06 LC
34 0613
Senate
Bill 539
By:
Senator Douglas of the 17th
AS
PASSED
AN
ACT
To
amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to prestige and special license plates for certain persons
and vehicles, so as to provide for special license plates supporting the Global
War on Terrorism and Operation Enduring Freedom; to provide for issuance,
renewal, fees, licensing agreements, applications, and transfers relative to
such license plates; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws;
and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Article
3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to prestige and special license plates for certain persons and vehicles, is
amended by adding a new Code Section 40-2-86.18 to read as follows:
"40-2-86.18.
(a)
There shall be issued special and distinctive vehicle license plates supporting
the Global War on Terrorism and Operation Enduring Freedom, subject to the
conditions set forth in this Code section.
(b)
The commissioner shall, in cooperation with the supporters of this license
plate, design special distinctive license plates supporting the Global War on
Terrorism and Operation Enduring Freedom. The license plates must be of the
same size as general issue motor vehicle license plates and shall include a
unique design and identifying number, whereby the total number of characters
does not exceed six. No two recipients shall receive identically numbered
plates. The graphic on the special license plate shall be placed to the left of
the alphanumeric characters and shall be no larger than three inches by three
inches. Such design shall not provide space in which to indicate the name of
the county of issuance. In that space will be the inscription 'Global War on
Terrorism.' Any person may request the assignment of the first of 100 in a
series of license plates upon payment of an additional initial registration fee
of $25.00 for each license plate requested.
(c)
Beginning January 1, 2007, any Georgia resident who is the owner of a motor
vehicle, except a vehicle registered under the International Registration Plan,
upon complying with the motor vehicle laws relating to registration and
licensing of motor vehicles and upon the payment of a manufacturing fee of
$25.00 in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee shall be issued
a license plate supporting the Global War on Terrorism and Operation Enduring
Freedom, and decals shall be issued for such license plates in the same manner
as provided for general issue license plates.
(d)
An applicant may request a license plate supporting the Global War on Terrorism
and Operation Enduring Freedom at any time during the
applicant́s
registration period. If such a license plate is to replace a current valid
license plate, such license plate shall be issued with appropriate decals
attached.
(e)
No special license plate authorized pursuant to this Code section shall be
issued except upon the receipt by the department of at least 1,000 applications.
The special license plate shall have an application period of two years after
the effective date of this Code section for applicants to pay the manufacturing
fee. After such time if the minimum number of applications is not met, the
department shall not continue to accept the manufacturing fee, and all fees
shall be refunded to applicants.
(f)
The department shall not be required to continue to manufacture the special
license plate if the number of active registrations falls below 500
registrations at any time during the period as provided for in subsection (b) of
Code Section 40-2-31. A current registrant may continue to renew such special
license plate during his or her annual registration period upon payment of an
additional $25.00 annual special tag fee which fee shall be collected by the
county tag agent at the time of collection of other registration fees and shall
be remitted to the state as provided in Code Section 40-2-34. The department
may continue to issue such special license plates that it has in its inventory
to assist in achieving the minimum number of registrations. If the special
license plate falls below 500 active registrations at any time during the
five-year period as provided in subsection (b) of Code Section 40-2-31, the
department must receive 1,000 applications accompanied by the manufacturing fee
to continue to manufacture the license plate.
(g)
License plates supporting the Global War on Terrorism and Operation Enduring
Freedom shall be transferred from one vehicle to another vehicle in accordance
with the provisions of Code Section 40-2-80.
(h)
License plates supporting the Global War on Terrorism and Operation Enduring
Freedom shall be issued within 30 days of application once the requirements of
this Code section have been
met."
SECTION
2.
This
Act shall become effective on July 1, 2006.
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.