Code of Maine Rules
29 - DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
250 - BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Chapter 172 - RULES GOVERNING THE ISSUANCE OF VANITY REGISTRATION PLATES
Section 250-172-3 - Prohibited vanity registration plates
Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024
The Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Division of Vehicle Services ("Bureau") will process applications for new vanity registration plates and review existing vanity registration plates for compliance with this rule. The Bureau may initiate review of an existing vanity registration plate on its own or in response to a complaint from a member of the public. The Secretary of State shall refuse to issue or shall recall all vanity registration plates that meet the following standards using the criteria in section 6 of this rule:
A. If the language or configuration requested falsely suggests an association with a public institution - or a government or a government agency;
B. If the language or configuration requested duplicates another plate;
C. If the language or configuration requested encourages violence or may result in an act of violence or other unlawful activity because of the content of the language or configuration of letters and numbers;
D. If the language or configuration requested is profane or obscene;
E. If the language or configuration requested makes a derogatory reference to age, race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry or national origin, religion or physical or mental disability;
F. If the language or configuration requested connotes genitalia or relates to sexual acts; or
G. If the language or configuration requested includes forms of slang terms, abbreviations, phonetic spellings, or mirror images of a word or term otherwise prohibited by this section, even if expressed in a language other than English.
