SD Law Passed to Give Women Veterans Special License Plates

Women who are veterans of the US armed forces are now eligible for special license plates on their motor vehicles registered in South Dakota. Governor Daugaard signed the bill March 9. State senators had voted 33-0 to approve the measure, and Senate Bill 97 also passed in the South Dakota House of Representatives by a vote of 53-14.

According to the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, the state currently has approximately 72,221 veterans. The number of female veterans is estimated to be nearly 10%. The total number of veterans in Grant County is 652; Roberts County, 641; and Deuel County, 405.

As with the other military specialty plates, the vehicle owner must meet all the requirements. The new woman veteran plate will designate the owner as a woman and a veteran, and the final plate design might also allow for an indication of the conflict, rank, or status of the veteran.

Available military specialty plates include:
(1) National Guard plate
(2) Disabled veteran plate
(3) Veteran plate
(4) Active duty plate
(5) Prisoner of War plate
(6) Pearl Harbor survivor plate
(7) Gold Star plate
(8) Purple Heart plate
(9) Medal of Honor plate
(10) Silver Star plate
(11) Distinguished Service Cross plate
(12) Navy Cross plate
(13) Air Force Cross plate
(14) Distinguished Flying Cross plate
(15) Bronze Star with Valor plate
(16) Bronze Star plate
(17) Tribal veteran plate
(18) Woman veteran plate