29-A M.R.S. § 524-B

1. Eligibility. Notwithstanding the requirements in section 468-A , the Secretary of State, upon 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. A person who is eligible to receive a gold star lapel button under 10 United States Code, Section 1126 (2010); [PL 2015, c. 17, §1 (AMD); PL 2015, c. 17, §3 (AFF).] B. A grandparent of a member of the United States Armed Forces, if that member dies after March 28, 1973 as a result of: (1) An international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the United States Secretary of Defense; or (2) Military operations while serving outside the United States, including the commonwealths, territories and possessions of the United States, as a part of a peacekeeping force; [PL 2015, c. 17, §1 (AMD); PL 2015, c. 17, §3 (AFF).] C. A person who is not eligible to receive a gold star lapel button under 10 United States Code, Section 1126 (2010) but who is eligible for a lapel button for next of kin of deceased personnel under 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 578.63 (2006); and [PL 2015, c. 17, §1 (NEW); PL 2015, c. 17, §3 (AFF).] D. A grandparent of a member of the United States Armed Forces, if that member dies while serving on active duty or while assigned in the reserve components of the United States Armed Forces or Army National Guard unit in a drill status. [PL 2015, c. 17, §1 (NEW); PL 2015, c. 17, §3 (AFF).] [PL 2019, c. 390, §2 (AMD).]

2. Application. An application for gold star family registration plates must be accompanied by proof that the applicant is eligible. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, 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 one vehicle. [PL 2015, c. 17, §1 (AMD); PL 2015, c. 17, §3 (AFF).]

3. Design. The Secretary of State shall determine the design of the gold star family registration plate. A person who does not operate a motor vehicle or register a motor vehicle and who otherwise qualifies for the issuance of 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 special single plates for recognition purposes only. Special single plates may not be attached to a motor vehicle. Only one special single plate may be issued to each recipient at no fee. [PL 2011, c. 246, §1 (NEW).]

4. Gold star family vanity plates. 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 registration plates are issued in accordance with this section and section 453 . [PL 2015, c. 17, §2 (NEW).]

The Secretary of State shall begin issuing gold star family registration plates in accordance with this section no later than October 1, 2011. [PL 2011, c. 246, §1 (NEW).]