WEST virginia
legislature
2017 regular session
By
[
to the Committee on Roads and Transportation then Finance.
A BILL to amend and
reenact §17A-3-14 of the Code of West
Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the authority of the Commissioner of
Motor Vehicles to issue a special registration plate for persons who are
residents of this state and who have a family member diagnosed with autism
spectrum disorder who operates a motor vehicle in this state.
Be it enacted by the
Legislature of West Virginia:
That §17A-3-14 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be
amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 3. ORIGINAL
AND RENEWAL
OF REGISTRATION; ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES
OF TITLE.
§17A-3-14.
Registration plates generally; description of plates; issuance of
special numbers and plates; registration fees; special application fees;
exemptions; commissioner to promulgate forms; suspension and nonrenewal.
(a) The division upon registering
a vehicle shall issue to the owner one registration plate for a motorcycle,
trailer, semitrailer or other motor vehicle.
(b) Registration plates issued by
the division shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Every registration plate shall
be of reflectorized material and have displayed upon it the registration number
assigned to the vehicle for which it is issued; the name of this state, which
may be abbreviated; and the year number for which it is issued or the date of
expiration of the plate.
(2) Every registration plate and
the required letters and numerals on the plate shall be of sufficient size to
be plainly readable from a distance of one hundred feet during daylight: Provided, That the requirements of this
subdivision shall not apply to the year number for which the plate is issued or
the date of expiration.
(3) Registration numbering for
registration plates shall begin with number two.
(c) The division may not issue,
permit to be issued or distribute any special registration plates except as
follows:
(1) The Governor shall be issued
two registration plates, on one of which shall be imprinted the numeral one and
on the other the word one.
(2) State officials and judges may
be issued special registration plates as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application, the division shall
issue to the Secretary of State, State Superintendent of Schools, Auditor, Treasurer, Commissioner of
Agriculture and the Attorney General, the members of
both houses of the Legislature, including the elected officials of both houses
of the Legislature, the justices of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, the
representatives and senators of the state in the Congress of the United States,
the judges of the West Virginia circuit courts, active and retired on senior
status, the judges of the United States district courts for the State of West
Virginia and the judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the fourth circuit, if
any of the judges are residents of West Virginia, a special registration plate
for a Class A
motor vehicle and a special registration plate for a Class G motorcycle owned
by the official or his or her spouse: Provided,
That the division may issue a Class A special registration plate for each vehicle titled to
the official and a Class G special registration plate for each motorcycle
titled to the official.
(B) Each plate issued pursuant to
this subdivision shall bear any combination of letters and numbers not to
exceed an amount determined by the commissioner and a designation of the
office. Each plate shall supersede the regular
numbered plate assigned to the official or his or her spouse during the
official's
term of office and while the motor vehicle is owned by the official or his or
her spouse.
(C) The division shall charge an
annual fee of $15 for every registration plate issued pursuant to this
subdivision, which is in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(3) The division may issue members
of the National Guard forces special registration plates as follows:
(A) Upon receipt of an application on a form prescribed
by the division and receipt of written evidence from the chief executive
officer of the Army
National Guard or Air National Guard, as appropriate, or the commanding officer
of any United States Armed Forces reserve unit that the applicant is a member
thereof, the division shall issue to any member of the National Guard of this
state or a member of any reserve unit of the United States Armed Forces a special registration
plate designed by the commissioner for any number of Class A motor vehicles owned by the
member. Upon presentation of written
evidence of retirement status, retired members of this state's Army or Air National Guard, or retired members of any reserve
unit of the United States Armed Forces, are eligible to purchase the special
registration plate issued pursuant to this subdivision.
(B) The division shall charge an
initial application fee of $10 for each special registration plate issued
pursuant to this subdivision, which is in addition to all other fees required
by this chapter. Except as otherwise
provided herein, effective July 1, 2007, all fees currently held in the special
revolving fund used in the administration of this section and all fees
collected by the division shall be deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) A surviving spouse may continue to
use his or her deceased spouse's National Guard forces license plate until the
surviving spouse dies, remarries or does not renew the license plate.
(4) Specially arranged
registration plates may be issued as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application, any owner of a motor vehicle
subject to Class A registration, or a motorcycle subject to Class G
registration, as defined by this article, may request that the division issue a
registration plate bearing specially arranged letters or numbers with the
maximum number of letters or numbers to be determined by the commissioner. The division shall attempt to comply with the
request wherever possible.
(B) The commissioner shall propose
rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of chapter
twenty-nine-a of this code regarding the orderly distribution of the plates: Provided, That for purposes of this
subdivision, the registration plates requested and issued shall include all
plates bearing the numbers two through two thousand.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be charged
for each special registration plate issued pursuant to this subdivision, which
is in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(5) The division may issue
honorably discharged veterans special registration plates as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application, the division shall
issue to any honorably discharged veteran of any branch of the armed services
of the United States a special registration plate for any number of vehicles
titled in the name of the qualified applicant with an insignia designed by the
Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee is to
compensate the Division of Motor Vehicles for additional costs and services
required in the issuing of the special registration. All fees collected by the division shall be deposited in
the State Road Fund: Provided,
That nothing in this section may be construed to exempt any veteran from any
other provision of this chapter.
(C) A surviving spouse may continue to
use his or her deceased spouse's honorably discharged veterans license plate until the
surviving spouse dies, remarries or does not renew the license plate.
(6) The division may issue
disabled veterans special registration plates as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application, the division shall
issue to any disabled veteran who is exempt from the payment of registration
fees under the provisions of this chapter a registration plate for a vehicle
titled in the name of the qualified applicant which bears the letters
"DV" in red and also the regular identification numerals in red.
(B) A surviving spouse may continue to
use his or her deceased spouse's disabled veterans license plate until the surviving
spouse dies, remarries or does not renew the license plate.
(C) A qualified disabled veteran may
obtain a second disabled veterans license plate as described in this section
for use on a passenger vehicle titled in the name of the qualified applicant. The division shall charge a one-time fee of
$10 to be deposited into the State Road Fund, in addition to all other fees
required by this chapter, for the second plate.
(7) The division may issue
recipients of the distinguished Purple Heart medal special registration plates
as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application, there shall be issued
to any armed service person holding the distinguished Purple Heart medal for
persons wounded in combat a registration plate for a vehicle titled in the name
of the qualified applicant bearing letters or numbers. The registration plate shall be designed by
the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and shall denote that those individuals who
are granted this special registration plate are recipients of the Purple
Heart. All letterings shall be in purple where practical.
(B) Registration plates issued
pursuant to this subdivision are exempt from all registration fees otherwise
required by the provisions of this chapter.
(C) A surviving spouse may continue to
use his or her deceased spouse's Purple Heart medal license plate until the surviving
spouse dies, remarries or does not renew the license plate.
(D) A recipient of the Purple Heart
medal may obtain a second Purple Heart medal license plate as described in this
section for use on a passenger vehicle titled in the name of the qualified
applicant. The division shall charge a
one-time fee of $10 to be deposited into the State Road Fund, in addition to
all other fees required by this chapter, for the second plate.
(8) The division may issue
survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor special registration plates as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application, the owner of a motor
vehicle who was enlisted in any branch of the armed services that participated
in and survived the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the division
shall issue a special registration plate for a vehicle titled in the name of
the qualified applicant. The
registration plate shall be designed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.
(B) Registration plates issued
pursuant to this subdivision are exempt from the payment of all registration
fees otherwise required by the provisions of this chapter.
(C) A surviving spouse may continue to
use his or her deceased spouse's survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor license plate
until the surviving spouse dies, remarries or does not renew the license plate.
(D) A survivor of the attack on Pearl
Harbor may obtain a second survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor license
plate as described in this section for use on a passenger vehicle titled in the
name of the qualified applicant. The
division shall charge a one-time fee of $10 to be deposited into the State Road
Fund, in addition to all other fees required by this chapter, for the second
plate.
(9) The division may issue special
registration plates to nonprofit charitable and educational organizations
authorized under prior enactment of this subdivision as follows:
(A) Approved nonprofit charitable and educational
organizations previously authorized under the prior enactment of this
subdivision may accept and collect applications for special registration plates
from owners of Class A motor vehicles together with a special annual fee of $15,
which is in addition to all other fees required by this chapter. The applications and fees shall be submitted
to the Division of Motor Vehicles with the request that the division issue a
registration plate bearing a combination of letters or numbers with the
organizations'
logo or emblem, with the maximum number of letters or numbers to be determined
by the commissioner.
(B) The commissioner shall propose
rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article
three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code regarding the procedures for and
approval of special registration plates issued pursuant to this subdivision.
(C) The commissioner shall set an
appropriate fee to defray the administrative costs associated with designing
and manufacturing special registration plates for a nonprofit charitable or
educational organization. The nonprofit
charitable or educational organization shall collect this fee and forward it to
the division for deposit in the State Road Fund. The nonprofit charitable or educational
organization may also collect a fee for marketing the special registration
plates.
(10) The division may issue
specified emergency or volunteer registration plates as follows:
(A) Any owner of a motor vehicle who is a resident of the
State of West Virginia and who is a certified paramedic or emergency medical
technician, a member of a paid fire department, a member of the state Fire
Commission, the State Fire Marshal, the State Fire Marshal's assistants, the State Fire Administrator and voluntary rescue
squad members may apply for a special license plate for any number of Class A vehicles titled in the name of
the qualified applicant which bears the insignia of the profession, group or
commission. Any insignia shall be designed by
the commissioner. License plates issued
pursuant to this subdivision shall bear the requested insignia in addition to
the registration number issued to the applicant pursuant to the provisions of
this article.
(B) Each application submitted
pursuant to this subdivision shall be accompanied by an affidavit signed by the
fire chief or department head of the applicant stating that the applicant is
justified in having a registration with the requested insignia; proof of
compliance with all laws of this state regarding registration and licensure of
motor vehicles; and payment of all required fees.
(C) Each application submitted
pursuant to this subdivision shall be accompanied by payment of a special
initial application fee of $10, which is in addition to any other registration
or license fee required by this chapter.
All
special fees shall be collected by the division and deposited into the state
Road Fund.
(11) The division may issue
specified certified firefighter registration plates as follows:
(A) Any owner of a motor vehicle who is a resident of the
State of West Virginia and who is a certified firefighter may apply for a
special license plate which bears the insignia of the profession, for any
number of Class A vehicles titled in the name of the qualified applicant. Any insignia shall be designed by the commissioner. License plates issued pursuant to this
subdivision shall bear the requested insignia pursuant to the provisions of
this article. Upon presentation of
written evidence of certification as a certified firefighter, certified
firefighters are eligible to purchase the special registration plate issued
pursuant to this subdivision.
(B) Each application submitted
pursuant to this subdivision shall be accompanied by an affidavit stating that the
applicant is justified in having a registration with the requested insignia;
proof of compliance with all laws of this state regarding registration and
licensure of motor vehicles; and payment of all required fees. The firefighter certification department,
section or division of the West Virginia University fire service extension
shall notify the commissioner in writing immediately when a firefighter loses
his or her certification. If a
firefighter loses his or her certification, the commissioner may not issue him
or her a license plate under this subsection.
(C) Each application submitted
pursuant to this subdivision shall be accompanied by payment of a special
initial application fee of $10, which is in addition to any other registration
or license fee required by this chapter.
All
special fees shall be collected by the division and deposited into the State
Road Fund.
(12) The division may issue
special scenic registration plates as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application, the commissioner shall
issue a special registration plate displaying a scenic design of West Virginia
which displays the words "Wild Wonderful" as a slogan.
(B) The division shall charge a
special one-time initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees
required by this chapter. All initial application fees
collected by the division shall be deposited into the State Road Fund.
(13) The division may issue
honorably discharged Marine Corps league members special registration plates as
follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application, the division shall
issue to any honorably discharged Marine Corps league member a special
registration plate for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the
qualified applicant with an insignia designed by the Commissioner of the
Division of Motor Vehicles.
(B) The division may charge a
special one-time initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees
required by this chapter. This special
fee is to compensate the Division of Motor Vehicles for additional costs and
services required in the issuing of the special registration and shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund: Provided, That nothing in this section
may be construed to exempt any veteran from any other provision of this
chapter.
(C) A surviving spouse may continue to
use his or her deceased spouse's honorably discharged Marine Corps League license
plate until the surviving spouse dies, remarries or does not renew the license
plate.
(14) The division may issue
military organization registration plates as follows:
(A) The division may issue a special registration plate
for the members of any military organization chartered by the United States
Congress upon receipt of a guarantee from the organization of a minimum of one
hundred applicants. The insignia on the
plate shall be designed by the commissioner.
(B) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue members of the chartered organization in good standing,
as determined by the governing body of the chartered organization, a special
registration plate for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the
qualified applicant.
(C) The division shall charge a
special one-time initial application fee of $10 for each special license plate
in addition to all other fees required by this chapter. All initial application fees collected by the division
shall be deposited into the State Road Fund:
Provided, That nothing in this section may be construed to exempt
any veteran from any other provision of this chapter.
(D) A surviving spouse may continue to
use his or her deceased spouse's military organization registration plate until the
surviving spouse dies, remarries or does not renew the special military
organization registration plate.
(15) The division may issue
special nongame wildlife registration plates and special wildlife registration
plates as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application, the division shall
issue a special registration plate displaying a species of West Virginia
wildlife which shall display a species of wildlife native to West Virginia as
prescribed and designated by the commissioner and the Director of the Division
of Natural Resources.
(B) The division shall charge an
annual fee of $15 for each special nongame wildlife registration plate and each
special wildlife registration plate in addition to all other fees required by
this chapter. All annual fees collected for
nongame wildlife registration plates and wildlife registration plates shall be
deposited in a special revenue account designated the Nongame Wildlife Fund and
credited to the Division of Natural Resources.
(C) The division shall charge a
special one-time initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees
required by this chapter. All initial application fees
collected by the division shall be deposited in the State Road Fund.
(16) The division may issue
members of the Silver Haired Legislature special registration plates as
follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application, the division shall
issue to any person who is a duly qualified member of the Silver Haired Legislature
a specialized registration plate which bears recognition of the applicant as a
member of the Silver Haired Legislature.
(B) A qualified member of the Silver
Haired Legislature may obtain one registration plate described in this
subdivision for use on a passenger vehicle titled in the name of the qualified
applicant. The division shall charge an
annual fee of $15, in addition to all other fees required by this chapter, for
the plate. All annual fees collected by the
division shall be deposited in the State Road Fund.
(17) Upon appropriate application,
the commissioner shall issue to a classic motor vehicle or classic motorcycle
as defined in section three-a, article ten of this chapter, a special
registration plate designed by the commissioner. An annual fee of $15, in addition to all other fees
required by this chapter, shall be charged for each classic registration plate.
(18) Honorably discharged veterans
may be issued special registration plates for motorcycles subject to Class G
registration as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application, there shall be issued
to any honorably discharged veteran of any branch of the armed services of the
United States a special registration plate for any number of motorcycles
subject to Class G registration titled in the name of the qualified applicant
with an insignia designed by the Commissioner of the Division of Motor
Vehicles.
(B) A special initial application fee
of $10 shall be charged in addition to all other fees required by law. This special fee is to be collected by the
division and deposited in the State Road Fund:
Provided, That nothing in this section may be construed to exempt
any veteran from any other provision of this chapter.
(C) A surviving spouse may continue to
use his or her deceased spouse's honorably discharged veterans license plate until the
surviving spouse dies, remarries or does not renew the license plate.
(19) Racing theme special
registration plates:
(A) The division may issue a series of special
registration plates displaying National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing themes.
(B) An annual fee of $25 shall be
charged for each special racing theme registration plate in addition to all
other fees required by this chapter. All annual fees collected for each
special racing theme registration plate shall be deposited into the State Road
Fund.
(C) A special application fee of $10
shall be charged at the time of initial application as well as upon application
for any duplicate or replacement registration plate, in addition to all other
fees required by this chapter. All application fees shall be
deposited into the State Road Fund.
(20) The division may issue
recipients of the Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Flying
Cross, Air
Force Cross, Bronze Star, Silver Star or Air Medal special registration plates as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application, the division shall
issue to any recipient of the Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross,
Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star or Air Medal, a registration plate for
any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified applicant bearing
letters or numbers. A separate registration plate shall
be designed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles for each award that denotes
that those individuals who are granted this special registration plate are
recipients of the Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Flying
Cross, Air
Force Cross, Silver Star or Bronze Star, or Air Medal as applicable.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund: Provided, That nothing in this section
exempts the applicant for a special registration plate under this subdivision
from any other provision of this chapter.
(C) A surviving spouse may continue to
use his or her deceased spouse's Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross,
Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star or Air Medal special registration
plate until the surviving spouse dies, remarries or does not renew the special
registration plate.
(21) The division may issue
honorably discharged veterans special registration plates as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application, the division shall
issue to any honorably discharged veteran of any branch of the armed services
of the United States with verifiable service during World War II, the Korean
War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War or the War Against Terrorism a special
registration plate for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the
qualified applicant with an insignia designed by the commissioner denoting
service in the applicable conflict.
(B) The division shall charge a
special one-time initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees
required by law. This special fee shall
be collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund: Provided, That nothing contained in
this section may be construed to exempt any veteran from any other provision of
this chapter.
(C) A surviving spouse may continue to
use his or her deceased spouse's honorably discharged veterans registration plate
until the surviving spouse dies, remarries or does not renew the special
registration plate.
(22) The division may issue
special volunteer firefighter registration plates as follows:
(A) Any owner of a motor vehicle who is a resident of West
Virginia and who is a volunteer firefighter may apply for a special license
plate for any Class A vehicle titled in the name of the qualified applicant which
bears the insignia of the profession in white letters on a red background. The insignia shall be designed by the
commissioner and shall contain a fireman's helmet insignia on the left side of the license
plate.
(B) Each application submitted
pursuant to this subdivision shall be accompanied by an affidavit signed by the
applicant's
fire chief, stating that the applicant is a volunteer firefighter and justified
in having a registration plate with the requested insignia. The applicant must comply with all other laws
of this state regarding registration and licensure of motor vehicles and must
pay all required fees.
(C) Each application submitted
pursuant to this subdivision shall be accompanied by payment of a special one-time
initial application fee of $10, which is in addition to any other registration
or license fee required by this chapter.
All
application fees shall be deposited into the State Road Fund.
(23) The division may issue
special registration plates which reflect patriotic themes, including the
display of any United States symbol, icon, phrase or expression which evokes
patriotic pride or recognition.
(A) Upon appropriate application, the division shall
issue to an applicant a registration plate of the applicant's choice, displaying a patriotic
theme as provided in this subdivision, for a vehicle titled in the name of the
applicant. A series of registration plates
displaying patriotic themes shall be designed by the Commissioner of Motor
Vehicles for distribution to applicants.
(B) The division shall charge a
special one-time initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees
required by law. This special fee shall
be collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(24) Special license plates
bearing the American
flag and the logo "9/11/01".
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division shall issue special registration plates which shall display the
American flag and the logo "9/11/01".
(B) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(C) A special application fee of
$10 shall be charged at the time of initial application as well as upon application
for any duplicate or replacement registration plate, in addition to all other
fees required by this chapter. All
application fees shall be deposited into the State Road Fund.
(25) The division may issue a
special registration plate celebrating the centennial of the 4-H youth
development movement and honoring the Future Farmers of America organization as
follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate depicting the symbol of the
4-H organization which represents the head, heart, hands and health as well as
the symbol of the Future Farmers of America organization which represents a
cross section of an ear of corn for any number of vehicles titled in the name
of the qualified applicant.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) The division shall charge an
annual fee of $15 for each special 4-H Future Farmers of America registration
plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(26) The division may issue
special registration plates to educators in the state's elementary and secondary schools
and in the state's institutions of higher education as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified
applicant.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) The division shall charge an
annual fee of $15 for each special educator registration plate in addition to
all other fees required by this chapter.
(27) The division may issue
special registration plates to members of the Nemesis Shrine as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified
applicant. Persons desiring the special
registration plate shall offer sufficient proof of membership in Nemesis
Shrine.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(D) Notwithstanding the provisions
of subsection (d) of this section, the time period for the Nemesis Shrine to
comply with the minimum one hundred prepaid applications is hereby extended to
January 15, 2005.
(28) The division may issue
volunteers and employees of the American Red Cross special registration plates
as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division shall issue to any person who is a duly qualified volunteer or
employee of the American Red Cross a specialized registration plate which bears
recognition of the applicant as a volunteer or employee of the American Red
Cross for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified applicant.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(29) The division shall issue
special registration plates to individuals who have received either the Combat
Infantry Badge or the Combat Medic Badge as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division shall issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified
applicant. Persons desiring the special
registration plate shall offer sufficient proof that they have received either
the Combat Infantry Badge or the Combat Medic Badge.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(30) The division may issue
special registration plates to members of the Knights of Columbus as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division shall issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified
applicant. Persons desiring the special
registration plate shall offer sufficient proof of membership in the Knights of
Columbus.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(D) Notwithstanding the provisions
of subsection (d) of this section, the time period for the Knights of Columbus
to comply with the minimum one hundred prepaid applications is hereby extended
to January 15, 2007.
(31) The division may issue
special registration plates to former members of the Legislature as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division shall issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified
applicant. Persons desiring the special
registration plate shall offer sufficient proof of former service as an elected
or appointed member of the West Virginia House of Delegates or the West
Virginia Senate.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund. The design of the plate shall indicate total
years of service in the Legislature.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(32) Democratic state or county
executive committee member special registration plates:
(A) The division shall design and
issue special registration plates for use by democratic state or county
executive committee members. The design
of the plates shall include an insignia of a donkey and shall differentiate by
wording on the plate between state and county executive committee members.
(B) An annual fee of $25 shall be
charged for each democratic state or county executive committee member registration
plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter. All annual fees collected for each special
plate issued under this subdivision shall be deposited into the State Road
Fund.
(C) A special application fee of
$10 shall be charged at the time of initial application as well as upon
application for any duplicate or replacement registration plate, in addition to
all other fees required by this chapter.
All application fees shall be deposited into the State Road Fund.
(D) The division shall not begin
production of a plate authorized under the provisions of this subdivision until
the division receives at least one hundred completed applications from the
state or county executive committee members, including all fees required
pursuant to this subdivision.
(E) Notwithstanding the provisions
of subsection (d) of this section, the time period for the democratic executive
committee to comply with the minimum one hundred prepaid applications is hereby
extended to January 15, 2005.
(33) The division may issue
honorably discharged female veterans special registration plates as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
there shall be issued to any female honorably discharged veteran, of any branch
of the armed services of the United States, a special registration plate for
any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified applicant with an
insignia designed by the Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles to
designate the recipient as a woman veteran.
(B) A special initial application
fee of $10 shall be charged in addition to all other fees required by law. This special fee shall be collected by the
division and deposited in the State Road Fund:
Provided, That nothing in this section may be construed to exempt
any veteran from any other provision of this chapter.
(C) A surviving spouse may
continue to use his deceased spouse's honorably discharged veterans license
plate until the surviving spouse dies, remarries or does not renew the license
plate.
(34) The division may issue
special registration plates bearing the logo, symbol, insignia, letters or
words demonstrating association with West Liberty State College to any resident
owner of a motor vehicle. Resident
owners may apply for the special license plate for any number of Class A vehicles
titled in the name of the applicant. The
special registration plates shall be designed by the commissioner. Each application submitted pursuant to this
subdivision shall be accompanied by payment of a special initial application
fee of $15, which is in addition to any other registration or license fee
required by this chapter. The division
shall charge an annual fee of $15 for each special registration plate in
addition to all other fees required by this chapter. All special fees shall be collected by the
division and deposited into the State Road Fund.
(35) The division may issue
special registration plates to members of the Harley Owners Group as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified
applicant. Persons desiring the special
registration plate shall offer sufficient proof of membership in the Harley
Owners Group.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(36) The division may issue
special registration plates for persons retired from any branch of the armed
services of the United States as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
there shall be issued to any person who has retired after service in any branch
of the armed services of the United States, a special registration plate for
any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified applicant with an
insignia designed by the Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles to
designate the recipient as retired from the armed services of the United
States.
(B) A special initial application
fee of $10 shall be charged in addition to all other fees required by law. This special fee shall be collected by the
division and deposited in the State Road Fund:
Provided, That nothing in this section may be construed to exempt
any registrants from any other provision of this chapter.
(C) A surviving spouse may
continue to use his or her deceased spouse's retired military license plate until the surviving
spouse dies, remarries or does not renew the license plate.
(37) The division may issue
special registration plates bearing the logo, symbol, insignia, letters or
words demonstrating association with or support for Fairmont State College as
follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified
applicant.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(38) The division may issue
special registration plates honoring the farmers of West Virginia as follows:
(A) Any owner of a motor vehicle
who is a resident of West Virginia may apply for a special license plate
depicting a farming scene or other apt reference to farming, whether in
pictures or words, at the discretion of the commissioner.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10.
This special fee shall be collected by the division and deposited in the
State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(39) The division shall issue
special registration plates promoting education as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division shall issue a special registration plate displaying a children's education-related theme as
prescribed and designated by the commissioner and the State Superintendent of
Schools.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(40) The division may issue
members of the 82nd Airborne Division Association special registration plates
as follows:
(A) The division may issue a
special registration plate for members of the 82nd Airborne Division
Association upon receipt of a guarantee from the organization of a minimum of
one hundred applicants. The insignia on
the plate shall be designed by the commissioner.
(B) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue members of the 82nd Airborne Division Association in
good standing, as determined by the governing body of the organization, a
special registration plate for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the
qualified applicant.
(C) The division shall charge a
special one-time initial application fee of $10 for each special license plate
in addition to all other fees required by this chapter. All initial application fees collected by the
division shall be deposited into the State Road Fund: Provided, That nothing in this section
may be construed to exempt the applicant from any other provision of this
chapter.
(D) A surviving spouse may
continue to use his or her deceased spouse's special 82nd Airborne Division Association
registration plate until the surviving spouse dies, remarries or does not renew
the special registration plate.
(41) The division may issue
special registration plates to survivors of wounds received in the line of duty
as a member with a West Virginia law-enforcement agency.
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division shall issue to any member of a municipal police department,
sheriff's
department, the State Police or the law-enforcement division of the Division of
Natural Resources who has been wounded in the line of duty and awarded a Purple
Heart in recognition thereof by the West Virginia Chiefs of Police Association,
the West Virginia Sheriffs' Association, the West Virginia Troopers Association or
the Division of Natural Resources a special registration plate for one vehicle
titled in the name of the qualified applicant with an insignia appropriately
designed by the commissioner.
(B) Registration plates issued
pursuant to this subdivision are exempt from the registration fees otherwise
required by the provisions of this chapter.
(C) A surviving spouse may
continue to use his or her deceased spouse's special registration plate until the surviving spouse
dies, remarries or does not renew the plate.
(D) Survivors of wounds received
in the line of duty as a member with a West Virginia law-enforcement agency may
obtain a license plate as described in this section for use on a passenger
vehicle titled in the name of the qualified applicant. The division shall charge a one-time fee of
$10 to be deposited into the State Road Fund, in addition to all other fees
required by this chapter, for the second plate.
(42) The division may issue a
special registration plate for persons who are Native Americans and residents
of this state.
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division shall issue to an applicant who is a Native American resident of
West Virginia a registration plate for a vehicle titled in the name of the
applicant with an insignia designed by the Commissioner of the Division of
Motor Vehicles to designate the recipient as a Native American.
(B) The division shall charge a
special one-time initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees
required by law. This special fee shall
be collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(43) The division may issue
special registration plates commemorating the centennial anniversary of the
creation of Davis and Elkins College as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the commissioner
to commemorate the centennial anniversary of Davis and Elkins College for any
number of vehicles titled in the name of the applicant.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10.
This special fee shall be collected by the division and deposited in the
State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(44) The division may issue
special registration plates recognizing and honoring breast cancer survivors.
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner to recognize and honor breast cancer survivors, such plate to
incorporate somewhere in the design the "pink ribbon emblem", for any
number of vehicles titled in the name of the applicant.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10.
This special fee shall be deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(45) The division may issue
special registration plates to members of the Knights of Pythias or Pythian
Sisters as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified
applicant. Persons desiring the special
registration plate shall offer sufficient proof of membership in the Knights of
Pythias or Pythian Sisters.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(46) The commissioner may issue
special registration plates for whitewater rafting enthusiasts as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified
applicant.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) The division shall charge an
annual fee of $15 for each special registration plate in addition to all other
fees required by this chapter.
(47) The division may issue
special registration plates to members of Lions International as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner in consultation with Lions International for any number of
vehicles titled in the name of the qualified applicant. Persons desiring the special registration
plate shall offer sufficient proof of membership in Lions International.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(48) The division may issue
special registration plates supporting organ donation as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner which recognizes, supports and honors organ and tissue donors and
includes the words "Donate Life".
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(49) The division may issue
special registration plates to members of the West Virginia Bar Association as
follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner in consultation with the West Virginia Bar Association for any
number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified applicant. Persons desiring the special registration
plate shall offer sufficient proof of membership in the West Virginia Bar
Association.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(50) The division may issue
special registration plates bearing an appropriate logo, symbol or insignia
combined with the words "SHARE THE ROAD" designed to promote
bicycling in the state as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the applicant.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(51) The division may issue
special registration plates honoring coal miners as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division shall issue a special registration plate depicting and displaying
coal miners in mining activities as prescribed and designated by the
commissioner and the board of the National Coal Heritage Area Authority.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(52) The division may issue
special registration plates to present and former Boy Scouts as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
Commissioner for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified
applicant. Persons desiring the special registration
plate shall offer sufficient proof of present or past membership in the Boy
Scouts as either a member or a leader.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(53) The division may issue
special registration plates to present and former Boy Scouts who have achieved
Eagle Scout status as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified applicant. Persons desiring the special registration
plate shall offer sufficient proof of achievement of Eagle Scout status.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(54) The division may issue
special registration plates recognizing and memorializing victims of domestic
violence.
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner to recognize and memorialize victims of domestic violence, such
plate to incorporate somewhere in the design the "purple ribbon
emblem", for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the applicant.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10.
This special fee shall be deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(55) The division may issue
special registration plates bearing the logo, symbol, insignia, letters or
words demonstrating association with or support for the University of
Charleston as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified
applicant.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(56) The division may issue
special registration plates to members of the Sons of the American Revolution
as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner in consultation with the Sons of the American Revolution for any
number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified applicant. Persons desiring the special registration
plate shall offer sufficient proof of membership in the Sons of the American
Revolution.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(57) The commissioner may issue
special registration plates for horse enthusiasts as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the commissioner
for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified applicant.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) The division shall charge an
annual fee of $15 for each special registration plate in addition to all other
fees required by this chapter.
(58) The commissioner may issue
special registration plates to the next of kin of a member of any branch of the
armed services of the United States killed in combat as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division shall issue a special registration plate for any number of
vehicles titled in the name of a qualified applicant depicting the Gold Star
awarded by the United States Department of Defense as prescribed and designated
by the commissioner.
(B) The next of kin shall provide
sufficient proof of receiving a Gold Star lapel button from the United States
Department of Defense in accordance with Public Law 534, 89th Congress, and
criteria established by the United States Department of Defense, including
criteria to determine next of kin.
(C) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be
collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(D) The provisions of subsection
(d) of this section are not applicable for the issuance of the special license
plates designated by this subdivision.
(59) The commissioner may issue
special registration plates for retired or former Justices of the Supreme Court
of Appeals of West Virginia as follows:
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner for any number of vehicles titled in the name of the qualified
applicant.
(B) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees required
by law. This special fee shall be collected
by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) The division shall charge an
annual fee of $15 for each special registration plate in addition to all other
fees required by this chapter.
(D) The provisions of subsection
(d) of this section are not applicable for the issuance of the special license
plates designated by this subdivision.
(60) The division may issue a
special registration plate for persons who are residents of this state and who
have a family member diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who operates a
motor vehicle in this state.
(A) Upon appropriate application,
the division shall issue to an applicant who is a resident of West Virginia a
registration plate for a vehicle titled in the name of the applicant, who has a
family member diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who operates a motor
vehicle in this state, with an insignia designed by the Commissioner of the
Division of Motor Vehicles to designate the recipient has a family member
driver diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
(B) The division shall charge a
special one-time initial application fee of $10 in addition to all other fees
required by law. This special fee shall
be collected by the division and deposited in the State Road Fund.
(C) An annual fee of $15 shall be
charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.
(60) (61) Upon approval by the
commissioner of an appropriate application, and upon all requirements of this
subdivision being satisfied, the division may issue special registration plates
for class A and class G motor vehicles to members of an organization for which
a special registration plate has not been issued pursuant to any other
subdivision in this subsection prior to January 1, 2010, in accordance with the
provisions of this subdivision.
(A) An organization desiring to
create a special registration plate must comply with the following
requirements to be eligible to apply for
the creation and issuance of a special registration plate:
(i) The organization must be a nonprofit
organization organized and existing under Section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the
Internal Revenue Code and based, headquartered or have a chapter in West
Virginia;
(ii) The organization may be
organized for, but may not be restricted to, social, civic, higher education or
entertainment purposes;
(iii) The organization may not be
a political party and may not have been created or exist primarily to promote a
specific political or social belief, as determined by the commissioner in his
or her sole discretion;
(iv) The organization may not have
as its primary purpose the promotion of any specific faith, religion, religious
belief or antireligion;
(v) The name of the organization
may not be the name of a special product or brand name, and may not be construed,
as determined by the commissioner, as promoting a product or brand name; and
(vi) The organization's lettering, logo, image or
message to be placed on the registration plate, if created, may not be obscene,
offensive or objectionable as determined by the commissioner in his or her sole
discretion.
(B) Beginning July 1, 2010, an
organization requesting the creation and issuance of a special registration
plate may make application with the division.
The application shall include sufficient information, as determined by
the commissioner, to determine whether the special registration plate requested
and the organization making the application meet all of the requirements set
forth in this subdivision (60) (61). The application shall also include a proposed
design, including lettering, logo, image or message to be placed on the
registration plate. The commissioner
shall notify the organization of the commissioner's approval or disapproval of the
application.
(C) (i) The commissioner may not
begin the design or production of any license plates authorized and approved
pursuant to this subdivision (60) (61), subsection (c) of this
section until the organization which applied for the special registration plate
has collected and submitted collectively to the division applications completed
by at least two hundred fifty persons and collectively deposited with the
division all fees necessary to cover the
first year's
basic registration, one-time design and manufacturing costs and to cover the
first year additional annual fee for all of the applications submitted.
(ii) If the organization fails to
submit the required number of applications and fees within six months of the
effective date of the approval of the application for the plate by the
commissioner, the plate will not be produced until a new application is
submitted and is approved by the commissioner:
Provided, That an organization that is unsuccessful in obtaining
the minimum number of applications may not make a new application for a special
plate until at least two years have passed since the approval of the previous
application of the organization.
(D) The division shall charge a
special initial application fee of $25 for each special license plate in addition
to all other fees required by law. This
special fee shall be collected by the division and deposited in the State Road
Fund.
(E) The division shall charge an
annual fee of $15 for each special registration plate in addition to all other
fees required by this chapter.
(F) Upon appropriate application,
the division may issue a special registration plate designed by the
commissioner in consultation with the organization for any number of vehicles
titled in the name of a qualified registration plate applicant. Persons desiring the special registration
plate shall offer sufficient proof of membership in the organization.
(G) The commissioner shall
discontinue the issuance or renewal of the registration of any special plate
issued pursuant to this subdivision (60) (61) if:
(i) The number of valid
registrations for the specialty plate falls below two hundred fifty plates for
at least twelve consecutive months; or
(ii) The organization no longer
exists or no longer meets the requirements of this subdivision.
(d) The minimum number of
applications required prior to design and production of a special license plate
shall be as follows:
(1) The commissioner may not begin
the design or production of any license plates for which eligibility is based
on membership or affiliation with a particular private organization until at
least one hundred persons complete an application and deposit with the
organization a check to cover the first
year's basic registration,
one-time design and manufacturing costs and to cover the first year additional
annual fee. If the organization fails to
submit the required number of applications with attached checks within six
months of the effective date of the original authorizing legislation, the plate
will not be produced and will require legislative reauthorization: Provided, That an organization or
group that is unsuccessful in obtaining the minimum number of applications may
not request reconsideration of a special plate until at least two years have
passed since the effective date of the original authorization: Provided, however, That the provisions
of this subdivision (1) are not applicable to the issuance of plates authorized
pursuant to subdivision (60) (61), subsection (c) of this
section.
(2) The commissioner may not begin
the design or production of any license plates authorized by this section for
which membership or affiliation with a particular organization is not required
until at least two hundred fifty registrants complete an application and
deposit a fee with the division to cover the first year's basic registration fee, one-time
design and manufacturing fee and additional annual fee if applicable. If the commissioner fails to receive the
required number of applications within six months of the effective date of the
original authorizing legislation, the plate will not be produced and will
require legislative reauthorization: Provided,
That if the minimum number of applications is not satisfied within the six
months of the effective date of the original authorizing legislation, a person
may not request reconsideration of a special plate until at least two years
have passed since the effective date of the original authorization.
(e) (1) Nothing in this section
requires a charge for a free prisoner of war license plate or a free recipient
of the Congressional Medal of Honor license plate for a vehicle titled in the
name of the qualified applicant as authorized by other provisions of this code.
(2) A surviving spouse may
continue to use his or her deceased spouse's prisoner of war license plate or Congressional Medal
of Honor license plate until the surviving spouse dies, remarries or does not
renew the license plate.
(3) Qualified former prisoners of
war and recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor may obtain a second
special registration plate for use on a passenger vehicle titled in the name of
the qualified applicant. The division
shall charge a one-time fee of $10 to be deposited into the State Road Fund, in
addition to all other fees required by this chapter, for the second special
plate.
(f) The division may issue special
ten-year registration plates as follows:
(1) The commissioner may issue or
renew for a period of no more than ten years any registration plate exempted
from registration fees pursuant to any provision of this code or any restricted
use antique motor vehicle license plate authorized by section three-a, article
ten of this chapter: Provided,
That the provisions of this subsection do not apply to any person who has had a
special registration suspended for failure to maintain motor vehicle liability
insurance as required by section three, article two-a, chapter seventeen-d of
this code or failure to pay personal property taxes as required by section
three-a of this article.
(2) An initial nonrefundable fee shall
be charged for each special registration plate issued pursuant to this
subsection, which is the total amount of fees required by section fifteen,
article ten of this chapter, section three, article three of this chapter or
section three-a, article ten of this chapter for the period requested.
(g) The provisions of this section
may not be construed to exempt any registrant from maintaining motor vehicle
liability insurance as required by section three, article two-a, chapter
seventeen-d of this code or from paying personal property taxes on any motor
vehicle as required by section three-a of this article.
(h) The commissioner may, in his
or her discretion, issue a registration plate of reflectorized material
suitable for permanent use on motor vehicles, trailers and semitrailers,
together with appropriate devices to be attached to the registration to
indicate the year for which the vehicles have been properly registered or the
date of expiration of the registration.
The design and expiration of the plates shall be determined by the
commissioner. The commissioner shall,
whenever possible and cost effective, implement the latest technology in the
design, production and issuance of registration plates, indices of registration
renewal and vehicle ownership documents, including, but not limited to,
offering Internet renewal of vehicle registration and the use of bar codes for
instant identification of vehicles by scanning equipment to promote the
efficient and effective coordination and communication of data for improving
highway safety, aiding law enforcement and enhancing revenue collection.
(i) Any license plate issued or
renewed pursuant to this chapter which is paid for by a check that is returned
for nonsufficient funds is void without further notice to the applicant. The applicant may not reinstate the
registration until the returned check is paid by the applicant in cash, money
order or certified check and all applicable fees assessed as a result thereof
have been paid.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is
to authorize the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to issue a special registration
plate for persons who are residents of this state and who have a family member
diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who operates a motor vehicle in this
state.
Strike-throughs indicate language
that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring
indicates new language that would be added.