Senate Bill 2515

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF DISTINCTIVE MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES FOR MISSISSIPPIANS WHO ARE HONORABLY DISCHARGED VETERANS WHO SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES DURING THE VIETNAM CONFLICT AND WERE AWARDED A VIETNAM SERVICE RIBBON; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. In recognition of the patriotic service rendered by Mississippians who are honorably discharged veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam Conflict and were awarded a Vietnam Service Ribbon, any such person is privileged to obtain distinctive motor vehicle license plates or tags for each motor vehicle registered in his name identifying his status as a Vietnam veteran. The State Tax Commission, with concurrence by the State Veterans Affairs Board, shall develop decals to be affixed to the license tag indicating branch and period of military service. The distinctive plates or tags shall be of a color and design designated by the Tax Commission with concurrence by the State Veterans Affairs Board.

The distinctive license plates shall be prepared by the Tax Commission and shall be issued through the tax collectors of the counties in the same manner as are other motor vehicle license plates or tags. An additional annual tag fee of Thirty Dollars ($30.00) shall be collected by the tax collector for such license plates or tags and shall be remitted to the Tax Commission on a monthly basis as prescribed by the commission. The additional fee is due and payable at the time the original application is made for a distinctive tag under this section and thereafter annually at the time of renewal registration as long as the owner retains the distinctive license tag. The State Tax Commission shall deposit such fee to the credit of a fund to be administered by the board overseeing the veterans nursing homes in this state for the benefit of indigent veterans who are residents of such nursing homes.

An applicant for such distinctive plates shall present to the issuing official written evidence of the veteran's service. Such evidence shall include a copy of the applicant's DD-214 form, a Report of Separation from Military Service, a military discharge document, or a written certification of military service from the State Veterans Affairs Board. 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.

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, 2003.