Subdivision 1. General requirements; fees. (a) On payment of a fee in the amount specified for special plates under section 168.12, subdivision 5, for each set of two plates, or for a single plate in the case of a motorcycle plate, payment of the registration tax required by law, and compliance with other applicable laws relating to vehicle registration and licensing, as applicable, the commissioner shall issue:
(1) special veteran's plates to an applicant who served in the active military service in a branch of the armed forces of the United States or of a nation or society allied with the United States in conducting a foreign war, was discharged under honorable conditions, and is a registered owner of a passenger automobile, recreational motor vehicle, or one-ton pickup truck, but which is not a commercial motor vehicle as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 16; or
(2) a veteran's special motorcycle plate as described in subdivision 2, paragraph (a), (e), (f), (h), (i), (j), or (m), or another special plate designed by the commissioner to an applicant who is a registered owner of a motorcycle and meets the criteria listed in this paragraph and in subdivision 2, paragraph (a), (e), (f), (h), (i), (j), or (m). Plates issued under this clause must be the same size as regular motorcycle plates. Special motorcycle license plates issued under this clause are not subject to section 168.1293.
(b) The additional fee is payable for each set of veteran's plates, is payable only when the plates are issued, and is not payable in a year in which stickers are issued instead of plates.
(c) The veteran must have a certified copy of the veteran's discharge papers, indicating character of discharge, at the time of application. If an applicant served in the active military service in a branch of the armed forces of a nation or society allied with the United States in conducting a foreign war and is unable to obtain a record of that service and discharge status, the commissioner of veterans affairs may certify the applicant as qualified for the veterans' plates provided under this section.
Subd. 2. Design. The commissioner of veterans affairs shall design the emblem for the veterans' special plates, subject to the approval of the commissioner, that satisfy the following requirements:
(a) For a Vietnam veteran who served after July 1, 1961, and before July 1, 1978, in the active military service in a branch of the armed forces of the United States or a nation or society allied with the United States the special plates must bear the inscription "VIETNAM VET."
(b) For a veteran stationed on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, or offshore, during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the special plates must bear the inscription "PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR."
(c) For a veteran who served during World War II, the plates must bear the inscription "WORLD WAR VET."
(d) For a veteran who served during the Korean Conflict, the special plates must bear the inscription "KOREAN VET."
(e) For a combat wounded veteran who is a recipient of the Purple Heart medal, the plates must bear the inscription "COMBAT WOUNDED VET" and have a facsimile or an emblem of the official Purple Heart medal.
A member of the United States armed forces who is serving actively in the military and who is a recipient of the Purple Heart medal is also eligible for this license plate. The commissioner of public safety shall ensure that information regarding the required proof of eligibility for any applicant under this paragraph who has not yet been issued military discharge papers is distributed to the public officials responsible for administering this section.
(f) For a Persian Gulf War veteran, the plates must bear the inscription "GULF WAR VET." For the purposes of this section, "Persian Gulf War veteran" means a person who served on active duty after August 1, 1990, in a branch of the armed forces of the United States or a nation or society allied with the United States or the United Nations during Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, or other military operation in the Persian Gulf area combat zone as designated in United States Presidential Executive Order No. 12744, dated January 21, 1991.
(g) For a veteran who served in the Laos War after July 1, 1961, and before July 1, 1978, the special plates must bear the inscription "LAOS WAR VET."
(h) For a veteran who is the recipient of:
(1) the Iraq Campaign Medal, the special plates must be inscribed with a facsimile of that medal and must bear the inscription "IRAQ WAR VET" directly below the special plate number;
(2) the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the special plates must be inscribed with a facsimile of that medal and must bear the inscription "AFGHAN WAR VET" directly below the special plate number;
(3) the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the special plates must be inscribed with a facsimile of that medal and must bear the inscription "GWOT VETERAN" directly below the special plate number; or
(4) the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the special plates must bear an appropriate inscription that includes a facsimile of that medal.
(i) For a veteran who is the recipient of the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the special plates must be inscribed with a facsimile of that medal and must bear the inscription "GWOT VETERAN" directly below the special plate number. In addition, any member of the National Guard or other military reserves who has been ordered to federally funded state active service under United States Code, title 32, as defined in section 190.05, subdivision 5b, and who is the recipient of the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, is eligible for the license plate described in this paragraph, irrespective of whether that person qualifies as a veteran under section 197.447.
(j) For a veteran who is the recipient of the Korean Defense Service Medal, the special plates must be inscribed with a facsimile of that medal and must bear the inscription "KOREAN DEFENSE SERVICE" directly below the special plate number.
(k) For a veteran who is a recipient of the Bronze Star medal, the plates must bear the inscription "BRONZE STAR VET" and have a facsimile or an emblem of the official Bronze Star medal.
(l) For a veteran who is a recipient of the Silver Star medal, the plates must bear the inscription "SILVER STAR VET" and have a facsimile or an emblem of the official Silver Star medal.
(m) For a woman veteran, the plates must bear the inscription "WOMAN VETERAN" and have a facsimile or an emblem as designated by the commissioners of veterans affairs and public safety.
Subd. 2a. [Repealed, 2008 c 350 art 1 s 97]
Subd. 3. [Repealed by amendment, 1Sp2005 c 6 art 2 s 8]
Subd. 4. Plates transfer. (a) On payment of a fee of $5, plates issued under subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (1), may be transferred to another passenger automobile or recreational motor vehicle, or one-ton truck described in subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (1), registered to the individual to whom the plates were issued.
(b) On payment of a fee of $5, a plate issued under subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (2), may be transferred to another motorcycle registered to the individual to whom the plate was issued.
Subd. 5. [Repealed by amendment, 1Sp2005 c 6 art 2 s 8]
Subd. 6. Rules. The commissioner may adopt rules under the Administrative Procedure Act to govern the issuance and use of the special plates authorized by this section.
1988 c 636 s 4; 1989 c 269 s 39; 1989 c 301 s 1; 1991 c 274 s 4; 1994 c 396 s 1,2; 1996 c 455 art 4 s 4,5; 1Sp2005 c 6 art 2 s 8; 2010 c 333 art 2 s 7; 2010 c 351 s 19-21; 2011 c 109 s 13; 2012 c 287 art 3 s 20; 2013 c 127 s 16; 2014 c 207 s 1,2; 2014 c 255 s 10; 2014 c 280 s 3; 1Sp2019 c 3 art 2 s 12
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation
Chapter 168 — Vehicle Registration, Taxation, Sale
Section 168.002 — Definitions.
Section 168.012 — Vehicles Exempt From Tax Or License Fees.
Section 168.013 — Vehicle Registration Taxes.
Section 168.0135 — Motor Vehicle Registration Self-service Kiosks.
Section 168.014 — Owner's Registration Certificate; Expiration.
Section 168.016 — Collection Of Tax Rate Increase.
Section 168.017 — Monthly Series Registration System.
Section 168.018 — Quarterly Registration Of Farm Trucks.
Section 168.0185 — Record Of Vehicle Registration; Disclosure.
Section 168.021 — Plates For Physically Disabled Persons.
Section 168.022 — Mandatory Tax Refund Due To Lemon Law.
Section 168.031 — Registration Exemption; Active Military Service.
Section 168.032 — Proportionate Refund To Person On Active Military Service.
Section 168.033 — May Pay Proportionate Part Of Tax.
Section 168.04 — Military Personnel; Exemptions.
Section 168.041 — Impounding Registration Plates.
Section 168.05 — [Held unconstitutional]
Section 168.053 — Drive-away In-transit License.
Section 168.054 — Liability Insurance Policy.
Section 168.056 — Towing Violation A Misdemeanor; Exceptions.
Section 168.057 — Fees Credited To Highway User Fund.
Section 168.09 — Registration; Reregistration.
Section 168.091 — 31-day Temporary Vehicle Permit.
Section 168.092 — 21-day Temporary Vehicle Permit.
Section 168.10 — Registration; Collector Vehicle.
Section 168.101 — Ownership And Registration By Minor; Prohibitions.
Section 168.102 — School Bus; Preregistration Inspection.
Section 168.105 — Classic Motorcycle Registration.
Section 168.11 — Registration Certificate.
Section 168.121 — Special Plates Remembering Victims Of Impaired Drivers.
Section 168.123 — Veterans; Special Plates.
Section 168.1235 — Veterans Service Group Emblems.
Section 168.124 — Special Plates For Medal Of Honor Recipients.
Section 168.125 — Special Plates For Former Prisoners Of War.
Section 168.1253 — Gold Star License Plate.
Section 168.1255 — "proud To Be A Veteran" Plate.
Section 168.1256 — Retired Law Enforcement Special Plates.
Section 168.126 — Commuter Vans; Registration, Special License Plates.
Section 168.127 — Fleet Vehicles; Registration, Fee.
Section 168.128 — Limousine Plates.
Section 168.1282 — "start Seeing Motorcycles" Special Plates.
Section 168.1284 — Minnesota 100 Club Plates.
Section 168.1285 — Minnesota Agriculture Plates.
Section 168.1286 — Honorary Consul Plates.
Section 168.129 — Special Collegiate Plates.
Section 168.1291 — Certain Special Plates; Uniform Design, Unique Emblems.
Section 168.1293 — Certain Special Plates; Authorization, Discontinuance.
Section 168.1294 — Law Enforcement Memorial Plates.
Section 168.1295 — State Parks And Trails Plates.
Section 168.1296 — Critical Habitat Plates.
Section 168.1297 — Special "rotary Member" Plates.
Section 168.1298 — Special "support Our Troops" Plates.
Section 168.1299 — Minnesota Golf Plates.
Section 168.13 — Proof Of Ownership.
Section 168.15 — Rights As To Registration Certificate And Plates.
Section 168.16 — Registration Tax Refund; Appropriation.
Section 168.17 — Suspension Of Registration.
Section 168.181 — Nonresidents, Reciprocity Agreements Or Arrangements.
Section 168.183 — Motor Vehicles Of Certain Nonresidents.
Section 168.185 — Usdot Numbers.
Section 168.187 — Interstate Registration And Reciprocity.
Section 168.201 — Denial Or Withdrawal Of Benefits And Privileges.
Section 168.211 — Subjection To State Laws Generally.
Section 168.221 — Commercial Vehicles; Taxes Or Fees.
Section 168.25 — Vehicles Used For Testing.
Section 168.26 — Certain Manufacturers Need Not Register.
Section 168.27 — Motor Vehicle Dealers; Violations, Penalties.
Section 168.2701 — Liability Of Lessors For Unpaid Traffic Fines.
Section 168.2702 — Motor Vehicle Leases; Indemnity Agreements.
Section 168.271 — Informational Labels On Pickup Trucks; Penalty.
Section 168.274 — Definitions.
Section 168.275 — Sale Of Motor Vehicle On Sunday Forbidden.
Section 168.276 — Suspension Or Revocation Of Dealer License.
Section 168.277 — Motor Vehicle Purchases; Disclosure.
Section 168.28 — Vehicles Subject To Tax; Exceptions.
Section 168.29 — Replacement Plates.
Section 168.301 — Vehicle Transfer Deadline; Fees; Suspension.
Section 168.31 — Registration Tax Payment.
Section 168.321 — New Vehicle Manufacturer's Statement.
Section 168.325 — Division Of Driver And Vehicle Services.
Section 168.326 — Expedited Driver And Vehicle Services; Fee.
Section 168.327 — Driver And Vehicle Record Fees.
Section 168.33 — Commissioner As Registrar Of Vehicles; Deputy Registrars.
Section 168.34 — Information Furnished.
Section 168.345 — Use Of Vehicle Registration Information.
Section 168.346 — Privacy Of Personal Information.
Section 168.35 — Intent To Escape Tax; Gross Misdemeanor.
Section 168.36 — Unlawful Use Of Unregistered Vehicle Certificate, Plates.
Section 168.37 — Plate Tabs Or Stickers; Monthly Registration System.
Section 168.381 — Manufacture Of Vehicle Plates; Appropriations.
Section 168.50 — [Held unconstitutional]
Section 168.51 — [Held unconstitutional]
Section 168.52 — [Held unconstitutional]
Section 168.53 — [Held unconstitutional]
Section 168.54 — Motor Vehicles, Transfer Of Ownership.
Section 168.61 — Intercity Bus.
Section 168.62 — Intercity Bus Registration.
Section 168.63 — Intercity Bus; Registrar Duties.
Section 168.64 — Intercity Bus Rules, Requirements.
Section 168.65 — Intercity Bus Violations.
Section 168.841 — Definition Of Rental Truck.
Section 168.842 — Registration And Taxation Of Rental Truck.
Section 168.843 — Registration And Taxation Of Rental Trailer.
Section 168.844 — Other Fleet Rental Vehicles.
Section 168.845 — Rules For Rental Trucks And Trailers.
Section 168.846 — Misdemeanor Violation Of Rental Vehicle Laws.