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ABATE of Ohio Legislative Committee members joined
Governor Strickland on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at the Ohio
Statehouse in a ceremony to sign Am. Sub. HB 27 of the 128th General
Assembly. The bill creates Purple Heart license plates for
motorcycles as well as names several Ohio highways in memory of
fallen veterans and a few other specialty license plates for
vehicles, such as the Special Olympics.
Six veteran’s families of the fallen heroes and
ABATE representatives watched as Governor Strickland put pen to
paper in the final step of a bill becoming law. The 9 year-old son
of Sgt. Jeremy Murray, put his hand over the Governor’s as he signed
the bill, which includes a Memorial Highway designated for his
father who was killed in the battle for freedom overseas.
Governor Strickland served on Veteran’s Affairs
committee when he was Congressman of the 6th District and while in
Washington DC, he consistently showed support for motorcycling
issues. Governor Strickland stated, “I was proud to sign a bill into
law that would ensure that Ohio’s Purple Heart recipients receive
the honor and acknowledgement they deserve as these distinguished
veterans ride motorcycles across our state.”
History: Originally the Purple Heart license
plate bill was submitted as a “standalone bill,” House Bill 234,
introduced in February 2009 sponsored by Representative Moran
(D-42). As bills go through the process of committee hearings and
floor votes, they can be combined or amended to include bills that
are germane to subject of the original bill. In this case, HB 27
began the process as designating a highway in Mahoning County as the
“Korean War Veteran’s Memorial Highway.” Several bills had similar
objectives, like the Purple Heart license plate bill, and were
lumped into HB 27 as amendments prior to passage as Amended
Substitute House Bill 27.
How to get the license plate: Purple Heart
recipients will have the option of purchasing the special license
plates through the local BMV office. Documentation of the award will
need to be provided at the time of application. The license plates
and validation stickers shall be issued without the payment of any
registration fee and service fee and without the payment of any
local motor vehicle license tax levied. Once enough interest is
generated through applications, printing of the new plates will
begin. Contact your local BMV to get details.
ABATE applauds the effort of the motorcycling
community, veterans and the 128th General Assembly to pass this bill
and give the option for proud veterans who earned the Purple Heart
to be recognized with special license plate for their motorcycles.
We look forward to see them out on the roadways!
ABATE of Ohio, Inc. (American Bikers Aimed
Toward Education) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to
preserving the rights, improving the image, and promoting safe
operating practices of Ohio
Motorcyclists. www.abate.com ~end~
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