2019 Tennessee Code
Title 55 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Chapter 4 - Registration and Licensing of Motor Vehicles
Part 2 - Special License Plates
§ 55-4-274. Rakkasans.
(a) Distinctive license plates are authorized for active, retired, and honorably discharged members of the Rakkasans, which is the moniker for the 187th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) of the United States Army, in good standing. The plates are approved for display on motor vehicles that are authorized by § 55-4-210(c) and that are owned and operated, or leased by, a member or a member's spouse or child.
(b) The license plates shall bear an emblem distinctive of the Rakkasans and the language “Rakkasans” with a red torii and the Combat Infantry Badge. The plates shall be designed in consultation with an authorized representative of the 187th Infantry Regiment.
(c) The license plate authorized pursuant to this section shall be issued upon:
(1) Payment of the regular registration fee pursuant to this chapter;
(2) Payment of the fee prescribed by § 55-4-204(c); and
(3) Submission of documentation required by subsection (d) or (e).
(d)
(1) All applications pursuant to this section must be accompanied by military orders or other official documentation detailing an assignment to the 187th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) of the United States Army as proof of eligibility for issuance of a license plate pursuant to this section.
(2) In addition to providing the documentation required under subdivision (d)(1):
(A) An active duty member of the 187th Infantry Regiment must present a valid military identification card or such other document as the commissioner designates as sufficient proof that the applicant is an active duty member of the military; or
(B) A retired or honorably discharged member of the 187th Infantry Regiment must present:
(i) A certified copy of the member's certificate of release or discharge from active duty, department of defense form 214 (DD 214);
(ii) A valid DD form 2 (Retired) military identification card; or
(iii) A Tennessee driver license that indicates military service in accordance with § 55-50-354.
(3) An application pursuant to this section by a spouse or child of a member must be accompanied by documentation that:
(A) Is required from a member under subdivisions (d)(1) and (2); and
(B) Provides sufficient proof that the applicant is the spouse or child of a member, including:
(i) A valid DD form 1173 military dependent identification card;
(ii) A marriage certificate;
(iii) A birth certificate or certificate of adoption; or
(iv) Other documentation designated by the commissioner.
(e) A surviving spouse of a deceased retired or honorably discharged member or of a member who died while on active duty shall be issued a license plate pursuant to this section, until the surviving spouse remarries, upon:
(1) Complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles;
(2) Paying the regular registration fee pursuant to this chapter and the fee prescribed by § 55-4-204(c);
(3) Providing documentation required under subdivision (d)(3); and
(4) Providing a copy of the death certificate of the deceased.
(f) An applicant shall be required to submit the documentation required by subsection (d) or (e) only when initially applying for license plates under this section. Subsequent license plates under this section shall be issued to that person without the repeated presentation of documentation.
