Monday, September 21, 1998
Contact: Melissa Forsythe, Governor’s Office
Scott Payton, LRC

Kentucky’s First Military License Plates Coming Soon

Frankfort, Ky.: Design and preparation are completed for the first license plates honoring veterans and other military personnel in Kentucky. The plates will go on sale in December, Governor Paul Patton announced today.

Rep. Mike Weaver, (D-Hardin County) sponsored a bill in the 1998 General Assembly that authorizes the military plate, with a one-time $25 fee plus the regular $15 licensing fee, at the time of purchase through your local county courthouse. Rep. Weaver said, "Previous legislation to establish the special military plate required an advance payment and a minimum purchase order of 900. Veterans were not happy and the plates were never produced. Now we’re able to satisfy those among Kentucky’s 360-thousand veterans who want to display their military background."

The plates feature stars and stripes and the seals for the four service branches, Navy, Army, Marines and Air Force. Additionally, the buyer can choose from four descriptive designations - Active Duty, Reserve Duty, Retired, and Veteran (specify which war), which are displayed in the bottom center of the plate. The tags are red, white and blue.

Governor Patton said, "Veterans and military affiliated groups have lobbied for this special license plate for years, and this will be a fitting acknowledgement of those who have bravely placed themselves at risk in our defense."

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