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Senators hear bill to let veterans display recognition plates on motorcycles and mopeds
Summary
Senate Bill 159 would allow Oregon veterans recognition license plates to be issued for motorcycles and mopeds; proponents argued the change is simple, meaningful and comparable to other states, while DMV staff described setup costs and estimated volumes.
Senators heard testimony on Senate Bill 159 on March 12, a measure to allow veterans recognition license plates to be issued for motorcycles and mopeds.
Senator Mark Meek, sponsor of SB 159, told the Senate Committee on Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs the bill ‘‘expands our veterans recognition program to include license plates for mopeds and motorcycles’’ and corrects a current oversight that prevents veterans who ride motorcycles from using the specialty veteran plate.
The nut graf: Supporters described the change as low-cost, equitable recognition for veterans who choose motorcycles or mopeds as primary transport; the Department of Motor Vehicles said initial setup and plate stock costs exist and a funding source must be identified.
Amy Joyce, DMV administrator, told the committee the agency ‘‘has no position on this bill’’ but that veteran specialty plates are currently offered only on passenger vehicles; disabled veteran plates already exist for motorcycles and mopeds. Joyce provided volume figures: an ODVA publication estimate of about 253,000 veterans in Oregon (roughly half over age 65), about 128,000 motorcycle and moped registrations statewide, and an observed specialty-plate uptake of roughly 10% among passenger vehicles when new plates are offered.
Senators discussed options for implementation. Joyce said specialty plates issued under the chartered voucher program require an organization to presell about 3,000 vouchers before DMV orders plate stock, while veterans plates are under a separate umbrella that could be implemented administratively if the Legislature authorizes it and a funding source is identified. Joyce told the committee initial programming and vendor costs would be ‘‘well south of a million, probably something more than 10,000’’ and that DMV would follow up with a more specific fiscal estimate to the committee.
Veteran supporters included retired Master Sergeant Laurie Kimmel and written testimony from Sean Dactler, a volunteer with Veterans Back 40 Adventure, urging the change so veterans can display service on motorcycles as they do on cars and trucks.
No committee vote was recorded during the hearing; Senators asked DMV to return fiscal estimates and discussed whether a presale voucher mechanism might be appropriate.
