Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 11, August 30, 2024
(1)
Certification.
Alabama residents qualifying for military and veteran related categories or
Alabama Gold Star Family distinctive license plate(s) or tag(s) as provided in
Chapter 6 of Title 32, Code of Ala. 1975, must provide
the licensing official with the Form 00214 or other qualifying documentation as
prescribed by law or this rule as evidence of qualifications for the license
plate. If Form DO214 or other qualifying documentation prescribed by law or as
provided in this rule is unavailable, the applicant must provide the licensing
official with a certification of eligibility from the Alabama Department of
Veterans Affairs (OVA) after the applicant provides the OVA with other
authoritative documentation evidencing eligibility for the license plate or a
service issued identification card that evidences eligibility for the requested
license plate.
(2)
Recertification. In accordance with §
32-6-64,
Code of Ala. 1975, persons who qualify for military
and veteran related categories or Alabama Gold Star distinctive license plates
are required to recertify their eligibility for the license plate upon
reissuance of a license plate design as required under §
32-6-62,
Code of Ala. 1975, or every five (5) years if a
permanent license plate is issued or the license plate design does not change.
(3)
Issued to Private
Passenger Vehicles. The military and veteran distinctive license
plates or tags along with the Gold Star Family plates so issued in accordance
with Chapter 6 of Title 32, Code of Ala. 1975, must be
used only upon and for personally-owned, private passenger vehicles (to include
motorcycles, station wagons, pick-up trucks and motor homes with a gross
vehicle weight not exceeding 12,000 pounds) registered in the name of the
person making application therefor, and when so issued to such applicant must
be used upon the vehicle for which issued in lieu of the standard license
plates or license tags normally issued for such vehicle.
(4)
Specific license plate
requirements.
(a)
Permanent License Plates. In accordance with §
32-6-250,
Code of Ala. 1975, a distinctive permanent license
plate shall be issued to any resident of this state who:
1. Is a recipient of the Medal of Honor or
the widow of a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
2. Is a recipient of the Purple Heart
Medal.
3. Is a member of the Legion
of Valor with positive proof of membership and the award of the Medal of Honor,
the Army Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, or the Air Force
Cross.
4. Is a recipient of the
Distinguished Flying Cross.
5. Is a
recipient of the Silver Star.
6. Is
a recipient of the Bronze Star.
7.
Shows by satisfactory proof that he or she was a duly recognized former
prisoner of war, for use on a private motor vehicle registered in the name of
the resident.
The license plates are permanent in nature and are not reissued
each year. A recipient is entitled to keep his or her license plate for life.
Provided further, upon the death of any recipient, the surviving spouse shall
be, where permitted by law, entitled to retain the distinctive permanent plate
for the remainder of the spouse's lifetime or until his or her remarriage.
Annual renewal decals will be provided after payment, if required, of license
fees and taxes for the years during which a new tag or plate is not issued as
provided in §
32-6-63,
Code of Ala. 1975.
(b)
United States Armed Forces
Retired. In accordance with §
32-6-291 and
32-6-292,
Code of Ala. 1975, retired military persons retired
under honorable conditions, national guard retirees, and retired military
reservists, or their spouse may, upon application to the licensing official, be
issued United States Armed Forces Retired distinctive license plates. In
accordance with §
32-6-290,
Code of Ala. 1975, the words "retired military" means
only those persons who are non-disability retirees from active duty in the
Army, or the Navy, or the Marine Corps, or the Air Force, or the Coast Guard of
the United States. Upon the death of this retired military license plate
category recipient, the surviving spouse is entitled to retain the distinctive
plate, upon the continued payment of the regular taxes and fees required by
law, for one private passenger vehicle owned by the surviving spouse for the
remainder of the lifetime of the surviving spouse or until the remarriage of
the spouse.
(c)
National Guard. In accordance with §
32-6-111,
Code of Ala. 1975, applicants for distinctive National
Guard of Alabama license plates must present to the licensing official proof of
their membership in the National Guard or Air National Guard of Alabama by
means of a properly executed AGO Form 7 along with a current Common Access Card
(CAC) military ID card. If the guard member is deployed outside AL, the most
recent copy of the service member's "Leave and Earnings Statement" (LES) or a
copy of their mobilization orders along with the military identification card
of the spouse/dependent with power of attorney to obtain the license plate on
the guard member's behalf may be provided. Applicants for National Guard
Retired license plates must present a United States Uniformed Services
identification card and a NGB Form 22, Notice of Eligibility for Retired Pay at
Age 60 or 20 year letter as proof of retirement status.
(d)
United States Armed Forces
Reserve. In accordance with §
32-6-351,
Code of Ala. 1975, a resident of this state who is an
active member of the United States Armed Forces Reserve may obtain a
distinctive motor vehicle license tag or tags signifying service in the Armed
Forces Reserve upon presenting to the licensing official an active reserve
identification card or Common Access Card (CAC) military ID card and an
affidavit signed by the unit commander confirming the reservist/vehicle owner
remains in military service and is entitled to the registration fee
exemption.
(e)
Global
War on Terrorism. In accordance with §
32-6-353,
Code of Ala. 1975, a distinctive global war on
terrorism license plate may be issued to motor vehicle owners who have served
or are currently serving in an active status either on active duty or within a
reserve component of the United States Armed Forces, including the Alabama
National Guard and civilian employees of the United States government who are
on military orders, in current or future conflicts in support of the global war
on terrorism occurring on or after September 11, 2001. The eligible U.S.
service member or civilian employee of the U.S. government must present to the
licensing official one of the following documents as proof of eligibility:
1. A DD Form 214 stating that the service
member was on active duty in support of the global war on terrorism or any
future conflicts.
2. A copy of
military travel orders activating the service member, or a copy of the military
orders directed to a civilian employee of the United States government to serve
in support of the global war on terrorism or any future conflicts.
3. A letter from the unit commander
certifying that the service member was on active duty during the time covered
by the global war on terrorism or any future conflicts.
4. A copy of the certificate which
accompanied the service medal or ribbon signifying the participation of the
service member in the global war on terrorism or any future
conflicts.
(f) Alabama
State Defense Force. In accordance with §
32-6-480,
Code of Ala. 1975, an active or inactive member of the
Alabama State Defense Force who is the owner of a motor vehicle and a resident
of the state may be issued a distinctive Alabama State Defense Force license
tag or plate. Applicants for the distinctive plates must present to the
licensing official proof of active or inactive membership in the Alabama State
Defense Force on forms prescribed by the Commander of the Alabama State Defense
Force. Upon termination of active and inactive membership with the Alabama
State Defense Force, the registrant must, within 30 days, return the plate to
the licensing official of the county of the applicant's residence in accordance
with §
32-6-482,
Code of Ala. 1975.
(g) Gold Star Family. In accordance with
§
32-6-630,
Code of Ala. 1975, one of the following documents must
be presented to the licensing official to receive the "Alabama Gold Star
Family" distinctive license plate:
1. DD Form
2064 - Overseas Death Certificate or prior era Department of Defense Death
Certificate.
2. DD Form 1300 -
Report of Casualty.
3. In the event
that the applicant is not identified as the next of kin on one of the documents
listed in subparagraphs 1. and 2., the applicant must submit a notarized
affidavit obtained from the Alabama OVA, certifying applicant's relationship to
the deceased service member.
