SENATE, No. 1718

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 16, 1996

By Senators KYRILLOS and SINGER

An Act providing for the issuance of special license plates to military veterans and supplementing chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. As used in this act:

    "Armed forces" means the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines or Navy.

    "Veteran" means a person who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active military service in a branch of the armed forces.

    2. a. Upon the application of a person who qualifies as a veteran of the armed forces, the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles shall issue for a motor vehicle owned or leased by the applicant special license plates bearing the word "VETERAN," in addition to the other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law. The special plates also may contain an appropriate slogan or emblem, or a designation of the war or conflict in which the veteran served, as determined by the director in consultation with the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs and representatives of veterans' organizations. A veteran shall not use the special plates on a motor vehicle other than the vehicle for which they were issued.

    b. The fee for a special veterans' license plate issued pursuant to this act shall be $25, in addition to fees otherwise required by law.

    c. The surviving spouse of a deceased veteran may retain the special license plates issued to the veteran under this act for display on a motor vehicle registered to the spouse pursuant to R.S.39:3-4 if the spouse is licensed to drive in this State pursuant to R.S.39:3-10.

    3. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after enactment, but the director may take such anticipatory acts in advance of that date as may be necessary for the timely implementation of this act upon its effective date.

STATEMENT

    This bill authorizes the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles in the Department of Transportation to issue special license plates to any veteran who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active military duty in the United States armed forces. The bill defines "armed forces" as the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy.

    Under the current law, special veteran plates can only be obtained by veterans who are affiliated with a veterans' organization or who have received an award.

    The special license plates are to bear the word "VETERAN," in addition to other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law. The plates also may contain an appropriate slogan or emblem, such as a designation of the war or conflict in which the veteran served, to be determined by the director after consultation with the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs and representatives of veterans' organizations. The fee to obtain the plates is $25, in addition to fees otherwise required by law. The special plates may not be used on any motor vehicle other than the vehicle for which they were issued.

    This bill also allows the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran who had been issued the special veteran license plates to retain the plates for a motor vehicle properly registered to the surviving spouse, provided the surviving spouse is eligible to operate the motor vehicle in this State.

Provides for the issuance of special motor vehicle license plates to certain veterans.