A special registration number as specified by the Administration and assigned under this chapter may consist of any combination of not more than seven letters and numerals, the name, initials, or abbreviation of the name of the organization on the bottom of the special registration plates and the official logo of the organization. The special registration number assigned under this chapter shall be displayed on the registration plates for the vehicle. The Administration shall determine the basic configuration of the special registration number, using the special registration plate scheme requested by the organization as guidance. An organization that has had special registration plates without a logo issued under Transportation Article, §13-619, Annotated Code of Maryland, may request the issuance of new special registration plates with its logo. However, once this request has been approved, all existing nonlogo special registration plates related to the organization in the Administration’s stock shall be destroyed. A member of an organization who previously was issued special nonlogo plates which were subsequently lost, stolen, or mutilated, shall be issued only new special plates with the logo selected by the organization, upon payment of the additional fee as set forth in COMAR 11.11.05. Use of the name, initials or abbreviation of the organization on the bottom of the special registration plates shall be in the sole discretion of the Administration and, if permitted, may not be all initials or a name of more than 25 characters, including spaces. Once a selection of the special registration plate scheme (logo/nonlogo) has been made, it is permanent and may not be changed. A nonprofit organization requesting special registration plates with the nonprofit organization’s official logo shall submit camera-ready artwork of the logo which meets the Administration’s specifications. In addition, the: Size of the logo may not exceed 2 1/2 inches wide by 3 1/2 inches long; Logo may not contain more than four colors; and Logo artwork submitted shall be in a form acceptable to the Administration. For members of nonprofit organizations, the following special requirements apply: The organization is nonprofit as evidenced by a: Determination Letter from the Internal Revenue Service (Letter 947 or equivalent) as to qualification for exemption from taxation under §501 of the Internal Revenue Code, Certificate of Registration as a charitable organization under Article 41, §3-202, Annotated Code of Maryland, issued by the Secretary of State, or Valid certificate of exemption issued by the Comptroller of the Treasury as to qualification for exemption from sales taxation under Tax-General Article, §11-204, Annotated Code of Maryland; and At least 25 members apply for special registration under this chapter for the initial manufacture of special registration plates. Each organization eligible for special registration under this chapter shall appoint an organization representative who will act as liaison between the organization and the Administration. The organization representative designated in §A, of this regulation, shall be responsible for performing the functions outlined in this chapter. The organization representative shall provide an organization certification of membership for its members which shall be printed at organization expense and contain the following information: Organization official identification stationery shall be used. Signature of organization representative. Names of organization members requesting special registration plates. Present registration plate numbers of organization members' vehicles. Special registration plate numbers issued under Regulation .07 are issued in consecutive order. If special registration plates are being issued under Regulation .09, the Administration shall assign the special registration plate numbers, issued in consecutive order. The organization certification of membership shall be presented by the organization representative when special registration plates are requested under Regulation .07 and by the organization member when special registration plates are requested under Regulation .09. The organization representative shall apply to the Motor Vehicle Administration, 6601 Ritchie Highway, N. E., Glen Burnie, Maryland 21062 and include the following information: Copies of the documentation that the organization meets the criteria outlined in Regulation .04, of this chapter; Special registration plate scheme requested by the organization and an alternate selection; The name of the organization to be placed on the bottom of the special registration plate, if desired, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation .03C; and Camera-ready artwork of the logo to be used in accordance with Regulation .03A, if desired. The Administration shall advise the organization representative of its decision and, if favorable, to proceed in accordance with Regulation .07, of this chapter. The organization representative shall submit the organization certification of membership when requested by the Administration, together with appropriate fees for each set of special registration plates requested, if applicable. The Administration shall print the registration applications for each organization member and forward them to the organization representative. When the special registration plates have been received, the Administration shall notify the organization representative who shall: Collect the completed registration applications and appropriate registration fees from each organization member; Submit all fees and registration applications, in assigned registration plate sequence, to the Administration. Administration Verification. The Administration shall verify the registration application, including insurance information, fees and other items. Registration applications will be validated. Special registration plates, with validation stickers and registration card, will be mailed directly to each organization member. Upon receipt of the special registration plates, each organization member shall return previously issued registration plates to any Administration office for cancellation of the registration. This regulation governs issuance of validation stickers only to members of nonprofit organizations who have already been issued special registration plates. During a registration year in which new registration plates are being issued for all motor vehicles, the procedures outlined in Regulation .07 shall be followed. Applications for renewal of special registration plates shall be mailed to each registered owner before the expiration date of the vehicle's registration. Provided the individual continues to be a member of the organization, each organization member who desires to continue use of the special registration number and plates shall: Complete the registration application, including insurance information; Return the completed application with appropriate fees to the Administration, either by mail or in person. In the case of an owner who is applying for special registration as a surviving spouse, the owner: Shall submit an organization certification of membership; and May not have remarried. The Administration shall verify the registration application, including insurance information, fees and other items. The registration card and validation stickers shall be mailed directly to or handed to each organization member. An individual who becomes a member of an approved nonprofit organization after the initial issuance of special registration plates in accordance with Regulation .07 of this chapter may obtain special registration plates as follows: Obtain an organization certification of membership from the organization representative; Complete the registration application, including insurance information; Return the completed registration application and certification with the appropriate fees, if applicable, either by mail or in person. Administration Verification. The Administration shall verify the registration application, including insurance information, fees and other items. Special registration numbers shall be assigned in consecutive order. Registration applications will be validated. Special registration plates, with validation stickers and registration card, will be mailed directly or handed to each organization member. Upon receipt of the special registration plates, the organization member shall return previously issued registration plates to any Administration office for cancellation of the registration. The Administration shall have the right to suspend special registration granted under this chapter if: The organization no longer qualifies as nonprofit as required by Regulation .04 of this chapter; or The organization has perpetrated a fraud against the Administration in obtaining special registration numbers and plates for its members. Membership. Continuous membership in the approved organization by the organization member who requests special registration plates under this chapter shall be required. Loss of Membership. The organization representative shall notify the former member and the Administration in writing if an organization member is no longer a member in the approved organization. The former organization member shall immediately return the special registration plates to any Administration office for cancellation of the registration and obtain substitute regular registration plates. If the former organization member does not return the special registration plates, the Administration shall flag the vehicle record in order to prevent a registration application from being sent to the former member for registration renewal purposes. If a former organization member reinstates membership in an approved organization, the member may obtain new special registration plates in accordance with Regulation .09 of this chapter, and pay the appropriate special registration fee, if applicable, again. Transportation Article, §§12-104(b) and 13-619, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: March 10, 1986 (13:5 Md. R. 547) Regulation .01 amended effective July 20, 1992 (19:14 Md. R. 1284); May 6, 1996 (23:9 Md. R. 671); December 29, 1997 (24:26 Md. R. 1759) Regulation .01 repealed effective July 30, 2018 (45:15 Md. R. 725) Regulation .02 amended effective January 1, 1992 (18:25 Md. R. 2754) Regulation .02 repealed effective July 30, 2018 (45:15 Md. R. 725) Regulation .02B amended effective July 9, 1990 (17:13 Md. R. 1612); June 20, 1994 (21:12 Md. R. 1061) Regulation .02D amended effective April 6, 2009 (36:7 Md. R. 526) Regulation .03 amended effective July 9, 1990 (17:13 Md. R. 1612) Regulation .03A, C amended, F adopted effective July 20, 1992 (19:14 Md. R. 1284) Regulation .03C, F amended effective July 30, 2018 (45:15 Md. R. 725) Regulation .03F amended effective June 20, 1994 (21:12 Md. R. 1061) Regulation .04 amended effective July 20, 1992 (19:14 Md. R. 1284); October 18, 1999 (26:21 Md. R. 1630) Regulation .05C amended effective July 20, 1992 (19:14 Md. R. 1284) Regulation .06A amended effective July 9, 1990 (17:13 Md. R. 1612); July 20, 1992 (19:14 Md. R. 1284); March 13, 2006 (33:5 Md. R. 520); July 30, 2018 (45:15 Md. R. 725) Regulation .07 amended effective July 20, 1992 (19:14 Md. R. 1284) Regulation .07A amended effective July 9, 1990 (17:13 Md. R. 1612) Regulation .08 amended effective July 20, 1992 (19:14 Md. R. 1284); January 9, 2000 (26:27 Md. R. 2015) Regulation .08A amended effective July 30, 2018 (45:15 Md. R. 725) Regulation .09 amended effective July 20, 1992 (19:14 Md. R. 1284) Regulation .09A amended effective July 9, 1990 (17:13 Md. R. 1612) Regulation .10B amended effective July 9, 1990 (17:13 Md. R. 1612)