29-A M.R.S. § 453
This is the official text of 29-A M.R.S. § 453, part of Maine’s M.R.S — part of the compiled statutory law of Maine, published by the state as "M.R.S." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
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29-A §453. Vanity registration plates
Official statutory text
1. Vanity registration plates. The Secretary of State may issue registration plates that contain letters or a combination of letters and numbers for automobiles, taxi cabs, limousines, pickup trucks, trucks, motorcycles, motor homes or semitrailers and camp trailers. The number of characters appearing on a plate issued under this section may not exceed 7. The Secretary of State may not issue vanity plates for vehicles registered pursuant to section 504, subsection 2 , or section 512 , 531 or 532 . [PL 2001, c. 34, §1 (AMD).]
2. Fee. The annual administrative fee for a vanity registration plate is $25 in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee. The administrative fee must be credited to the General Highway Fund. A sum sufficient to defray the cost of this program must be allocated annually from the General Highway Fund. [PL 2025, c. 9, Pt. F, §1 (AMD).]
3. Duplicate plates. [PL 2003, c. 434, §8 (RP); PL 2003, c. 434, §37 (AFF).]
3-A. Restrictions. The Secretary of State may refuse to issue or may recall a vanity registration plate issued under this section that: A. [PL 2015, c. 206, §2 (RP).] B. [PL 2015, c. 206, §2 (RP).] C. Falsely suggests an association with a public institution or a government or government agency; [PL 2021, c. 232, §1 (AMD).] D. Is duplicative; [PL 2021, c. 232, §1 (AMD).] E. Consists of language that encourages violence or may result in an act of violence or other unlawful activity because of the content of the language requested by the registrant; [PL 2021, c. 232, §1 (AMD).] F. Is profane or obscene; [PL 2021, c. 232, §1 (NEW).] G. Makes a derogatory reference to age, race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry or national origin, religion or physical or mental disability; [PL 2021, c. 232, §1 (NEW).] H. Connotes genitalia or relates to sexual acts; or [PL 2021, c. 232, §1 (NEW).] I. Forms a slang term, abbreviation, phonetic spelling or mirror image of a word or term otherwise described in this subsection. [PL 2021, c. 232, §1 (NEW).] [PL 2021, c. 232, §1 (AMD).]
3-B. Appeals. An individual may appeal the Secretary of State's decision to refuse to issue or decision to recall a vanity registration plate pursuant to subsection 3‑A . The individual must file the appeal within 14 days from the date of the Secretary of State's initial decision with the vehicle services division of the bureau. In addition to following general hearing procedures as prescribed by section 2484 , the appeal process must adhere to the same adjudicatory proceedings process, including notice, evidentiary standard and public participation provisions, as outlined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 4 . [PL 2021, c. 232, §2 (NEW).]
3-C. Rules. The Secretary of State may adopt routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A to implement the provisions of this section. [PL 2021, c. 232, §3 (NEW).]
4. Radio plates. [PL 2013, c. 381, Pt. A, §1 (RP).]
5. Facsimile plates. The Secretary of State may issue a facsimile plate for a 60-day period during production of the semipermanent plate. The facsimile plate must be attached to the rear plate bracket. [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
2. Fee. The annual administrative fee for a vanity registration plate is $25 in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee. The administrative fee must be credited to the General Highway Fund. A sum sufficient to defray the cost of this program must be allocated annually from the General Highway Fund. [PL 2025, c. 9, Pt. F, §1 (AMD).]
3. Duplicate plates. [PL 2003, c. 434, §8 (RP); PL 2003, c. 434, §37 (AFF).]
3-A. Restrictions. The Secretary of State may refuse to issue or may recall a vanity registration plate issued under this section that: A. [PL 2015, c. 206, §2 (RP).] B. [PL 2015, c. 206, §2 (RP).] C. Falsely suggests an association with a public institution or a government or government agency; [PL 2021, c. 232, §1 (AMD).] D. Is duplicative; [PL 2021, c. 232, §1 (AMD).] E. Consists of language that encourages violence or may result in an act of violence or other unlawful activity because of the content of the language requested by the registrant; [PL 2021, c. 232, §1 (AMD).] F. Is profane or obscene; [PL 2021, c. 232, §1 (NEW).] G. Makes a derogatory reference to age, race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry or national origin, religion or physical or mental disability; [PL 2021, c. 232, §1 (NEW).] H. Connotes genitalia or relates to sexual acts; or [PL 2021, c. 232, §1 (NEW).] I. Forms a slang term, abbreviation, phonetic spelling or mirror image of a word or term otherwise described in this subsection. [PL 2021, c. 232, §1 (NEW).] [PL 2021, c. 232, §1 (AMD).]
3-B. Appeals. An individual may appeal the Secretary of State's decision to refuse to issue or decision to recall a vanity registration plate pursuant to subsection 3‑A . The individual must file the appeal within 14 days from the date of the Secretary of State's initial decision with the vehicle services division of the bureau. In addition to following general hearing procedures as prescribed by section 2484 , the appeal process must adhere to the same adjudicatory proceedings process, including notice, evidentiary standard and public participation provisions, as outlined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 4 . [PL 2021, c. 232, §2 (NEW).]
3-C. Rules. The Secretary of State may adopt routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A to implement the provisions of this section. [PL 2021, c. 232, §3 (NEW).]
4. Radio plates. [PL 2013, c. 381, Pt. A, §1 (RP).]
5. Facsimile plates. The Secretary of State may issue a facsimile plate for a 60-day period during production of the semipermanent plate. The facsimile plate must be attached to the rear plate bracket. [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
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