(1) A person who was a prisoner of war or a person whose spouse was a prisoner of war may apply to the secretary of state for a special registration plate inscribed with special identification numbers preceded by the letters "EX-POW" and the words "ex-prisoner of war" beneath the registration number.

    (2) A person who was a member of the United States Armed Forces during World War I may apply to the secretary of state for a special registration plate inscribed with special identification numbers preceded by the letters "WWI" and the words "World War I veteran" beneath the registration number.

    (3) A person who was a member of the United States Armed Forces during 1941, was stationed at a United States military or naval establishment at Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands, and survived the attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 may apply to the secretary of state for a special registration plate inscribed with special identification numbers and the words "Pearl Harbor survivor" beneath the registration number.

    (4) A recipient of the Purple Heart Medal may apply to the secretary of state for a special registration plate inscribed with special identification numbers and the words "combat wounded veteran" beneath the registration number. In addition, the special registration plate described in this subsection must be inscribed with a vignette of the official Purple Heart Medal.

    (5) Application for a special registration plate must be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state and must be accompanied by any proof of the applicant having been a prisoner of war, World War I veteran, Pearl Harbor survivor, or recipient of the Purple Heart Medal that the secretary of state may require. Application for a "Gold Star Family" special registration plate described in subsection (9) or a "Blue Star Family" special registration plate described in subsection (10) must be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state and must be accompanied by any proof of the applicant having been a gold star or blue star family member that the secretary of state may require. The application for the special registration plate must not require a service fee under section 804.

    (6) Upon proper application, the secretary of state shall issue 1 or more special registration plates under this section for each applicant for use on a passenger vehicle. A person who is disabled who applies for a special registration plate under this section must be issued a tab for persons with disabilities as provided in section 803f for his or her special registration plate. The secretary of state shall require the same proof that the applicant is a disabled person as is required for issuance of a permanent windshield placard under section 675. One person in any household is entitled to 1 special registration plate issued under subsection (1) that is exempt from payment of the tax provided in section 801. The person who is issued an additional special registration plate under subsection (1) must be assessed the applicable tax provided for in section 801. A person issued 1 or more special registration plates under subsection (2), (3), (4), (9), or (10) must be assessed the applicable tax provided in section 801.

    (7) The use of a special registration plate issued under this section on a vehicle other than the vehicle for which the plate is issued, or by a person who does not qualify under this section, is a misdemeanor.

    (8) The special registration plate issued under this section expires on the birthday of the vehicle owner in a year in which new plates are issued by the secretary of state. Application for renewal of the special registration plate must not require a service fee under section 804. The applicant is not required to furnish the proof provided in subsection (5).

    (9) A gold star family member may apply to the secretary of state for a special registration plate inscribed with special identification numbers preceded by a gold star and the words "Gold Star Family" beneath the registration number.

    (10) A blue star family member may apply to the secretary of state for a special registration plate inscribed with special identification numbers preceded by a Blue Star Families insignia and the words "Blue Star Family" beneath the registration number.

    (11) As used in this section:

    (a) "Blue star family member" means a person who is currently serving in the United States Armed Forces or in forces incorporated as part of the United States Armed Forces or a person who has an immediate family member serving in the United States Armed Forces or in forces incorporated as part of the United States Armed Forces. As used in this subdivision, "immediate family member" means a parent, stepparent, adoptive parent, foster parent standing in loco parentis, child, stepchild, adopted child, sibling, half-sibling, spouse, or grandparent.

    (b) "Gold star family member" means a person who has had an immediate family member die while serving in the United States Armed Forces or in forces incorporated as part of the United States Armed Forces if the immediate family member meets any of the eligibility criteria specified in 10 USC 1126(a)(1) to (3) for a gold star lapel button.