Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §460, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2001, c. 471, Pt. A, §29, is further amended to read:

1. State official registration plates authorized. The Secretary of State, on payment of taxes required in section 409, fees required in section 501, subsections 1 and 2-A and an additional fee equal to the cost of producing the plates, rounded to the nearest dollar, and upon application, shall issue one pair of specially designed number plates for one designated motor vehicle owned or controlled by each member of the United States Senate or the United States House of Representatives from this State, or members of the Legislature, Representatives of the Indian Tribes at the Legislature, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives. State official registration plates are designated "combination" vehicles as described in section 501. The cost of producing the special plates is determined by the bureau. A specially designed plate and its registration certificate may be used in place of the regular plate and registration. The named official may attach to such a motor vehicle one of the valid registration plates issued under section 451 and one of the special registration plates issued under this section.

Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §501, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1999, c. 790, Pt. C, §3 and affected by §19, is further amended to read:

1. Automobiles; pickup trucks. The fee for an automobile or pickup truck used for the conveyance of passengers or interchangeably for passengers or property is $25.

An automobile used for the conveyance of passengers or property is a "combination" vehicle and may be issued a special plate with the word "combination" instead of "Vacationland." A passenger vehicle used under contract with the State, a municipality or a school district to transport students must be designated as "combination." A vehicle owned or operated by parents or legal guardians is exempt from this subsection. A passenger vehicle used by a state official eligible for a state official registration plate as described in section 460 is also designated as a "combination" vehicle.

Commercial plates may not be issued for or displayed on an automobile.

The gross weight of a pickup truck registered as provided by this subsection may not exceed 6,000 pounds. An owner of a pickup truck who operates the pickup truck with a gross weight in excess