(625 ILCS 5/3-664)

Sec. 3-664. Gold Star license plates. Upon proper application, the Secretary of State shall issue registration plates designated as Gold Star license plates to any Illinois resident who is the surviving widow or widower, to each parent who is an Illinois resident, and to each Illinois resident who is a child, stepchild, child through adoption, brother, half-brother, sister, or half-sister, of a person who served in the Armed Forces of the United States and lost his or her life while in service whether in peacetime or war. The surviving widow or widower, each of the parents, and each child, stepchild, child through adoption, brother, half-brother, sister, or half-sister shall be issued one or more sets of registration plates. Registration plates issued under this Section shall be for first division vehicles and second division vehicles of 8,000 pounds or less. The Secretary may, in his or her discretion, allow the plates to be issued as vanity or personalized plates in accordance with Section 3-405.1 of this Code. No registration fee shall be required from surviving widows, widowers, parents, or children of persons who served in the Armed Forces of the United States:

(1) who lost their lives during World War I, World War II, or during any subsequent period of armed hostilities in which the United States was engaged before July 1, 1958;

(2) who lost or lose their lives after June 30, 1958: while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party against an opposing armed force; or

(3) who lost or lose their lives after March 28, 1973, as a result of: an international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of Defense; or military operations while serving outside the United States (including the commonwealths, territories, and possessions of the United States) as part of a peacekeeping force.

(Source: P.A. 102-106, eff. 1-1-22; 102-796, eff. 1-1-23.)