An Act Honoring Gold Star Families through Special Registration Plates
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1529
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: MOULTON, COLLINS, BEAUDOIN, BEAULIEU, BRIGGS, BURNS, CEBRA, COTTA, CRAY, CROCKETT, CUSHING, DAVIS, DOW, ESPLING, FOSTER, GIFFORD, GILLWAY, HAMPER, HANLEY, HARLOW, HARMON, HOGAN, JOHNSON, KESCHL, KNAPP, KNIGHT, LIBBY, LONG, MAKER, MALABY, MITCHELL, NASS, NEWENDYKE, O'CONNOR, PARKER, PICCHIOTTI, PLUMMER, RICHARDSON, SARTY, SOCTOMAH, THERIAULT, TIMBERLAKE, VOLK, WATERHOUSE, WEAVER, WILLETTE, WOOD, THOMAS
Amends: 29-A MRSA §515-C, 29-A MRSA §524-B

Legislative Document 
No. 1529 
H.P. 1123 
House of Representatives, April 28, 2011 
An Act Honoring Gold Star Families through Special Registration 
Plates 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative MOULTON of York.  (GOVERNOR'S BILL) 
Cosponsored by Senator COLLINS of York and 
Representatives: BEAUDOIN of Biddeford, BEAULIEU of Auburn, BRIGGS of Mexico, 
BURNS of Whiting, BURNS of Alfred, CEBRA of Naples, CORNELL du HOUX of 
Brunswick, COTTA of China, CRAY of Palmyra, CROCKETT of Bethel, CUSHING of 
Hampden, DAVIS of Sangerville, DOW of Waldoboro, ESPLING of New Gloucester, 
FOSTER of Augusta, GIFFORD of Lincoln, GILLWAY of Searsport, HAMPER of Oxford, 
HANLEY of Gardiner, HARLOW of Portland, HARMON of Palermo, HOGAN of Old 
Orchard Beach, JOHNSON of Eddington, JOHNSON of Greenville, KESCHL of Belgrade, 
KNAPP of Gorham, KNIGHT of Livermore Falls, LIBBY of Waterboro, LONG of Sherman, 
MAKER of Calais, MALABY of Hancock, McCLELLAN of Raymond, McFADDEN of 
Dennysville, McKANE of Newcastle, MITCHELL of the Penobscot Nation, NASS of Acton, 
NEWENDYKE of Litchfield, O'CONNOR of Berwick, PARKER of Veazie, PICCHIOTTI of 
Fairfield, PLUMMER of Windham, RICHARDSON of Carmel, SARTY of Denmark, 
SOCTOMAH of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, THERIAULT of Madawaska, TIMBERLAKE of 
Turner, VOLK of Scarborough, WATERHOUSE of Bridgton, WEAVER of York, 
WILLETTE of Mapleton, WILLETTE of Presque Isle, WOOD of Sabattus, Senator: 
THOMAS of Somerset. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §515-C is enacted to read: 
§515-C.  Gold star family motorcycle registration plates 
Notwithstanding the requirements of 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 gold star family motorcycle registration 
plate, to be used in lieu of a regular registration plate, to a family member who is eligible 
to receive a gold star lapel button under 10 United States Code, Section 1126 (2010).  For 
purposes of this section, "family member" means a widow, widower, mother, father, 
stepmother, stepfather, mother through adoption, father through adoption, foster parent 
who stood in loco parentis, grandmother, grandfather, child, stepchild and child through 
adoption. 
1.  Application.  An application for gold star family motorcycle registration plates 
must be accompanied by proof that the applicant is eligible for the gold star lapel button.  
The Secretary of State shall verify the documentation presented by the applicant. 
Misrepresentation of documents is in violation of section 2103, subsection 5. 
An applicant may be issued gold star family motorcycle registration plates for no more 
than 2 motorcycles. 
2.  Design.  The Secretary of State shall determine the design of the gold star family 
motorcycle registration plate.  Upon request and as provided by section 453, the Secretary 
of State shall issue gold star family motorcycle registration plates that are also vanity 
plates. Gold star family 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. 
The Secretary of State shall begin issuing gold star family motorcycle registration 
plates in accordance with this section no later than January 1, 2012. 
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §524-B is enacted to read: 
§524-B.  Gold star family registration plates 
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 registration plates, 
to be used in lieu of regular registration plates, to a person who is eligible to receive a 
gold star lapel button under 10 United States Code, Section 1126 (2010). For purposes of 
this section, "family member" means a widow, widower, mother, father, stepmother, 
stepfather, mother through adoption, father through adoption, foster parent who stood in 
loco parentis, grandmother, grandfather, child, stepchild and child through adoption. 
1.  Application.  An application for gold star family registration plates must be 
accompanied by proof that the applicant is eligible for the gold star lapel button. 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 registration plates for display only on 
an automobile or pickup truck. An applicant may be issued gold star family registration 
plates for no more than 2 vehicles. 
2.  Design.  The Secretary of State shall determine the design of the gold star family 
registration plate.  Upon request and as provided by section 453, the Secretary of State 
shall issue gold star family registration plates that are also vanity plates.  Gold star family 
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 person who does not operate a motor vehicle or register a motor vehicle and who 
otherwise qualifies for the issuance of special gold star family 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 plates may not be attached to a motor vehicle. Only one 
plate may be issued to each recipient and a one-time fee of $5 charged. 
The Secretary of State shall begin issuing gold star family registration plates in 
accordance with this section no later than January 1, 2012. 
SUMMARY 
This bill allows the Secretary of State to issue special gold star family registration 
plates for vehicles and motorcycles to certain family members eligible to receive gold star 
lapel buttons under 10 United States Code, Section 1126 (2010).