MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representative Maples

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF DISTINCTIVE MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES TO VETERANS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES; TO REQUIRE THE PAYMENT OF AN ADDITIONAL FEE FOR SUCH LICENSE PLATES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) Any legal resident of the State of Mississippi who is a veteran of service in the Armed Forces of the United States may be issued a distinctive license plate or tag identifying him as a veteran upon complying with the motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles, upon payment of the road and bridge privilege taxes, ad valorem taxes and registration fees as prescribed by law for private carriers of passengers, pickup trucks and other noncommercial motor vehicles, and upon payment of an additional annual fee as prescribed in subsection (2) of this section.

(2) The distinctive license plates or tags authorized under subsection (1) of this section shall be prepared by the State Tax Commission and issued through the tax collectors of the counties in the same manner as are other motor vehicle license plates or tags. An additional tag fee of Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) shall be collected by the tax collector for such license plates or tags and shall be forwarded to the tax commission which shall deposit such fee to the credit of the State General Fund. An applicant for such distinctive plate shall present to the issuing official written proof that the applicant is an honorably discharged former member of one of the Armed Forces of the United States. The distinctive license plates or tags so issued shall be used only upon a personally or jointly owned private passenger vehicle (to include station wagons, recreational motor vehicles and pickup trucks) registered in the name, or jointly in the name, of the person making application therefor, and when issued to such person shall be used upon the vehicle for which issued in lieu of the standard license plate or license tag normally issued for such vehicle.

(3) The distinctive license plates shall not be transferable between motor vehicle owners; and in the event the owner of a vehicle bearing a distinctive plate shall sell, trade, exchange or otherwise dispose of the vehicle, such plate shall be retained by such owner and returned to the tax collector.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.