Senate Bill 2261

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF DISTINCTIVE MOTORCYCLE LICENSE PLATES TO MISSISSIPPIANS WHO ARE HONORABLY DISCHARGED VETERANS WHO SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES; 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, any such person is privileged to obtain distinctive motorcycle license plates or tags for each motorcycle registered in his name identifying his status as a 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 the distinctive plates shall present to the issuing official written evidence of the veteran's service. The 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 motorcycle registered in the name, or jointly in the name, of the person making the application, and when issued to the person shall be used upon the motorcycle for which issued in lieu of the standard license plate or license tag normally issued for the motorcycle.

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

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.