45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2001

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL MOTORCYCLE REGISTRATION PLATES FOR ARMED FORCES VETERANS; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE CODE; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. A new section of the Motor Vehicle Code is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] SPECIAL MOTORCYCLE REGISTRATION PLATES FOR ARMED FORCES VETERANS.--

A. The department shall issue distinctive motorcycle registration plates indicating that the recipient is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States, as defined in Section 28-13-7 NMSA 1978, or is retired from the national guard or military reserves, if that person submits proof satisfactory to the department of honorable discharge from the armed forces or of retirement from the national guard or military reserves.

B. For a fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00), which shall be in addition to the regular motorcycle registration fees, any motorcycle owner who is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States or is retired from the national guard or military reserves may apply for the issuance of a special motorcycle registration plate as defined in Subsection A of this section. No two owners shall be issued identically lettered or numbered plates.

C. An owner shall make a new application and pay a new fee each year he desires to obtain a special motorcycle registration plate. He will have first priority on that plate for each subsequent year that he makes a timely and appropriate application.

D. Each armed forces veteran may elect to receive a veteran-designation decal to be placed across the top of the special motorcycle registration plate, centered above the registration number. Replacement or different veteran-designation decals shall be available for purchase from the department at a reasonable charge to be set by the secretary. The department shall furnish the following veteran-designation decals with the armed forces veteran motorcycle registration plate to a:

(1) medal of honor recipient;

(2) silver star recipient;

(3) bronze star recipient;

(4) navy cross recipient;

(5) distinguished service cross recipient;

(6) air force cross recipient;

(7) ex-prisoner of war;

(8) disabled veteran;

(9) purple heart veteran;

(10) atomic veteran;

(11) Pearl Harbor survivor;

(12) Navajo code talker;

(13) Vietnam veteran;

(14) Korean veteran;

(15) disabled Korean veteran;

(16) World War II veteran;

(17) World War I veteran;

(18) Grenada veteran;

(19) Panama veteran; or

(20) Desert Storm veteran.

E. The revenue from the fee imposed pursuant to Subsection B of this section shall be distributed as follows:

(1) seven dollars ($7.00) of the fee collected for each special motorcycle registration plate shall be retained by the department and is appropriated to the department for the manufacture and issuance of the registration plates; and

(2) eight dollars ($8.00) of the fee collected for each special motorcycle registration plate shall be transferred pursuant to the provisions of Subsection F of this section.

F. The "armed forces veterans license fund" is created in the state treasury. A portion of the fee collected for each special motorcycle registration plate for armed forces veterans, as provided in Subsection E of this section, shall be transferred to the state treasurer for credit to the fund. Expenditures from the fund shall be made on vouchers issued and signed by the director of veterans' affairs upon warrants drawn by the department of finance and administration for the purpose of expanding services to rural areas of the state, including Native American communities and senior citizen centers. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of any fiscal year in the armed forces veterans license fund shall not revert to the general fund."

Section 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2001.