Vermont § 304 - Registration certificates; number plates; vanity and other special plates

§ 304. Registration certificates; number plates; vanity and other special plates

• (a) The Commissioner shall issue to the registrant of a motor vehicle a certificate of
  registration in the form the Commissioner may prescribe, on which shall appear the
  name of the registrant, his or her address, a brief description of the vehicle registered,
  and the date of registration. The Commissioner shall also assign to each motor vehicle
  registered a distinctive number and issue a number plate or plates showing the assigned
  number. The number plate or plates issued shall be of the material, size, shape,
  and color, and with the numerals or letters thereon, the Commissioner may determine,
  and shall be reflectorized in part or in whole. The certificate and number plates
  shall be delivered free of charge by the Commissioner to the registrant as soon as
  may be after receipt and acceptance of application for registration. (b) The authority to issue vanity motor vehicle number plates or special number plates
  for safety organizations and service organizations shall reside with the Commissioner.
  Determination of compliance with the criteria contained in this section shall be within
  the discretion of the Commissioner. Series of number plates for safety and service
  organizations that are authorized by the Commissioner shall be issued in order of
  approval, subject to the operating considerations in the Department as determined
  by the Commissioner. The Commissioner shall issue vanity and special organization
  number plates in the following manner: (1) Vanity plates. Subject to the restrictions of this section, vanity plates shall be issued at the
  request of the registrant of a motor vehicle unless the vehicle is registered under
  the International Registration Plan, upon application and upon payment of an annual
  fee of $58.00 in addition to the annual fee for registration. The Commissioner shall
  not issue two sets of plates bearing the same initials or letters unless the plates
  also contain a distinguishing number. Vanity plates are subject to reassignment if
  not renewed within 60 days of expiration of the registration. (2) Special organization plates. (A) For the purposes of this section: (i) “Safety organizations” are groups that provide police and fire protection, rescue
  squads, the Vermont National Guard, organizations required to respond to public emergencies,
  and amateur radio operators licensed by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
  To qualify for a special organization plate, safety organizations must have at least
  100 in-state members in good standing. (ii) “Service organization” includes congressionally chartered or noncongressionally chartered
  U.S. Military Service veterans’ groups and any group that: (I) has as a primary purpose service to the community through specific programs for the
  improvement of public health, education, or environmental awareness and conservation
  and is not limited to social activities; (II) has nonprofit status under Section 501(c)(3) or (10) of the U.S. Internal Revenue
  Code, as amended; (III) is registered as a nonprofit corporation with the Office of the Secretary of State;
  and (IV) except for a military veterans group, has at least 100 in-state members in good standing. (B) The officer of a safety organization or service organization may apply to the Commissioner
  to approve special plates indicating membership in a qualifying organization to be
  issued to organization members for a $21.00 special fee for each set of plates in
  addition to the annual fee for registration. The application shall include designation
  of an officer or member to serve as the principal contact with the Department and
  a distinctive name or emblem, or both, for use on the proposed special plate. The
  name and emblem shall not be objectively obscene or confusing to the general public
  and shall not promote, advertise, or endorse a product, brand, or service provided
  for sale. The organization’s name and emblem must not infringe on or violate a trademark,
  trade name, service mark, copyright, or other proprietary or property right, and the
  organization must have the right to use the name and emblem. After consulting with
  the principal contact, the Commissioner shall determine the design of the special
  plate on the basis that the primary purpose of motor vehicle number plates is vehicle
  identification. An organization may have only one design, regardless of the number
  of individual organizational units, squads, or departments within the State that may
  conduct the same or substantially similar activities. (C) After the plate design is finalized and an officer or the principal contact provides
  the Commissioner a written statement authorizing issuance of the plates, the organization
  shall deposit $2,600.00 with the Commissioner. Of this deposit, $500.00 shall be retained
  by the Department to recover costs of developing the organization plate. Notwithstanding
  32 V.S.A. § 502, the Commissioner may charge the actual costs of production of the plates against
  the fees collected and the balance shall be deposited in the Transportation Fund.
  Upon application, special plates shall be issued to a registrant of a vehicle registered
  at the pleasure car rate or of a truck registered for less than 26,001 pounds (but
  excluding trucks registered under the International Registration Plan) who furnishes
  the Commissioner satisfactory proof that the registrant is a member of an organization
  that has satisfied the requirements of this subdivision (b)(2). For each of the first
  100 applicants to whom sets of plates are issued, the $21.00 special plate fee shall
  not be collected and shall be subtracted from the balance of the deposit. When the
  $2,100.00 balance of the deposit is depleted, applicants shall be required to pay
  the $21.00 fee as provided for in subdivision (2)(B) of this subsection. No organization
  shall charge its members any additional fee or premium charge for the authorization,
  right, or privilege to display special number plates, but any organization may recover
  up to $2,100.00 from applicants for the special plates. (D) When an individual’s membership in a qualifying organization ceases or is terminated,
  the individual shall immediately surrender any special registration plates issued
  under this subsection to the Commissioner. However, a retired member of the Vermont
  National Guard may renew or, upon payment of a $10.00 fee, acquire the special guard
  plates after notification of eligibility for retired pay has been received. (c) The Commissioner shall issue registration numbers 101 through 9999, which shall be
  known as reserved registration numbers, for pleasure cars, trucks registered for less
  than 26,001 pounds, and motorcycles in the following manner: (1) A person holding a reserved registration number may retain the number for the ensuing
  registration period, provided application is made at least 60 days prior to expiration
  of the registration. (2) If the registrant does not renew the registration, the number may be reassigned to
  a member of the immediate family if application is made at least 60 days prior to
  expiration of the registration. As used in this subsection, “immediate family” means
  the spouse, household member, grandparents, parents, siblings, children, or grandchildren
  of the registrant. (3) The Commissioner shall restrict the issuance of these registrations to residents of
  this State and may restrict issuance to applicants who do not already have such a
  registration issued to them. (4) A person holding a reserved registration number on a pleasure car, a truck registered
  for less than 26,001 pounds, or a motorcycle may be issued the same reserved registration
  number for the other authorized vehicle types, provided that the person receives not
  more than one such plate or set of plates for each authorized vehicle type. (d) Vanity or special organization number plates, whether new or renewed, shall be issued
  in any combination or succession of numerals and letters, provided the total of the
  numbers and letters on any plate taken together does not exceed seven, and further
  provided the requested combination of letters and numerals does not duplicate or resemble
  a regular issue registration plate. The Commissioner may adopt rules for the issuance
  of vanity or special organization number plates to ensure that all plates serve the
  primary purpose of vehicle identification. The Commissioner may revoke any plate described
  in this subsection and shall not issue plates with combinations of letters or numbers
  that objectively, in any language: (1) are vulgar, scatological, or obscene, or constitute racial or ethnic epithets; (2) connote breast, genitalia, pubic area, or buttocks or relate to sexual or eliminatory
  functions; (3) refer to any intoxicant or drug; to the use, nonuse, distribution, or sale of an intoxicant
  or drug; or to a user, nonuser, or purveyor of an intoxicant or drug; (4) refer to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability status; (5) suggest a government or governmental agency; (6) suggest a privilege not given by law in this State; or (7) form a slang term, abbreviation, phonetic spelling, or mirror image of a word described
  in subdivisions (1) through (6) of this subsection. (e) [Repealed.] (f) Upon the request of a registrant of a motor vehicle with the previous issue number
  plates, the Commissioner shall issue current issue number plates bearing the same
  number as shown on the previous issue plates that are being replaced. The initial
  one-time fee for the plates shall be $29.00 in addition to the regular registration
  fee. Official plates and plates with numbers of 9999 or lower are specifically exempted. (g) Number plates bearing the Vermont Coat of Arms may be issued only to the Governor,
  members of the Vermont congressional delegation, and members of the General Assembly. (h) The Department, on a quarterly basis, shall provide information to licensed inspection
  stations for distribution to the owners of motor vehicles during the annual inspection
  of their motor vehicles. That information shall encourage the proper management of
  used oil and shall include the telephone number of a recycling hotline that residents
  may call to determine the availability of a collection service that accepts used oil
  at the curb or otherwise to find the nearest location to recycle used oil. (i) The Department and the Agency of Natural Resources shall work cooperatively regarding
  opportunities to provide information to the public with respect to the proper management
  of used oil and shall take appropriate steps to implement efficient and effective
  information distribution measures mutually agreed upon by the Department and the Agency. (j) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall, upon proper application, issue special plates
  to Vermont veterans, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(2) and including an individual disabled during active military, naval, air, or space
  service, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(24), and to members of the U.S. Armed Forces, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(10), for use on vehicles registered at the pleasure car rate, on vehicles registered
  at the motorcycle rate, and on trucks registered for less than 26,001 pounds and excluding
  vehicles registered under the International Registration Plan. The type and style
  of the plates shall be determined by the Commissioner and the Vermont Office of Veterans’
  Affairs. An applicant shall apply on a form prescribed by the Commissioner, and the
  applicant’s eligibility as a member of one of the groups recognized will be certified
  by the Office of Veterans’ Affairs. The plates shall be reissued only to the original
  holder of the plates or the surviving spouse. The Commissioner may adopt rules to
  implement the provisions of this subsection. Except for new or renewed registrations,
  applications for the issuance of plates under this subsection shall be processed in
  the order received by the Department subject to normal workflow considerations. The
  costs associated with developing new emblems shall be borne by the Department of Motor
  Vehicles. (k)(1) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall, upon proper application, issue special gold
  star and next-of-kin plates for use only on vehicles registered at the pleasure car
  rate and on trucks registered for less than 26,001 pounds and excluding vehicles registered
  under the International Registration Plan, as follows: (A) Gold star plates shall be issued to the widow or widower, parents, and next of kin
  as defined in 10 U.S.C. § 1126(d) of members of the U.S. Armed Forces who lost their lives under the circumstances
  described in 10 U.S.C. § 1126(a). (B) Next-of-kin plates shall be issued to the widow or widower, parents, and next of kin
  as defined in 10 U.S.C. § 1126(d) of members of the Armed Forces not eligible for gold star plates under subdivision
  (A) of this subdivision (1) who lost their lives while serving on active duty or on
  active duty for training, or while assigned in a Reserve or National Guard unit in
  drill status, or as a result of injury or illness incurred during such service or
  assignment. (2) The type and style of the gold star and next-of-kin plates shall be determined by
  the Commissioner and the Vermont Office of Veterans’ Affairs, except that a gold star
  shall appear on one side of gold star plates and a distinct emblem shall be approved
  for next-of-kin plates. An applicant shall apply on a form prescribed by the Commissioner,
  and the applicant’s eligibility will be certified by the Office of Veterans’ Affairs.
  A plate shall be reissued only to the original holder of the plate. The Commissioner
  may adopt rules to implement the provisions of this subsection. Except for new or
  renewed registrations, applications for the issuance of gold star or next-of-kin plates
  shall be processed in the order received by the Department subject to normal workflow
  considerations. (l) Not later than July 1, 2026, the Commissioner shall begin issuing number and vanity
  plates for plug-in electric vehicles, as defined in subdivision 4(85) of this title, indicating that the vehicle is a plug-in electric vehicle. Not later than July 1,
  2028, all plug-in electric vehicles registered in this State shall display plates
  indicating that the vehicle is a plug-in electric vehicle. (Amended 1961, No. 54, § 2, eff. April 1, 1962; 1965, No. 154, § 1; 1967, No. 129, § 2; 1975, No. 218 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff. April 1, 1976; 1977, No. 258 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 1, 2, eff. April 19, 1978; 1979, No. 190 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1987, No. 112, § 5; 1987, No. 230 (Adj. Sess.); 1987, No. 241 (Adj. Sess.), § 13; 1989, No. 51, § 11; 1989, No. 82, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; 1991, No. 178 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Dec. 1, 1992; 1993, No. 220 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1993, No. 233 (Adj. Sess.), § 93, eff. June 21, 1994; 1995, No. 49, § 3, eff. April 20, 1995; 1995, No. 112 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1995, No. 189 (Adj. Sess.), § 17; 1997, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 1, 2; 1997, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. Nov. 11, 1998; 1999, No. 1, § 77c, eff. March 31, 1999; 1999, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 12e; 2001, No. 102 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. May 15, 2002; 2003, No. 109 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 1, 2; 2003, No. 160 (Adj. Sess.), § 62, eff. June 9, 2004; 2005, No. 175 (Adj. Sess.), § 27; 2007, No. 61, § 3; 2007, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 1-3, eff. May 30, 2008; 2009, No. 50, § 37; 2011, No. 46, § 3; 2011, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 11; 2011, No. 164 (Adj. Sess.), § 12; 2013, No. 189 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2015, No. 159 (Adj. Sess.), § 8; 2019, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 139; 2023, No. 78, § G.103, eff. January 1, 2024; 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 264, eff. July 1, 2024; 2023, No. 165 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 12, 49, eff. July 1, 2024; 2023, No. 165 (Adj. Sess.), § 39, eff. June 6, 2024.)