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An Act Regarding Motor Vehicle Registration Plate Numbers
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §461, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1999, c. 470, §4, is further amended to read:
 
1. Plate issue year.   In a year in which new registration plates are issued, the Secretary of State shall reserve until July 1st the same registration number for the succeeding registration year for a person who notifies in writing the Secretary of State prior to May 1st of that person's desire to retain that registration number. The fee for retention of the same registration number is $15, except that this fee does not apply for the retention of the registration number of a special veterans registration plate or a special disability registration plate for veterans under section 523, subsection 3.
 
The Secretary of State may issue a facsimile plate that is valid for a 90-day period during production of a reserved plate. A facsimile plate must be attached to the rear plate bracket.
 
If a person does not have a vehicle to register on May 1st, a registration number may be held for a maximum of 2 registration years by depositing with the Secretary of State $15 for each year; except that the registered owner of an antique vehicle may reserve the antique registration assigned to that person for 4 years by depositing the sum of $15 for each registration year. These fees are not refundable and may not be applied against the registration fee.
 
All numbers other than those reserved must be released and issued in rotation after July 1st.
 
A person wishing to select a number out of rotation may do so by paying the registration fee and a reserved number fee of $15.
 
A holder of vanity registration plates must pay the sum of $15 to reserve those letters or combination of letters and numbers, which is credited toward the renewal fee.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides that the $15 fee imposed to retain a motor vehicle registration number in a year in which new registration plates are issued does not apply for the retention of the registration number of a special veterans registration plate or a special disability registration plate for veterans.