341.14 Application for and issuance of special plates.
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341.14 Application for and issuance of special plates. The department shall issue special plates as specified in this section under the following circumstances:
(1)If any resident of this state who is registering or has registered an automobile, or a motor truck, dual purpose motor home or dual purpose farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds, a farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds or a motor home submits a statement once every 4 years, as determined by the department, from the U.S. department of veterans affairs certifying to the department that the resident is, by reason of injuries sustained while in the active U.S. military service, a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk, the department shall procure, issue and deliver to the veteran, plates of a special design in lieu of the plates which ordinarily would be issued for the vehicle, and shall renew the plates. The plates shall be colored red, white, and blue and the department shall consult the department of veterans affairs before specifying the design of the plates. The plates shall be so designed as to readily apprise law enforcement officers of the fact that the vehicle is owned by a disabled veteran and is entitled to the parking privileges specified in s. 346.50
(2). No charge in addition to the registration fee shall be made for the issuance or renewal of such plates.
(1a)If any resident of this state, who is registering or has registered an automobile, or a motor truck, dual purpose motor home or dual purpose farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds, a farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds or a motor home, submits a statement once every 4 years, as determined by the department, from a physician licensed to practice medicine in any state, from an advanced practice registered nurse licensed to practice nursing in any state, from a public health nurse certified or licensed to practice in any state, from a physician assistant licensed or certified to practice in any state, from a podiatrist licensed to practice in any state, from a chiropractor licensed to practice chiropractic in any state, from a physical therapist licensed to practice in any state, or from a Christian Science practitioner residing in this state and listed in the Christian Science journal certifying to the department that the resident is a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk, the department shall procure, issue and deliver to the disabled person plates of a special design in lieu of plates which ordinarily would be issued for the vehicle, and shall renew the plates. The plates shall be so designed as to readily apprise law enforcement officers of the fact that the vehicle is owned by a nonveteran disabled person and is entitled to the parking privileges specified in s. 346.50
(2a). No charge in addition to the registration fee shall be made for the issuance or renewal of such plates.
Effective date note NOTE: Sub.
(1a)is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17 . Prior to 9-1-26 it reads:
Effective date text
(1a)If any resident of this state, who is registering or has registered an automobile, or a motor truck, dual purpose motor home or dual purpose farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds, a farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds or a motor home, submits a statement once every 4 years, as determined by the department, from a physician licensed to practice medicine in any state, from an advanced practice nurse licensed to practice nursing in any state, from a public health nurse certified or licensed to practice in any state, from a physician assistant licensed or certified to practice in any state, from a podiatrist licensed to practice in any state, from a chiropractor licensed to practice chiropractic in any state, from a physical therapist licensed to practice in any state, or from a Christian Science practitioner residing in this state and listed in the Christian Science journal certifying to the department that the resident is a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk, the department shall procure, issue and deliver to the disabled person plates of a special design in lieu of plates which ordinarily would be issued for the vehicle, and shall renew the plates. The plates shall be so designed as to readily apprise law enforcement officers of the fact that the vehicle is owned by a nonveteran disabled person and is entitled to the parking privileges specified in s. 346.50 (2a). No charge in addition to the registration fee shall be made for the issuance or renewal of such plates.
(a)If any resident of this state, who is registering or has registered a motorcycle, submits a statement once every 4 years, as determined by the department, from a physician licensed to practice medicine in any state, from an advanced practice registered nurse licensed to practice nursing in any state, from a public health nurse certified or licensed to practice in any state, from a physician assistant licensed or certified to practice in any state, from a podiatrist licensed to practice in any state, from a chiropractor licensed to practice chiropractic in any state, from a physical therapist licensed to practice in any state, from a Christian Science practitioner residing in this state and listed in the Christian Science journal, or from the U.S. department of veterans affairs certifying to the department that the resident is a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk, the department shall procure, issue and deliver to the disabled person a plate of a special design in lieu of the plate which ordinarily would be issued for the motorcycle, and shall renew the plate. The statement shall state whether the disability is permanent or temporary and, if temporary, the opinion of the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, public health nurse, physician assistant, podiatrist, chiropractor, physical therapist, practitioner, or U.S. department of veterans affairs as to the duration of the disability. The plate shall be so designed as to readily apprise law enforcement officers of the fact that the motorcycle is owned by a disabled person and is entitled to the parking privileges specified in s. 346.50
(2a). No charge in addition to the registration fee may be made for the issuance or renewal of the plate.
Effective date note NOTE: Par.
(a)is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17 . Prior to 9-1-26 it reads:
Effective date text
(a)If any resident of this state, who is registering or has registered a motorcycle, submits a statement once every 4 years, as determined by the department, from a physician licensed to practice medicine in any state, from an advanced practice nurse licensed to practice nursing in any state, from a public health nurse certified or licensed to practice in any state, from a physician assistant licensed or certified to practice in any state, from a podiatrist licensed to practice in any state, from a chiropractor licensed to practice chiropractic in any state, from a physical therapist licensed to practice in any state, from a Christian Science practitioner residing in this state and listed in the Christian Science journal, or from the U.S. department of veterans affairs certifying to the department that the resident is a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk, the department shall procure, issue and deliver to the disabled person a plate of a special design in lieu of the plate which ordinarily would be issued for the motorcycle, and shall renew the plate. The statement shall state whether the disability is permanent or temporary and, if temporary, the opinion of the physician, advanced practice nurse, public health nurse, physician assistant, podiatrist, chiropractor, physical therapist, practitioner, or U.S. department of veterans affairs as to the duration of the disability. The plate shall be so designed as to readily apprise law enforcement officers of the fact that the motorcycle is owned by a disabled person and is entitled to the parking privileges specified in s. 346.50 (2a). No charge in addition to the registration fee may be made for the issuance or renewal of the plate.
(b)If the department determines that the disability of a person submitting a statement under par.
(a)is temporary, a temporary operation plate may be issued to the person under s. 341.09
(8). A plate issued under s. 341.09
(8)shall be considered a special registration plate issued under this subsection for purposes of s. 346.50
(2a)and
(3), 346.503
(1), 346.505
(2), 349.13
(1m)or 349.145 .
(1m)If any licensed driver submits to the department a statement once every 4 years, as determined by the department, from a physician licensed to practice medicine in any state, from a public health nurse certified or licensed to practice in any state, from an advanced practice registered nurse licensed to practice nursing in any state, from a physician assistant licensed or certified to practice in any state, from a podiatrist licensed to practice in any state, from a chiropractor licensed to practice chiropractic in any state, from a physical therapist licensed to practice in any state, or from a Christian Science practitioner residing in this state and listed in the Christian Science journal certifying that another person who is regularly dependent on the licensed driver for transportation is a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk, the department shall issue and deliver to the licensed driver plates of a special design in lieu of the plates which ordinarily would be issued for the automobile or motor truck, dual purpose motor home or dual purpose farm truck having a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds, farm truck having a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds or motor home, and shall renew the plates. The plates shall be so designed as to readily apprise law enforcement officers of the fact that the vehicle is operated by a licensed driver on whom a disabled person is regularly dependent and is entitled to the parking privileges specified in s. 346.50
(2a). No charge in addition to the registration fee may be made for the issuance or renewal of the plates. The plates shall conform to the plates required in sub.
(1a).
Effective date note NOTE: Sub.
(1m)is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17 . Prior to 9-1-26 it reads:
Effective date text
(1m)If any licensed driver submits to the department a statement once every 4 years, as determined by the department, from a physician licensed to practice medicine in any state, from a public health nurse certified or licensed to practice in any state, from an advanced practice nurse licensed to practice nursing in any state, from a physician assistant licensed or certified to practice in any state, from a podiatrist licensed to practice in any state, from a chiropractor licensed to practice chiropractic in any state, from a physical therapist licensed to practice in any state, or from a Christian Science practitioner residing in this state and listed in the Christian Science journal certifying that another person who is regularly dependent on the licensed driver for transportation is a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk, the department shall issue and deliver to the licensed driver plates of a special design in lieu of the plates which ordinarily would be issued for the automobile or motor truck, dual purpose motor home or dual purpose farm truck having a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds, farm truck having a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds or motor home, and shall renew the plates. The plates shall be so designed as to readily apprise law enforcement officers of the fact that the vehicle is operated by a licensed driver on whom a disabled person is regularly dependent and is entitled to the parking privileges specified in s. 346.50 (2a). No charge in addition to the registration fee may be made for the issuance or renewal of the plates. The plates shall conform to the plates required in sub. (1a).
(1q)If any employer who provides an automobile, or a motor truck, dual purpose motor home or dual purpose farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds, a farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds or a motor home, for an employee’s use submits to the department a statement once every 4 years, as determined by the department, from a physician licensed to practice medicine in any state, from an advanced practice registered nurse licensed to practice nursing in any state, from a public health nurse certified or licensed to practice in any state, from a physician assistant licensed or certified to practice in any state, from a podiatrist licensed to practice in any state, from a physical therapist licensed to practice in any state, from a chiropractor licensed to practice chiropractic in any state, or from a Christian Science practitioner residing in this state and listed in the Christian Science journal certifying that the employee is a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk, the department shall issue and deliver to such employer plates of a special design in lieu of the plates which ordinarily would be issued for the vehicle, and shall renew the plates. The plates shall be so designed as to readily apprise law enforcement officers of the fact that the vehicle is operated by a disabled person and is entitled to the parking privileges specified in s. 346.50
(2a). No charge in addition to the registration fee may be made for the issuance or renewal of the plates. The plates shall conform to the plates required in sub.
(1a).
Effective date note NOTE: Sub.
(1q)is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17 . Prior to 9-1-26 it reads:
Effective date text
(1q)If any employer who provides an automobile, or a motor truck, dual purpose motor home or dual purpose farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds, a farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds or a motor home, for an employee’s use submits to the department a statement once every 4 years, as determined by the department, from a physician licensed to practice medicine in any state, from an advanced practice nurse licensed to practice nursing in any state, from a public health nurse certified or licensed to practice in any state, from a physician assistant licensed or certified to practice in any state, from a podiatrist licensed to practice in any state, from a physical therapist licensed to practice in any state, from a chiropractor licensed to practice chiropractic in any state, or from a Christian Science practitioner residing in this state and listed in the Christian Science journal certifying that the employee is a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk, the department shall issue and deliver to such employer plates of a special design in lieu of the plates which ordinarily would be issued for the vehicle, and shall renew the plates. The plates shall be so designed as to readily apprise law enforcement officers of the fact that the vehicle is operated by a disabled person and is entitled to the parking privileges specified in s. 346.50 (2a). No charge in addition to the registration fee may be made for the issuance or renewal of the plates. The plates shall conform to the plates required in sub. (1a).
(2)Upon compliance with the laws relating to registration of automobiles and motor homes; motor trucks, dual purpose motor homes, and dual purpose farm trucks which have a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds; and farm trucks which have a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds, including payment of the prescribed registration fees therefor plus an additional fee of $15 when registration plates are issued accompanied by an application showing satisfactory proof that the applicant is the holder of an unexpired amateur radio station license issued by the federal communications commission, the department shall issue registration plates on which, in lieu of the usual registration number, shall be inscribed in large legible form the call letters of such applicant as assigned by the federal communications commission. The fee for reissuance of a plate under this subsection shall be $15.
(2m)Upon compliance with laws relating to registration of motor vehicles, including payment of the prescribed fee, and an additional fee of $15 when the original or new registration plates are issued and accompanied by an application showing satisfactory proof that the applicant has a collector’s identification number as provided in s. 341.266
(d), the department shall issue registration plates on which, in lieu of the usual registration number, shall be inscribed the collector’s identification number issued under s. 341.266
(d). The words “VEHICLE COLLECTOR” shall be inscribed across the lower or upper portion of the plate at the discretion of the department. Additional registrations under this subsection by the same collector shall bear the same collector’s identification number followed by a suffix letter for vehicle identification. Registration plates issued under this subsection shall expire annually.
(3)Upon request therefor by the state or a county or municipality or federally recognized Indian tribe or band which is registering a vehicle owned by it and to be used in law enforcement work, to be used by investigators for the office of the state public defender or to be used for operation under s. 20.916
(7), the department shall issue the same type of registration plate as it would issue for a privately owned vehicle of the same type in lieu of the type of plate it ordinarily would issue for a vehicle owned by the state or by a county or municipality or Indian tribe or band. This subsection does not affect the registration fee to be charged.
(3m)For vehicles registered under s. 341.147 , as specified in s. 341.147 .
(4)For antique motor vehicles as specified in s. 341.265 . The special plate for an antique motorcycle under this subsection shall be the same size as the usual registration plate for a motorcycle that is not an antique motorcycle.
(4m)For special interest vehicles as specified in s. 341.266 .
(4r)For reconstructed, replica, street modified, and homemade vehicles as specified in s. 341.268 .
(4u)For historic military vehicles as specified in s. 341.269 . The special plate for a historic military vehicle that is a motorcycle shall be the same size as the usual registration plate for a motorcycle that is not a historic military vehicle.
(5)Upon application by any person awarded the congressional medal of honor and submission of proper proof thereof, the department shall issue special plates so designed as to indicate such award. No charge whatever shall be made for the issuance of such plates.
(a)Upon application to register an automobile or a motor truck or dual purpose farm truck that has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds by any person who was a member of any of the U.S. armed services and who was held as a prisoner of war during a war period, as defined in s. 45.01
(13), or while in service in a crisis zone, as defined in s. 45.01
(11), and upon submission of a statement from the U.S. department of veterans affairs certifying that the person was a prisoner of war during a war period, as defined in s. 45.01
(13), or while in service in a crisis zone, as defined in s. 45.01
(11), the department shall issue to the person a special plate that is colored red, white, and blue and that has the words “ex-prisoner of war” placed on the plate in the manner designated by the department.
(c)A person who maintains no more than one registration under this subsection at one time shall not be charged a fee for registration of the vehicle or issuance of the plates.
(d)For each additional vehicle, a person who maintains more than one registration under this subsection at one time shall be charged a fee of $15 for issuance or reissuance of the plates in addition to the annual registration fee for the vehicle. Except as provided in par.
(c), a motor truck or dual purpose farm truck registered under this subsection shall be registered under this paragraph.
(a)Upon application to register an automobile or a motor home, or a motor truck, dual purpose motor home, or dual purpose farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds, or a farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds, by any person who is a resident of this state and a member or retired member of the national guard, the department shall issue to the person special plates whose colors and design shall be determined by the department and which have the words “Wisconsin guard member” placed on the plates in the manner designated by the department. The department shall consult with or obtain the approval of the adjutant general with respect to any word or symbol used to identify the national guard. An additional fee of $15 shall be charged for the issuance or reissuance of the plates. Registration plates issued under this subsection shall expire annually.
(b)Except as provided in par.
(c), if an individual in possession of special plates under this subsection or of personalized plates under s. 341.145
(b)does not maintain membership in the national guard during a year which is not a plate issuance year, the individual shall dispose of the special plates in a manner prescribed by the department.
(c)Paragraph
(b)does not apply to an individual who is a retired member of the national guard.
1. If an applicant for initial issuance of special plates under this subsection identifies himself or herself in the application as a member or former member of a Wisconsin national guard unit identified by the department of military affairs under subd. 5. , the department shall provide to the applicant, to be affixed to one of the plates issued under this subsection, a decal that includes a symbol associated with the unit of which the applicant is or was a member and instructions for placement of the decal on the special plate.
2. Upon receiving any application for renewal of registration of a vehicle for which special plates have been issued under this subsection, if the applicant identifies himself or herself in the application as a member or former member of a Wisconsin national guard unit identified by the department of military affairs under subd. 5. and if the department has not previously provided a decal under subd. 1. or 3. , the department shall provide a decal described in subd. 1. to the applicant, with instructions for placement of the decal on one of the special plates.
3. Notwithstanding subd. 2. , upon receiving any application for renewal of registration of a vehicle for which special plates have been issued under this subsection, if the applicant identifies himself or herself in the application as a member or former member of a Wisconsin national guard unit identified by the department of military affairs under subd. 5. and if the department is required under s. 341.135 to issue new registration plates for the vehicle, the department shall provide to the applicant, to be affixed to one of these plates, a decal described in subd. 1. and instructions for placement of the decal on the plate.
4. This paragraph also applies to personalized registration plates issued under s. 341.145
(a).
5. The department of military affairs shall, by rule, identify each Wisconsin national guard unit for which a decal is available under this paragraph.
6. The department shall charge a fee of $20 for each decal provided to an applicant under this paragraph.