3. Special veterans registration plates.   The Secretary of State, on application and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482 and the registration fee required by section 501, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of special veterans registration plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates for a vehicle with a registered gross weight of not more than 10,000 pounds to any person who has served in the United States Armed Forces and who has been honorably discharged or to a person who has served in the United States Armed Forces for at least 3 years and continues to serve. If a person who qualifies for a special veterans registration plate under this subsection is the primary driver of 3 vehicles, the Secretary of State may issue in accordance with this section a set of special veterans registration plates for each vehicle.

Each application must be accompanied by the applicant's Armed Forces Report of Transfer or Discharge, DD Form 214, certification from the United States Veterans Administration or the appropriate branch of the United States Armed Forces verifying the applicant's military service and honorable discharge, or a letter from the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Bureau of Maine Veterans’ Services verifying active duty military service and length of service.

The Secretary of State shall also make available a special veterans registration plate for female veterans, which has the same design as the special veterans registration plate except that the "V" designation is pink in color. A person who qualifies for a special veterans registration plate under this subsection may request the special veterans registration plate for female veterans.

The Secretary of State shall recall a special veterans registration plate of a recipient who has been less than honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces.

All surplus revenue collected for issuance of the special registration plates is retained by the Secretary of State to maintain and support this program.

The surviving spouse of a special veteran plate recipient issued plates in accordance with this subsection may retain and display the special veteran plates as long as the surviving spouse remains unmarried. Upon remarriage, the surviving spouse may not use the special veteran plates on a motor vehicle, but may retain them as a keepsake. Upon the death of the surviving spouse, the family may retain the special veteran plates, but may not use them on a motor vehicle.

The Secretary of State may issue a special disability registration plate for veterans in accordance with section 521, subsections 1, 5, 7 and 9. The special disability registration plate for veterans must bear the International Symbol of Access. The Secretary of State shall also make available a special disability registration plate for female veterans, which has the same design as the special disability registration plate for veterans except that the "V" designation is pink in color. A person who qualifies for a special disability registration plate for veterans under this subsection may request the specialty disability registration plate for female veterans.

The Secretary of State may issue a set of special veterans registration plates when the qualifying veteran is the primary driver of a company-owned vehicle if: