Act No. 12

Public Acts of 1997

Approved by the Governor

May 27, 1997

Filed with the Secretary of State

May 28, 1997

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 28, 1997

STATE OF MICHIGAN

89TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 1997

Introduced by Reps. Baade, Bogardus, DeHart, Anthony, Geiger, McBryde, Goschka, Hammerstrom, Horton, Cherry, Schauer, Prusi, Hanley and Galloway

Reps. Agee, Alley, Brown, Cassis, Cropsey, Curtis, Dobb, Frank, Freeman, Gagliardi, Gernaat, Gire, Green, Hale, Harder, Hertel, Jelinek, Kaza, Kelly, Kukuk, LaForge, Law, Llewellyn, London, Mans, McManus, Middaugh, Middleton, Murphy, Owen, Oxender, Palamara, Parks, Perricone, Profit, Raczkowski, Rison, Rocca, Schermesser, Scott, Stallworth, Tesanovich, Varga, Vaughn, Voorhees, Wallace, Wetters, Whyman and Wojno named co-sponsors

Reps. Birkholz, Bodem, Emerson, Jansen, Jellema, Lowe, Mathieu, Rhead, Richner and Willard named co-sponsors

ENROLLED HOUSE BILL No. 4202

AN ACT to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled "An act to provide for the registration, titling, sale, transfer, and regulation of certain vehicles operated upon the public highways of this state or any other place open to the general public or generally accessible to motor vehicles and distressed vehicles; to provide for the licensing of dealers; to provide for the examination, licensing, and control of operators and chauffeurs; to provide for the giving of proof of financial responsibility and security by owners and operators of vehicles; to provide for the imposition, levy, and collection of specific taxes on vehicles, and the levy and collection of sales and use taxes, license fees, and permit fees; to provide for the regulation and use of streets and highways; to create certain funds; to provide penalties and sanctions for a violation of this act; to provide for civil liability of owners and operators of vehicles and service of process on residents and nonresidents; to provide for the levy of certain assessments; to provide for the enforcement of this act; to provide for the creation of and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies; to repeal all other acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act or contrary to this act; and to repeal certain parts of this act on a specific date," by amending section 803i (MCL 257.803i), as amended by 1994 PA 104.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 803i. (1) A person who was or is a member of the national guard may apply to the secretary of state for a special registration plate, which shall display an appropriate vignette preceding the registration numbers and shall have the words "national guard" inscribed beneath the registration numbers.

(2) A person who was or is a member of the military reserve may apply to the secretary of state for a special registration plate, which shall display an appropriate vignette preceding the registration numbers.

(3) A person who was a member of any branch of the armed services of the United States, who has retired or been granted an honorable discharge from that branch of the armed forces, and who is not otherwise eligible for a special registration plate under this act may apply to the secretary of state for a special registration plate which shall display an appropriate vignette preceding the registration numbers.

(4) Application for a special registration plate shall be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state and shall be accompanied by any proof of the applicant being or having been a member of the national guard or military reserve or a member of any branch of the armed services of the United States as described in subsection (3) that the secretary of state may require. The application for a special registration plate shall also be accompanied with payment of a $5.00 service fee.

(5) Upon proper application and payment of the $5.00 service fee, the secretary of state shall issue 1 or more special registration plates for each applicant for use on a passenger vehicle. A person who is handicapped who applies for a special registration plate under this section and who pays the $5.00 service fee shall be issued a handicapper tab 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 handicapper as is required for issuance of a permanent windshield placard under section 675. A person issued 1 or more special registration plates under subsection (1), (2), or (3) shall be assessed the applicable tax provided in section 801.

(6) The use of a special registration plate 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.

(7) The special registration plate issued under this section shall expire on the birthday of the vehicle owner. When new plates are issued by the secretary of state, application for renewal of the special registration plate shall be accompanied by a $5.00 service fee. The applicant shall not be required to furnish the proof provided in subsection (4).

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Secretary of the Senate.

Approved

Governor.