A. The division shall issue special registration plates for up to two vehicles to any person who is a veteran and a bona fide purple heart medal recipient and who submits proof satisfactory to the division that the person has been awarded that medal, except that if a veteran is the recipient of more than two purple heart medals, the veteran shall be entitled to an additional special registration plate for each additional award of the purple heart medal. The plates shall have a distinctive design, different from the plates issued pursuant to Section 66-3-419 NMSA 1978, that emphasizes that the veteran is a purple heart recipient. No fee, including the regular registration fee applicable to the passenger motor vehicle, if any, shall be collected for the issuance of the special registration plates pursuant to this section. A person who is eligible for special registration plates pursuant to this section and also eligible for one or more special registration plates pursuant to Sections 66-3-406, 66-3-409, 66-3-411 and 66-3-412 NMSA 1978 shall be issued special registration plates pursuant to only one of those sections, the choice of which shall be made by the veteran.
B. No person shall falsely make any representation as being a purple heart veteran so as to be eligible to be issued special plates pursuant to this section when the person in fact is not a purple heart veteran.
C. Any person who violates the provisions of Subsection B of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.
History: 1978 Comp., § 66-3-414, enacted by Laws 1987, ch. 23, § 1; 1989, ch. 77, § 1; 1993, ch. 180, § 5; 1995, ch. 8, § 4; 1997, ch. 158, § 1; 2008, ch. 32, § 1; 2014, ch. 42, § 1.
The 2014 amendment, effective May 21, 2014, authorized the issuance of additional purple heart special registration plates; and in Subsection A, after "the person has been awarded that medal", added "except that if a veteran is the recipient of more than two purple heart medals, the veteran shall be entitled to an additional special registration plate for each additional award of the purple heart medal".
The 2008 amendment, effective May 14, 2008, in Subsection A, provided that the plates shall have a distinctive design that emphasizes that the veteran is a purple heart recipient.
The 1997 amendment, effective June 20, 1997, in Subsection A, inserted "for up to two vehicles" following "special registration plates" in the first sentence; inserted "special registration plates pursuant to" preceding "only one" and substituted "of those sections, the choice of which shall be made by the veteran" for "special registration plate of his choice" in the third sentence; and made minor stylistic changes.
The 1995 amendment, effective June 16, 1995, deleted former Subsection D which barred issuance of special registration plates under this section after July 1, 1995.
The 1993 amendment, effective July 1, 1993, added Subsection D.
The 1989 amendment, effective June 16, 1989, in Subsection A, substituted "division" for "motor vehicle division of the transportation department" near the beginning of the first sentence and made minor stylistic changes in that sentence and substituted "including" for "in addition to" in the second sentence.
Structure New Mexico Statutes
Part 5 - SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES
Section 66-3-401 - Operation of vehicles under dealer plates.
Section 66-3-401.1 - Use of vehicles with dealer plates by coaches and athletic directors.
Section 66-3-402 - Application for dealer plates.
Section 66-3-403 - Expiration of dealer plates.
Section 66-3-404 - Dealer plates not transferable.
Section 66-3-405 - Special plates for members of congress.
Section 66-3-406 - Special registration plates for private vehicles.
Section 66-3-407 - Special plates for private vehicles used in public service.
Section 66-3-407.1 - Special registration plates.
Section 66-3-408 - Special registration plates for recreational vehicles.
Section 66-3-409 - Special registration plates; medal of honor recipients.
Section 66-3-412.1 - Special motorcycle registration plates for armed forces veterans.
Section 66-3-413 - Special registration plates; national guard members.
Section 66-3-414 - Special registration plates for purple heart veterans.
Section 66-3-415 - Special registration plates; Pearl Harbor survivors.
Section 66-3-416 - Special collegiate registration plate; procedures; fee.
Section 66-3-417 - Radio station licensees; special registration plates; fee.
Section 66-3-419 - Special registration plates; armed forces veterans.
Section 66-3-420 - Special children's artwork registration plate; procedures; fee.
Section 66-3-422 - Special registration plates; firefighters and volunteer firefighters.
Section 66-3-423 - Year-of-manufacture license plates; procedures; fees.
Section 66-3-424 - Standardized special registration plates with logos.
Section 66-3-424.1 - Special registration plates for retired New Mexico letter carriers.
Section 66-3-424.2 - Repealed.
Section 66-3-424.3 - Special pet care registration plates.
Section 66-3-424.6 - Special wildlife artwork registration plates; procedures; fee.
Section 66-3-424.7 - Registration plates; members of the civil air patrol, New Mexico wing.
Section 66-3-424.8 - Special route 66 commemorative registration plate.
Section 66-3-424.9 - Standardized special registration plates; retired firefighters.
Section 66-3-424.10 - Special registration plates for armed forces retirees.
Section 66-3-424.11 - Special registration plates for active duty uniform service members.
Section 66-3-424.12 - Special registration plates for search and rescue members.
Section 66-3-424.14 - Special registration plates; New Mexico high school rodeo association.
Section 66-3-424.15 - Special organ donation awareness registration plate; procedures; fee.
Section 66-3-424.16 - Special registration plates; emergency medical technicians.
Section 66-3-424.17 - Special patriot registration plate.
Section 66-3-424.18 - Special registration plates for adoption awareness.
Section 66-3-424.20 - Special registration plates for women armed forces veterans.
Section 66-3-424.21 - Special motorcycle registration plates for women armed forces veterans.
Section 66-3-424.22 - Special breast cancer awareness registration plate.
Section 66-3-424.23 - Special city of Las Cruces registration plate; procedures; fee; appropriation.
Section 66-3-424.24 - Registration plates; gold star families; submission of proof; penalty.
Section 66-3-424.25 - Special commemorative scouting registration plate; procedures; fee.
Section 66-3-424.26 - Special Santa Fe four hundredth anniversary registration plate.
Section 66-3-424.27 - Special bass fishing registration plates; procedures; fee.
Section 66-3-424.29 - Special New Mexico state 4-H registration plate.
Section 66-3-424.30 - Special farm and ranch community registration plate.
Section 66-3-424.31 - Special blood donor recognition registration plate.
Section 66-3-424.32 - Special New Mexico Amigos registration plate.
Section 66-3-424.33 - Special autism awareness registration plate.
Section 66-3-424.34 - Special New Mexico junior college registration plate.
Section 66-3-424.35 - Honoring fallen officers special registration plate.
Section 66-3-424.36 - Off-highway motor vehicle paved road use vehicle plate.
Section 66-3-424.37 - Special support of pollinator protection registration plate.
Section 66-3-424.38 - Childhood cancer family support special registration plate.