PRINTER'S NO.  93

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

156

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY PAYNE, GEIST, HESS, BARRAR, BOYD, GABLER, GROVE, KNOWLES, METZGAR, MILLER, MOUL, O'NEILL, PEIFER, PYLE, REICHLEY, ROCK, VULAKOVICH AND MARSHALL, JANUARY 21, 2011

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JANUARY 21, 2011  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

1

Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

2

Statutes, further providing for the registered gross weight

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limit of certain registration plates.

4

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Sections 1307(a.1), 1338(a)(9), 1341, 1342(a),

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(c) and (d), 1346, 1348, 1350, 1350.1, 1351, 1352, 1353,

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1354(a), 1355, 1356, 1357, 1358, 1359(a), 1360, 1362, 1363, 1364

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and 1365(a) of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

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Statutes are amended to read:

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§ 1307.  Period of registration.

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* * *

13

(a.1)  Seasonal registration.--Upon application on a form

14

prescribed by the department, the owner or lessee of a passenger

15

car, recreational motor vehicle, motorcycle, truck or farm

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vehicle which does not have a gross vehicle weight rating of

17

more than [10,000] 14,000 pounds may register the vehicle with

18

the department for a period of successive months of less than

 


1

one year. The applicant shall specify the period of months

2

during which the vehicle shall be registered. Except when the

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department initially converts a currently valid annual

4

registration to a seasonal registration, the annual fee

5

prescribed for the vehicle by Chapter 19 (relating to fees)

6

shall be paid in full by the applicant regardless of the number

7

of months chosen for registration by the applicant. Upon receipt

8

of the appropriate fee and the properly completed form,

9

including all information required by this chapter, the

10

department shall issue a seasonal registration that shall expire

11

on the last day of the expiration month chosen by the

12

registrant. No insurer of a vehicle belonging to any owner or

13

lessee who obtains a seasonal registration and who applies for

14

or receives a reduced automobile insurance premium on account

15

thereof shall be required to provide any contractual coverage,

16

whether in the form of the provision of a defense or the payment

17

of first-party or third-party benefits or otherwise, to the

18

owner or lessee in connection with any event occurring during

19

that part of the year in which the vehicle is not registered;

20

and such owner or lessee shall be treated for all purposes,

21

including, without limitation, ascertaining rights to stack

22

coverages and to uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage,

23

as a person who does not own that vehicle and has no duty to

24

carry financial responsibility on it for that part of the year.

25

* * *

26

§ 1338.  Person with disability plate and placard.

27

(a)  Person with disability plate.--On the application of any

28

person who:

29

* * *

30

(9)  is a person in loco parentis of a person specified

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in paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) or (8);

2

the department shall issue a special registration plate for one

3

passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight of not

4

more than [10,000] 14,000 pounds, designating the vehicle so

5

licensed as being used by a person with a disability. Special

6

plates for persons with disabilities may also be issued for

7

vehicles operated exclusively for the use and benefit of persons

8

with disabilities. In the case of a motorcycle, the department

9

shall issue a decal containing the international symbol for

10

access for persons with disabilities for display on the

11

registration plate.

12

* * *

13

§ 1341.  Special registration plates generally.

14

Upon request by the applicant, the department may issue

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registration plates consisting of any combination of numbers,

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letters or numbers and letters. These special plates may be

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issued for special groups or for special purposes and bear an

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appropriate designation. Special groups may charge a fee for

19

authorization to request a registration plate bearing the name

20

of the group. They shall have the same force and effect as

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regular registration plates. The department may refuse any

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combination of letters and numbers for cause and shall adopt

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reasonable rules and regulations for the issuance of the plates

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and for carrying out the provisions of this section. The

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applicant shall comply with all laws and regulations pertaining

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to registration including the payment of any additional fees.

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The department is authorized to reissue a combination of numbers

28

or letters for a personal plate if the department records reveal

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that no activity, such as renewal or transfer of the personal

30

registration plate, has occurred for a period of five or more

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consecutive years and provided that the personal registration

2

plate was never reported as lost or stolen. Whenever the

3

department reissues an inactive personal plate, the department

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may purge its records of all references to the previous owners

5

of that personal plate. The department shall, however, note upon

6

its records the reissuance of the personal plate and to whom the

7

plate was issued. The special registration plate may be used

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only on a passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight

9

of not more than [10,000] 14,000 pounds. If the vehicle is

10

licensed to a business that is not a member of the special

11

group, the department shall issue the plate as long as the

12

business owner or officer making application is a member of that

13

group.

14

§ 1342.  Veteran plates and placard.

15

(a)  Severely disabled veteran plate.--On the application of

16

a veteran whose service-connected disability is certified at

17

100% by the service unit of the armed forces in which the

18

veteran served or by the United States Veterans' Administration

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or who has a service-connected disability of the type enumerated

20

in section 1338 (relating to person with disability plate and

21

placard), the department shall issue a special registration

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plate designating the vehicle as belonging to a severely

23

disabled veteran. The registration plate shall have a white

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background, shall have blue numbers or letters as the department

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may determine, shall have the words "disabled veteran" in at

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least ten-point bold type inscribed in red at the bottom of the

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plate and shall include the international symbol for access for

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persons with disabilities. Only one special registration plate

29

shall be issued to a veteran under this section. It may be used

30

only on a passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight

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of not more than [10,000] 14,000 pounds. In the case of a

2

motorcycle, the department shall issue a decal containing the

3

international symbol for access for persons with disabilities

4

and the words "disabled veteran" for display on the registration

5

plate.

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* * *

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(c)  Disabled veteran plates.--On the application of any

8

veteran having a disability certified by the service unit of the

9

armed forces in which the veteran served or by the United States

10

Veterans' Administration as service-connected, the department

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shall issue a special registration plate designating the vehicle

12

as belonging to a disabled veteran. The registration plate shall

13

have a white background, shall have numbers or letters as the

14

department may determine and shall have the words "disabled

15

veteran" in at least ten-point bold type inscribed at the bottom

16

of the plate. Only one special registration plate shall be

17

issued to a veteran under this section. It may be used only on a

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passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight of not

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more than [10,000] 14,000 pounds.

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(d)  Prisoner of war plate.--On the application of an ex-

21

prisoner of war whose imprisonment while in the service of the

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armed forces of the United States is certified by the

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appropriate branch of the armed forces, the department shall

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issue a special registration plate designating the vehicle as

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belonging to an ex-prisoner of war. The registration plate shall

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contain the letters "POW" and such other numbers or letters as

27

the department may determine and shall have the words "prisoner

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of war" in at least ten-point bold type inscribed at the bottom

29

of the plate. Only one special registration plate shall be

30

issued to an ex-prisoner of war under this subsection. The

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special registration plate may be used only on a passenger car

2

or truck with a registered gross weight of not more than

3

[10,000] 14,000 pounds.

4

* * *

5

§ 1346.  Special plates for recipients of Purple Heart.

6

Upon application of any person who is a recipient of the

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Purple Heart, the department shall issue to such person a

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special registration plate designating the vehicle so licensed

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as belonging to a person who is a recipient of the Purple Heart.

10

A severely disabled veteran, as described in section 1342(a)

11

(relating to veteran plates and placard), who is qualified to

12

receive a plate under this section may also elect to receive a

13

placard under section 1342(b). The special registration plate

14

may be used only on a passenger car or truck with a registered

15

gross weight of not more than [10,000] 14,000 pounds.

16

§ 1348.  Special plates for Pearl Harbor survivors.

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Upon application of any person who is a survivor of Pearl

18

Harbor, accompanied by a fee of $20 which shall be in addition

19

to the annual registration fee and by such documentation as the

20

department shall require, the department shall issue to such

21

person a special registration plate designating the vehicle so

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licensed as belonging to a person who is a survivor of Pearl

23

Harbor. The special registration plate may be used only on a

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passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight of not

25

more than [10,000] 14,000 pounds.

26

§ 1350.  Special plates for veterans of Korean War.

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Upon application of any person who is a veteran of the Korean

28

War, accompanied by a fee of $20, which shall be in addition to

29

the annual registration fee, and by such documentation as the

30

department shall require, the department shall issue to the

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person a special registration plate designating the vehicle so

2

licensed as belonging to a person who is a veteran of the Korean

3

War. The special registration plate may be used only on a

4

passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight of not

5

more than [10,000] 14,000 pounds.

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§ 1350.1.  Special plates for recipients of Korean Defense

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Service Medal.

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Upon application of any person who is a recipient of the

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Korean Defense Service Medal, accompanied by a fee of $20 which

10

shall be in addition to the annual registration fee and by such

11

documentation as the department shall require, the department

12

shall issue to the person a special registration plate

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designating the vehicle so licensed as belonging to a person who

14

is a recipient of the Korean Defense Service Medal. The

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department shall design and produce the special registration

16

plate. The special registration plate may be used only on a

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passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight of not

18

more than [10,000] 14,000 pounds.

19

§ 1351.  Special plates for veterans of Persian Gulf War.

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Upon application of any person who is a veteran of the

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Persian Gulf War, accompanied by a fee of $20, which shall be in

22

addition to the annual registration fee, and by such

23

documentation as the department shall require, the department

24

shall issue to the person a special registration plate

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designating the vehicle so licensed as belonging to a person who

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is a veteran of the Persian Gulf War. The special registration

27

plate may be used only on a passenger car or truck with a

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registered gross weight of not more than [10,000] 14,000 pounds.

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§ 1352.  Wild resource conservation plate.

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The department, in consultation with the Wild Resource

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Conservation Board, shall design a special wild resource

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conservation registration plate. Upon application of any person,

3

accompanied by a fee of $35 which shall be in addition to the

4

annual registration fee, the department shall issue the plate

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for a passenger car, motor home, trailer or truck with a

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registered gross weight of not more than [10,000] 14,000 pounds.

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The Wild Resource Conservation Fund shall receive $15 of each

8

additional fee for this plate.

9

§ 1353.  Preserve our heritage registration plate.

10

The department, in consultation with the Pennsylvania

11

Historical and Museum Commission, shall design a special

12

preserve our heritage registration plate. Upon receipt of an

13

application, accompanied by a fee of $35 which shall be in

14

addition to the annual registration fee, the department shall

15

issue the plate for a passenger car, motor home, trailer or

16

truck with a registered gross weight of not more than [10,000] 

17

14,000 pounds. The Historical Preservation Fund shall receive

18

$15 of each additional fee for this plate.

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§ 1354.  Flagship Niagara commemorative registration plate.

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(a)  Plate.--The department, in consultation with the

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Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, shall design a

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Flagship Niagara commemorative registration plate. Upon

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application of any person, accompanied by a fee of $35 which

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shall be in addition to the annual registration fee, the

25

department shall issue the plate for a passenger car, motor

26

home, trailer or truck with a registered gross weight of not

27

more than [10,000] 14,000 pounds.

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* * *

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§ 1355.  Zoological plate.

30

The department, in consultation with the Pennsylvania

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Zoological Council, shall design a special zoological

2

registration plate. Upon application of any person, accompanied

3

by a fee of $35 which shall be in addition to the annual

4

registration fee, the department shall issue the plate for a

5

passenger car, motor home, trailer or truck with a registered

6

gross weight of not more than [10,000] 14,000 pounds. The

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Zoological Enhancement Fund shall receive $15 of the fee paid by

8

the applicant for the plate.

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§ 1356.  Special plates for recipients of Expeditionary Forces

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Medal.

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Upon application of any person who is a recipient of the

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Expeditionary Forces Medal, accompanied by a fee of $20 which

13

shall be in addition to the annual registration fee and by such

14

documentation as the department shall require, the department

15

shall issue to such person a special registration plate

16

designating the vehicle so registered as belonging to a person

17

who is a recipient of the Expeditionary Forces Medal. The

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special registration plate may be used only on a passenger car

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or truck with a registered gross weight of not more than

20

[10,000] 14,000 pounds.

21

§ 1357.  Special plates for World War II veterans.

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Upon application of any person who is a veteran of World War

23

II, accompanied by a fee of $20 which shall be in addition to

24

the annual registration fee and by such documentation as the

25

department shall require, the department shall issue to such

26

person a special registration plate carrying the symbol of a

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ruptured duck designating the vehicle so registered as belonging

28

to a person who is a veteran of World War II. The special

29

registration plate may be used only on a passenger car or truck

30

with a registered gross weight of not more than [10,000] 14,000

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1

pounds.

2

§ 1358.  DARE plate.

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The department, in consultation with the Pennsylvania

4

Commission on Crime and Delinquency, shall design a special drug

5

abuse resistance education (DARE) registration plate which

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utilizes the DARE logo or slogan in the design. Upon application

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of any person, accompanied by a fee of $35 which shall be in

8

addition to the annual registration fee, the department shall

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issue the plate for a passenger car, motor home, trailer or

10

truck with a registered gross weight of not more than [10,000] 

11

14,000 pounds. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program shall

12

receive $15 of each additional fee for this plate.

13

§ 1359.  Special plates for steelworkers.

14

(a)  General rule.--Upon application of any person who is a

15

steelworker, accompanied by a fee of $20 which shall be in

16

addition to the annual registration fee and by such

17

documentation as the department shall require, the department

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shall issue to such person a special registration plate

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designating the vehicle so licensed as belonging to a person who

20

is a steelworker. The special registration plate may be used

21

only on a passenger car or a truck with a registered gross

22

weight of not more than [10,000] 14,000 pounds. The plate shall

23

bear the likeness of the official emblem of the American Iron

24

and Steel Institute.

25

* * *

26

§ 1360.  Special plates for veterans of Vietnam Conflict.

27

Upon application of any person who is a veteran of the

28

Vietnam Conflict as that term is defined for the awarding of the

29

Vietnam Service Medal, accompanied by a fee of $20 in addition

30

to the annual registration fee and by such documentation as the

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1

department shall require, the department shall issue to the

2

person a special registration plate designating the vehicle so

3

licensed as belonging to a person who is a veteran of the

4

Vietnam Conflict. The special registration plate may be used

5

only on a passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight

6

of not more than [10,000] 14,000 pounds.

7

§ 1362.  Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans plate.

8

Upon application of any person who is a veteran of the

9

liberation or occupation of Iraq, accompanied by a fee of $20

10

which shall be in addition to the annual registration fee and by

11

documentation as the department shall require, the department

12

shall issue to the person a special registration plate

13

designating the vehicle so licensed as belonging to a person who

14

is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The special

15

registration plate may be used only on a passenger car or truck

16

with a registered gross weight of not more than [10,000] 14,000

17

pounds.

18

§ 1363.  Operation Enduring Freedom veterans plate.

19

Upon application of any person who is a veteran of the

20

liberation or occupation of Afghanistan, accompanied by a fee of

21

$20 which shall be in addition to the annual registration fee

22

and by documentation as the department shall require, the

23

department shall issue to the person a special registration

24

plate designating the vehicle so licensed as belonging to a

25

person who is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom. The

26

special registration plate may be used only on a passenger car

27

or truck with a registered gross weight of not more than

28

[10,000] 14,000 pounds.

29

§ 1364.  Special plates for veterans.

30

Upon application of any person who is an honorably discharged

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veteran of the armed forces of the United States or a reserve

2

component of the armed forces as defined in 51 Pa.C.S. § 7301 

3

(relating to definitions), accompanied by a fee of $20 which

4

shall be in addition to the annual registration fee and by such

5

documentation as the department shall require, the department

6

shall issue to the person a special registration plate

7

designating the vehicle as belonging to a person who is a

8

veteran of the armed forces of the United States. The special

9

registration plate may be used only on a passenger car or truck

10

with a registered gross weight of not more than [10,000] 14,000

11

pounds.

12

§ 1365.  Gold Star Family plate.

13

(a)  General rule.--Upon application of a family member of a

14

person who was killed while serving on active duty in the

15

military, accompanied by a fee of $20 which shall be in addition

16

to the annual registration fee and by such documentation as the

17

department shall require, the department shall issue to the

18

family member a special registration plate designating the

19

vehicle so licensed as belonging to a family member of a person

20

who was killed while serving on active duty in the military. The

21

department shall design and produce the special registration

22

plate carrying the Service Flag Gold Star rimmed with blue which

23

represents sacrifice to the cause of liberty and freedom. The

24

words "Gold Star Family" shall be clearly displayed along the

25

bottom of the plate. The special registration plate may be used

26

only on a passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight

27

of not more than [10,000] 14,000 pounds.

28

* * *

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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