hb2511 sub

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
H. B. 2511

(By Delegates Stalnaker, Beane, Warner,
Fragale, Cann, Azinger and Iaquinta)
(Originating in the Committee on Roads and Transportation)

[February 13, 2003]

A BILL to amend and reenact sections fourteen and twenty-three, article three, chapter seventeen-a of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, all relating to original and renewal of registration plates; authorizing the issuance of special motor vehicle license plates for members of the Nemesis Shrine, volunteers and employees of the American Red Cross, individuals who have received the Combat Infantry Badge or Combat Medic Badge, members of the Knights of Columbus and former members of the Legislature; prescribing fees; providing that special registration plates may only be issued to those nonprofit charitable and educational organizations authorized by prior law; prohibiting the commissioner of motor vehicles from approving or authorizing additional nonprofit charitable and educational organizations to design or market special registration plates; eliminating the requirement that a certified firefighter produce annual evidence of certification; requiring the West Virginia university fire service extension to notify the division of motor vehicles when a firefighter loses his or her certification; making technical corrections; removing the restriction on the number of plates a volunteer firefighter may obtain and increasing the cost of those plates; prohibiting the division of motor vehicles from beginning the design or production of any license plate based on membership or affiliation with a private organization until a minimum number of persons have applied and paid for the plate; procedure where minimum number not met by private organization; and providing that the division of protective services may have up to five class a license plates.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That sections fourteen and twenty-three, article three, chapter seventeen-a of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted, all 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.

(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 fifteen dollars 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 ten dollars for each special registration plate issued pursuant to this subdivision, which is in addition to all other fees required by this chapter. All initial application fees collected by the division shall be deposited into a special revolving fund to be used in the administration of this section.

(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 fifteen dollars 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 ten dollars 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 and shall be collected by the division and deposited in a special revolving fund to be used for the administration of this section: 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 veteran 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 ten dollars to be deposited into a special revolving fund to be used in the administration of this section, 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 ten dollars to be deposited into a special revolving fund to be used in the administration of this section, 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 the seventh day of December, one thousand nine hundred forty-one, 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 ten dollars to be deposited into a special revolving fund to be used in the administration of this section, 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 fifteen dollars, 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 a special revolving fund to pay the administrative costs. The nonprofit charitable or educational organization may also collect a fee for marketing the special registration plates.

(D) The commissioner may not approve or authorize any additional nonprofit charitable and educational organizations to design or market 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 ten dollars, 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 a special revolving fund to be used for the purpose of compensating the division of motor vehicles for additional costs and services required in the issuing of the special registration and for the administration of this section.

(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 year an application submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be accompanied by an affidavit ~~signed by the West Virginia state fire commission or a copy of the applicant's certification as a certified firefighter, with certification number,~~ 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 year an application submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be accompanied by payment of a special initial application fee of ten dollars, 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 a special revolving fund to be used for the purpose of compensating the division of motor vehicles for additional costs and services required in the issuing of the special registration and for the administration of this section.

(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 ten dollars in addition to all other fees required by this chapter. All initial application fees collected by the division shall be deposited into a special revolving fund to be used in the administration of this chapter.

(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 ten dollars 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 a special revolving fund to be used for the administration of this section: 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 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 ten dollars 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 a special revolving fund to be used in the administration of this chapter: 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 fifteen dollars 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 ten dollars in addition to all other fees required by this chapter. All initial application fees collected by the division shall be deposited in a special revolving fund to be used in the administration of this chapter.

(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 fifteen dollars, in addition to all other fees required by this chapter, for the plate. All annual fees collected by the division shall be deposited in a special revolving fund to be used in the administration of this chapter.

(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 fifteen dollars, 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 ten dollars shall be charged 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 and shall be collected by the division and deposited in a special revolving fund to be used for the administration of this section: 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 twenty-five dollars 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 a special revolving fund to be used in the administration of this chapter.

(C) A special application fee of ten dollars 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 a special revolving fund to be used in the administration of this chapter.

(20) The division may issue recipients of the navy cross, distinguished service cross, distinguished flying cross, air force cross, bronze star or silver star 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 or bronze star, 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, as applicable.

(B) The division shall charge a special initial application fee of ten dollars 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 and shall be collected by the division and deposited in a special revolving fund to be used for the administration of this section: 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 or bronze star 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 ten dollars 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 and shall be collected by the division and deposited in a special revolving fund to be used for the administration of this section: 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 ~~fireman or woman~~ firefighter may apply for a special license plate for ~~one~~ 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 ~~fireman or woman~~ 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. ~~Only one such license plate may be issued to a volunteer fireman or woman.~~

(C) Each application submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be accompanied by payment of a special one-time initial application fee of ~~one dollar~~ ten dollars, which is in addition to any other registration or license fee required by this chapter. All application fees shall be deposited into a special revolving fund to be used in the administration of this chapter.

(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.

(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 fifteen dollars shall be charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.

(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.

(C) The division shall charge an annual fee of fifteen dollars 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.

(C) The division shall charge an annual fee of fifteen dollars 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.

(C) An annual fee of fifteen dollars shall be charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.

(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 .

(C) An annual fee of fifteen dollars 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.

(30) The division may issue special registration plates to members of the Knights of Columbus as follows:

(C) An annual fee of fifteen dollars shall be charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.

(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 ten dollars 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 and shall be collected by the division and deposited in a special revolving fund to be used for the administration of this section. The design of the plate shall indicate total years of service in the Legislature.

(C) An annual fee of fifteen dollars shall be charged for each plate in addition to all other fees required by this chapter.

(d) 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 proper forms to be used in making application for the special license plates authorized by this section. 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 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 authorizing legislation, the plate will not be produced and will require legislative reauthorization.

(e)(1) Nothing in this section ~~may be construed to require~~ 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 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 ten dollars to be deposited into a special revolving fund to be used in the administration of this chapter, 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.

(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.

§17A-3-23. Registration plates to state, county, municipal and other governmental vehicles; use for undercover activities.

(a) Any motor vehicle designed to carry passengers, owned or leased by the state of West Virginia, or any of its departments, bureaus, commissions or institutions, except vehicles used by the governor, treasurer, three ~~plates~~ vehicles per elected office of the board of public works, vehicles operated by the state police, vehicles operated by conservation officers of the division of natural resources, not to exceed ten vehicles operated by the arson investigators of the office of state fire marshal, not to exceed five vehicles operated by the division of protective services and not to exceed sixteen vehicles operated by inspectors of the office of the alcohol beverage control commissioner, may not be operated or driven by any person unless it has displayed and attached to the front thereof, in the same manner as regular motor vehicle registration plates are attached, a plate of the same size as the regular registration plate, with white lettering on a green background bearing the words "West Virginia" in one line and the words "State Car" in another line and the lettering for the words "State Car" shall be of sufficient size to be plainly readable from a distance of one hundred feet during daylight.

The vehicle shall also have attached to the rear a plate bearing a number and any other words and figures as the commissioner of motor vehicles shall prescribe. The rear plate shall also be green with the number in white.

(b) On registration plates issued to vehicles owned by counties, the color shall be white on red with the word "County" on top of the plate and the words "West Virginia" on the bottom. On any registration plates issued to a city or municipality, the color shall be white on blue with the word "City" on top and the words "West Virginia" on the bottom. The colors may not be reversed and shall be of reflectorized material. The registration plates issued to counties, municipalities and other governmental agencies authorized to receive colored plates hereunder shall be affixed to both the front and rear of the vehicles.

(c) Registration plates issued to vehicles operated by county sheriffs shall be designed by the commissioner in cooperation with the sheriffs' association with the word "Sheriff" on top of the plate and the words "West Virginia" on the bottom. The plate shall contain a gold shield representing the sheriff's star and a number assigned to that plate by the commissioner. Every county sheriff shall provide the commissioner with a list of vehicles operated by the sheriff, unless otherwise provided in this section, and a fee of ten dollars for each vehicle submitted by the first day of July, two thousand two.

(d) The commissioner is authorized to designate the colors and design of any other registration plates that are issued without charge to any other agency in accordance with the motor vehicle laws.

(e) Upon application, the commissioner is authorized to issue a maximum of five Class A license plates per applicant to be used by county sheriffs and municipalities on law-enforcement vehicles while engaged in undercover investigations.

(f) The commissioner is authorized to issue an unlimited number of license plates per applicant to authorized drug and violent crime task forces in the state of West Virginia when the chairperson of the control group of a drug and violent crime task force signs a written affidavit stating that the vehicle or vehicles for which the plates are being requested will be used only for official undercover work conducted by a drug and violent crime task force.

(g) The commissioner is authorized to issue twenty Class A license plates to the criminal investigation division of the department of tax and revenue for use by its investigators.

(h) The commissioner may issue a maximum of ten Class A license plates to the division of natural resources for use by conservation officers. The commissioner shall designate the color and design of the registration plates to be displayed on the front and the rear of all other state-owned vehicles owned by the division of natural resources and operated by conservation officers.

(i) The commissioner is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Class A license plates to the commission on special investigations for state-owned vehicles used for official undercover work conducted by the commission on special investigations. The commissioner is authorized to issue a maximum of five Class A plates to the division of protective services for state owned vehicles used by the division of protective services in fulfilling its mission.

(j) No other registration plate may be issued for, or attached to, any state-owned vehicle.

(k) The commissioner of motor vehicles shall have a sufficient number of both front and rear plates produced to attach to all state-owned cars. The numbered registration plates for the vehicles shall start with the number "five hundred" and the commissioner shall issue consecutive numbers for all state-owned cars.

(l) It is the duty of each office, department, bureau, commission or institution furnished any vehicle to have plates as described herein affixed thereto prior to the operation of the vehicle by any official or employee.

(m) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars. Magistrates shall have concurrent jurisdiction with circuit and criminal courts for the enforcement of this section.