Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §524, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1997, c. 31, §1, is further amended to read:

4. Purple Heart medal recipients; special license plates. The Secretary of State, on application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, the registration fee required by section 501 and a one-time additional fee of $10, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of Purple Heart registration plates, to be used in lieu of regular registration plates, to a person who is a Purple Heart medal recipient. The one-time additional fee of $10 is credited to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs.

An application for Purple Heart plates must be accompanied by proof that the applicant has been awarded the Purple Heart medal. The Secretary of State shall verify the documentation presented by the applicant. Misrepresentation of documents is in violation of section 2103, subsection 5.

The Secretary of State may only issue Purple Heart plates for display on an automobile or pickup truck. A Purple Heart recipient may be issued Purple Heart plates for no more than 2 vehicles.

The surviving spouse of a Purple Heart recipient issued plates in accordance with this subsection may retain and display the Purple Heart plates as long as the surviving spouse remains unmarried. Upon remarriage, the surviving spouse may not use the Purple Heart plates on a motor vehicle, but may retain them as a keepsake. Upon the death of the surviving spouse, the family may retain the Purple Heart plates, but may not use them on a motor vehicle.

The Secretary of State shall determine the design of the Purple Heart plate. Upon request and as provided by section 453, the Secretary of State shall issue Purple Heart plates that are also vanity plates. Purple Heart vanity plates are issued in accordance with this section and section 453. The , except the annual service fee of $15 for vanity plates is credited to the Highway Fund waived.

A Purple Heart recipient or the surviving spouse of a Purple Heart recipient, who does not operate a motor vehicle or register a motor vehicle and who otherwise qualifies for the issuance of special Purple Heart registration plates may apply to the Secretary of State for a special single plate recognizing that award.