combination sequence. V:mitv nlnte!l 
rna .... not dunliaate vanit'\' nlats!'; iR!,;llsA in another ala!';!'; ofnlnte 
Sec. 9. 29 .. A MRSA §519, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 80, §l, is amended 
to read: 
7. Firefighter vanity plates. Effective March I, 2006 the Secretary of State shall 
issue firefighter registration plates that are also vanity plates. Firefighter registration 
vanity plates are issued in accordance with section 453. Firefighter registration vanity 
nlates may not dunlicate vanity re£'istmtion nlates in anv other class ofnlats. 
Sec. 10. 29-A MRSA §523, sub-§3-A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 376, §l, is 
amended to read: 
3-A. Motorcycle plates; veterans. In addition to any plate issued pursuant to 
subsection 3, the Secretary of State, on application and evidence of payment of the excise 
tax required by Title 36, section 1482, the registration fee required by section 515, 
subsection 1 and a one-time additional fee of $5, shall issue a registration certificate and a 
special veterans registration plate for one designated motorcycle owned or controlled by a 
person who has served in the United States Armed Forces and who has been honorably 
discharged. 
Each application must be accompanied by the applicant's Armed Forces Report of 
Transfer or Discharge, DD Form 214, or certification from the United States Department 
of Veterans Affairs or the appropriate branch of the United States Armed Forces 
verifying the applicant's military service and honorable discharge. 
All surplus revenue collected for issuance of the special veterans registration plates is 
retained by the Secretary of State to maintain and support this program. 
Upon request the Secretary of State shall issue special veterans registration plates for a 
motorcycle that are also vanity plates. These plates are issued in accordance with this 
section and section 453. Vanity plates issued under this subsection may not duplicate 
vanit .... nlats" i""ued in another cla"" ofnlate. 
The survIvmg spouse of a reCIpIent of a special veterans registration plate issued in 
accordance with this subsection may retain and display the plate as long as the surviving 
spouse remains unmarried. Upon remarriage, the surviving spouse may not use the plate 
on a motorcycle, but may retain it as a keepsake. Upon the death of the surviving spouse, 
the family may retain the plate, but may not use it on a motorcycle. 
The Secretary of State may not issue special commemorative decals .under subsection 5 or 
for use on special veterans registration plates for a motorcycle. 
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Sec. 11. 29-A MR.SA §524-A, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 683, §1, is 
amended to read: 
5. Numbering and lettering of plates. The Secretary of State shall issue Wabanaki 
plates in a 3-number and 3-letter combination sequence. Vanitv nlatsR rnav not rlunlicats 
vanity nlatsRiRRued in another c1asR ofnlats. 
SUMMAR.Y 
This bill repeals the prohibition that vanity plates may not duplicate vanity plates 
issued in another class of plate. 
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