Maine Revised Statutes
Article 3: REGISTRATION PLATES
29-A §456-A. Lobster registration plates

§456-A. Lobster registration plates
1. Lobster plates. The Secretary of State, upon receiving an application and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, the annual motor vehicle registration fee required by section 501 or section 504 and the contribution provided for in subsection 2, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of lobster special registration plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates. These plates must bear identification numbers and letters. The Secretary of State may issue lobster plates to certain state-owned vehicles in accordance with section 517.
[PL 2017, c. 327, §2 (AMD).]
2. Contribution to Lobster Research, Education and Development Fund. In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed by law for the particular class of vehicle registered, the initial contribution for lobster plates is $20, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows:
A. Ten dollars to the Lobster Research, Education and Development Fund established in Title 12, section 6465; [PL 2007, c. 703, §4 (AMD).]
B. Nine dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and [PL 2007, c. 703, §4 (AMD).]
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. [PL 2007, c. 703, §4 (NEW).]
[PL 2007, c. 703, §4 (AMD).]
3. Design. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative under Title 12, section 6455‑A, shall determine a design for the lobster special registration plates. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters shall review the final design prior to manufacture of the plates. The Secretary of State shall issue upon request lobster plates that are also vanity plates. Lobster plates are issued in accordance with the provisions of this section and section 453.
[PL 2021, c. 491, §4 (AMD).]
4. Renewal fee. In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed by law, the annual renewal contribution for lobster special registration plates is $15, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows:
A. Ten dollars to the Lobster Research, Education and Development Fund established in Title 12, section 6465; [PL 2007, c. 703, §4 (AMD).]
B. Four dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and [PL 2007, c. 703, §4 (AMD).]
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. [PL 2007, c. 703, §4 (NEW).]
[PL 2007, c. 703, §4 (AMD).]
5. Reimbursement for production and issuance costs for first 2,000 plates.
[PL 2007, c. 703, §4 (RP).]
6. Reimbursement for production and issuance costs for plates produced after first 2,000 plates.
[PL 2007, c. 703, §4 (RP).]
6-A. Transfer of fees. On a quarterly basis, the Secretary of State shall transfer the revenue from the issuance and renewal of the lobster registration plates to the Treasurer of State for deposit and crediting pursuant to subsections 2 and 4.
[PL 2007, c. 703, §4 (NEW).]
7. Duplicate plates. The Secretary of State shall issue a lobster plate in a 3-number and 3-letter combination sequence. Vanity plates may not duplicate vanity plates issued in another class of plate.
[PL 2001, c. 623, §4 (NEW).]
8. Eligibility; trucks.
[PL 2015, c. 473, §§5, 6 (AMD); PL 2017, c. 327, §3 (RP).]
9. Date of first issue. The Secretary of State shall issue the first lobster plate on or after May 1, 2003.
[PL 2001, c. 623, §4 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2001, c. 623, §4 (NEW). PL 2007, c. 383, §3 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 703, §4 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 435, §2 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 356, §3 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 309, §4 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 473, §§5, 6 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 327, §§2, 3 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 491, §4 (AMD).