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7403.0400 PLATES; FORMAT AND CONTENT.

Subpart 1.

Characters.

The characters displayed upon a plate may be only:

A.

the following uppercase letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z;

B.

the following numbers: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9; and

C.

the naval zero.

Subp. 2.

Statutory specifications.

The plates must be manufactured with the paint color, character size, character type style, reflective material, and other specifications used by the division for vehicles registered under Minnesota Statutes, section 168.017, for the appropriate plate year.

Subp. 3.

[Repealed, 17 SR 1892]

Subp. 4.

Characters limited.

Plates must have all of the following character limitations:

A.

Plates must have at least one full-size letter or number.

B.

Stacked characters must count as one full-size character. Stacked characters are two letters or numbers that occupy one space in which one letter or number is placed directly above the second letter or number.

C.

No characters other than those specified in subpart 1, items A and B, will be permitted on a personalized plate. Stacked characters are not permitted on a personalized plate. The naval zero will be restricted for use on amateur radio operator (ARO) special license plates exclusively.

Subp. 5.

Duplication.

No plate may be a duplicate of any current plate or a duplicate of any plate in a numbering system used by the division. The number one (1) and the letter I, or the naval zero, the number zero (0), and the letter O are deemed to be the same character and may not be duplicated to create new combinations. For example, TIM and T1M would be considered duplicates.

Subp. 6.

Division plate combinations.

No plate used or reserved by the division for a specific type of vehicle may be recalled from storage and destroyed in order that the combination may be issued again as a plate for another type of vehicle.

Subp. 7.

Spacing and hyphenation.

An applicant may elect to group characters by spacing or hyphenation on a personalized plate. Hyphens must not be used consecutively. A space or hyphen is not a character. However, hyphens and spaces must count toward the total number of characters allowed on a plate. Combinations of characters, spaces, or hyphens totaling more than seven will be rejected. Motorcycle plates are limited to six characters. If the total of characters, spaces, or hyphens is less than these limits, the division shall have the right to center the characters, spaces, or hyphens on the plate.

Subp. 8.

Unique symbols and weight designation stickers.

Unique symbols, determined by the department, and weight designation stickers may be required on a plate. A unique symbol or weight designation sticker is not a character. Unique symbols or weight designation stickers, when required, must count toward the total number of characters.

Subp. 9.

Multiple owners; special plates.

If the original application for a special plate is for a vehicle owned or leased by more than one person, at least one owner or lessee must sign the application.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 14.06; 168.12; 168.123; 168.125; 168A.24; 299A.01

History:

17 SR 1892; 21 SR 330

Published Electronically:

January 19, 2005

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes