341.145 Personalized registration plates.

(1) In this section, “personalized registration plate" means any of the following:

(a) A registration plate for an owned automobile or a motor home registered for an annual registration period under s. 341.29 or 341.295 or a motorcycle 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, which displays a registration number composed of letters or numbers, or both, requested by the applicant. Personalized registration plates under this paragraph shall be of the same color and design as regular registration plates and shall consist of numbers or letters, or both, not exceeding 5 positions and not less than one position for a plate issued for a motorcycle or not exceeding 7 positions and not less than one position for all other plates.

(b) A registration plate of the same color and design as provided in s. 341.14 (6m) for a vehicle specified under s. 341.14 (6m), which displays a registration number composed of letters or numbers, or both, not exceeding 7 positions and not less than one position, requested by the applicant.

(c) A registration plate of the same color and design as provided in s. 341.14 (6r) for a vehicle specified under s. 341.14 (6r), which displays the applicable symbol of the authorized special group to which the person belongs or supports and a registration number composed of letters or numbers, or both, not exceeding 7 positions and not less than one position, requested by the applicant.

(d) A registration plate of the same color and design as provided in s. 341.14 (1) for a vehicle specified in s. 341.14 (1), which displays a registration number composed of letters or numbers, or both, not exceeding 6 positions and not less than one position, requested by the applicant.

(e) A registration plate of the same color and design as provided in s. 341.14 (1a) for a vehicle specified in s. 341.14 (1a), which displays a registration number composed of letters or numbers, or both, not exceeding 6 positions and not less than one position, requested by the applicant.

(f) A registration plate of the same color and design as provided in s. 341.14 (6w) for a vehicle specified in s. 341.14 (6w), which displays a registration number composed of numbers or letters, or both, not exceeding 5 positions and not less than one position, requested by an applicant.

(1g)

(a) The department may issue personalized registration plates under sub. (1) (b) to a person who qualifies for special plates under s. 341.14 (6m).

(b) The department may issue personalized registration plates under sub. (1) (c) to a person who qualifies for special plates under s. 341.14 (6r).

(c) The department may issue personalized registration plates under sub. (1) (d) to a person who qualifies for special plates under s. 341.14 (1).

(d) The department may issue personalized registration plates under sub. (1) (e) to a person who qualifies for special plates under s. 341.14 (1a), (1m) or (1q).

(e) The department may issue personalized registration plates under sub. (1) (f) to a person who qualifies for special plates under s. 341.14 (6w).

(1r) In lieu of the procedure under s. 341.13 (2), the department may issue distinguishing tags or decals for personalized registration plates for a vehicle registered on the basis of gross weight.

(2) The department shall issue personalized registration plates only upon request and if:

(a) The request and alternative thereto is received by the department in writing by the 15th day of the month in which the vehicle is to be registered;

(b) The request is accompanied by the proper fee, an application for original or renewal vehicle registration and the proper registration fee;

(c) The requested combination of numbers or letters has not already been issued.

(3) In addition to the regular application fee provided under s. 341.25 (1) (a), (c) or (j) or (2) or 341.26 (3) (a) 2. or (am), the applicant for a personalized registration plate issued on an annual basis shall pay a fee of $15 for the issuance of the plate and $15 in each succeeding year to maintain the plate. In addition to the regular application fee provided under s. 341.25 (1) (b) or 341.26 (3) (a) 1., the applicant for a personalized registration plate issued on a biennial basis shall pay a fee of $30 for issuance of the plate if the plate is issued during the first year of the biennial registration period or $15 for issuance of the plate if the plate is issued during the 2nd year of the biennial registration period. The fee to maintain a personalized plate issued on a biennial basis is $30. The fee for reissuance of a personalized plate shall be $15 for an annual registration and $30 for a biennial registration. An applicant for personalized plates issued under sub. (1) (b) or (c) shall not be required to pay the fee for initial issuance of the plates.

(4) Each personalized registration plate issued shall be reserved for the recipient in succeeding registration periods and shall not be duplicated for issuance to any other person if the recipient maintains the plate, unless the recipient authorizes the issuance of the plate to another person. If the recipient does not maintain the plate for 2 successive years which are not plate issuance years or if the recipient does not specifically request reissuance of the personalized registration plate by the date on which the plate expires in a plate issuance year, the department may issue the personalized registration plate to another applicant.

(5) If an individual in possession of a personalized registration plate does not maintain the personalized registration plate under sub. (3) during a year that is not a plate issuance year, the individual shall dispose of the personalized plate in a manner prescribed by the department.

(6) Any registration plate issued sequentially to an applicant for original or renewal registration shall be available for issuance as a personalized registration plate if the plate has not been maintained for 2 successive years or if the recipient of the plate authorizes the issuance of the plate to another person.

(7) The department may refuse to issue any combination of letters or numbers, or both, which may carry connotations offensive to good taste or decency, or which would be misleading, or in conflict with the issuance of any other registration plates. All decisions of the department with respect to personalized registration plate applications shall be final and not subject to judicial review under ch. 227.

(8) The department may cancel and order the return of any personalized registration plates issued which contain any combination of letters or numbers, or both, which the department determines may carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency or which may be misleading. Any person ordered to return such plates shall either be reimbursed for any additional fees they paid for the plates for the registration year in which they are recalled, or be given at no additional cost replacement personalized registration plates, the issuance of which is in compliance with the statutes. A person who fails to return personalized registration plates upon request of the department may be required to forfeit not more than $200.

History: 1971 c. 164 s. 83; 1977 c. 29 ss. 1419, 1654 (7) (a); 1977 c. 129, 418; 1983 a. 126, 270, 511, 538; 1985 a. 120 ss. 223m, 3200; 1985 a. 202 ss. 10 to 14, 37; 1985 a. 210, 332; 1987 a. 112; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 329, 350; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 80; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 184; 2011 a. 264; 2015 a. 227, 328; 2017 a. 365.