1. (a) The Mayor shall design and make available for issue motor vehicle identification tags with a design, identifying words, or emblem that designates the owner of the motor vehicle as a Purple Heart recipient or as the surviving spouse of a Purple Heart recipient; provided, that the surviving spouse has not remarried.

2. (b)

   1. (1) A resident ordering a Purple Heart award recipient motor vehicle identification tag shall pay a one-time application fee of $10, or such other amount as may be established by the Mayor by rule. There shall be no annual display fee assessed for a Purple Heart award recipient motor vehicle identification tag.
   2. (2) The application fee shall be deposited in the Office of Veterans Affairs Fund, established by § 49-1004.

3. (c) No identification tags may be issued to any individual under this section unless due proof is submitted that the individual is a bona fide recipient of the Purple Heart medal as may be demonstrated to the Mayor at the time of the application for the identification tags by submission of:

   1. (1) DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or DD-215, issued by the United States Department of Defense, or its successor agency;
   2. (2) WD-AGO 53-55 Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge;
   3. (3) General or permanent orders listing the award issuance, which shall be accompanied by a copy of the photo identification of the applicant;
   4. (4) A certificate of the award issuance signed by the secretary of the service branch, or a general officer or flag officer; or
   5. (5) Other documentation that may be accepted by the Department of Motor Vehicles in consultation with the Office of Veterans Affairs.

History

Aug. 17, 1937, 50 Stat. 680, ch. 690, title IV,§ 2o

May 21, 2026, D.C. Law 26-114, § 2(b)