Section 1010.451  Purple Heart License Plates

a)         For purposes of this Section, the following definitions shall apply:

            "Department" – Vehicle Services Department within the Office of the Secretary of State.

            "First Division Passenger Vehicles" – motor vehicles designed to carry not more than ten (10) passengers as defined in Section 1-146 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 95 1/2, par. 1-146).

"Second Division Motor Vehicles" – motor vehicles designed to carry more than ten (10) persons, those designed or used for living quarters and those motor vehicles which are designed for pulling or carrying freight or cargo, and those motor vehicles of the First Division remodeled for use and used as motor vehicles of the Second Division, as defined in Section 1-146 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

b)         Any resident of the State of Illinois who has been awarded the Purple Heart by a branch of the armed forces may apply for a Purple Heart registration plate in accordance with Section 3-623 of the Illinois Vehicle Title and Registration Law of the Illinois Vehicle Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 95½, par. 3-623).  These special registration plates shall only be issued for first division vehicles and second division vehicles weighing eight thousand (8,000) pounds or less.

c)         An applicant wishing to obtain Purple Heart plates shall submit one of the following to the Department:  a copy of his/her discharge from the military (DD214), a letter from the Department of Veteran's Affairs indicating his/her status as a Purple Heart recipient, or a form issued by the Federal Government indicating he/she is a recipient of the Purple Heart.  Applicants shall also submit the statutory annual registration fee as specified in Section 3-806 of the Illinois Vehicle Title and Registration Law of the Illinois Vehicle Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 95½, par. 3-806).

d)         In order to obtain Purple Heart plates,

1)         if the present Illinois license plates expire within 60 days, upon receipt of the preprinted renewal application, the applicant shall submit the renewal application, proper documentation as cited in subsection (c) of this rule, and the annual registration fee as specified in Section 3-806 of the Illinois Vehicle Title and Registration Law of the Illinois Vehicle Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 95½, par. 3-806);

2)         if the present plates do not expire within 60 days, the applicant shall submit his/her current registration identification card and current registration plates as well as the verification required in subsection (c).  The applicant shall also pay a reclassification fee as provided in Section 3-802 of the Illinois Vehicle Title and Registration Law of the Illinois Vehicle Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-802).

e)         All applications and inquiries regarding the Purple Heart plates should be directed for the following:

            Office of the Secretary of State

            Non-Standard Plates Sections

            Centennial Building, Room 539

            Springfield, Illinois 62756

(Source:  Added at 12 Ill. Reg. 15193, effective September 15, 1988)