AUGUSTA (NEWS CENTER Maine)-- For the first time, a new Maine license plate specifically for emergency medical service workers is available.
The plate was released Tuesday morning in Augusta. EMS personal say this new plate will allow them to be identified faster when they arrive in their private vehicles to the scene of an emergency. Secretary of State, Matthew Dunlap, said the license plate will be immediately visible to law enforcement personnel at the scene of an accident, allowing the medical professional to save time on vetting to cross the safety blockade, or assure a family that a medical professional has arrived at a home where a loved one needs emergency assistance.
For paramedic and regional EMS director Rick Petrie, the new plate means Maine lawmakers are listening to the needs of its first responders.
"The Legislature and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles is recognizing the role that EMS workers play in Maine," said Petrie. "We have six thousand licensed providers in the state responding 200 thousand times a year. "
The effort to make the EMS license plates happen was started by a bill sponsored by Rep. Frances Head (R-Bethel) last April. The new Maine EMS plate joins 28 other states with similar special license plates. A licensed emergency medical technician (EMT) can obtain a plate through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles by filling out an application and providing the necessary credentials.
The plate will require standard registration fees as well as a one time payment of $5 during the initial purchase of the plate.