Alaska § 28.10.161 - Registration plates to be furnished by department.

Full text of Alaska Alaska Statutes § 28.10.161 — Registration plates to be furnished by department., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 28.10.161. Registration plates to be furnished by department.

 (a) Except for a vehicle registered under AS 28.10.152 , the department, upon registering a vehicle, shall issue the owner one fully reflectorized registration plate for the vehicle. Except as specifically provided in AS 28.10.181 , the plate must remain with the vehicle as long as the vehicle is subject to registration under this chapter.

 (b) Every passenger vehicle registration plate, except as specifically provided in AS 28.10.181 , shall have displayed on it        (1) one of the following designs:             (A) the Alaska flag design, consisting of the Alaska flag, the traditional colors of yellow-gold and blue, and the slogan “The Last Frontier”;

 (B) the bear design, consisting of a standing grizzly bear in the center of the plate; the bear design shall be modeled after the 1976 bicentennial plate without the bicentennial symbol; or

 (C) the design celebrating the arts chosen by the commissioner through consultation with the Alaska State Council on the Arts; the commissioner shall choose a new design for the plates celebrating the arts every four years and discontinue issuance of the previous design;

 (2) the registration number assigned to the vehicle for which it is issued;

 (3) the name of this state, which may be abbreviated; and

 (4) the registration year number or expiration date for which time it is validated; the registration year number or expiration date may be part of the license plate or contained on a suitable sticker or tab device issued by the department; however, only one sticker or tab device may be issued for each plate or pair of plates, and the sticker or tab device must be affixed to the             (A) rear plate for noncommercial vehicles; or

 (B) front plate for commercial vehicles.

 (c) The department may not adopt a new or altered passenger vehicle registration plate, except as specifically provided in AS 28.10.181 , unless it substantially embodies the specifications of this section.

 (d) The department shall produce registration plates in each of the designs described in (b)(1) of this section. Upon registering a passenger vehicle, the owner shall select the plate design described in (b)(1) of this section that is to be issued by the department for the vehicle.

 (e) A person or organization owning a vehicle that is issued two registration plates by the department may elect to return one registration plate to the department. The registration plate that is not returned to the department shall be attached to the        (1) rear of the vehicle for which it is issued for a noncommercial vehicle; or

 (2) front of the vehicle for which it is issued if the vehicle is a commercial vehicle.

Source: official Alaska text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Alaska § 28.10.161

What does Alaska Statutes § 28.10.161 cover?

Section 28.10.161 ("Registration plates to be furnished by department.") is part of the Alaska Statutes, the codified statutory law of Alaska. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Alaska § 28.10.161?

A common citation format is "Alaska Statutes § 28.10.161" (Alaska). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Alaska law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Alaska official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Alaska attorney.

How does Alaska § 28.10.161 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Alaska can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Alaska.