Minnesota Session Laws - 1983, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1983 

                        CHAPTER 195--H.F.No. 1092
           An act relating to motor vehicles; allowing the holder 
          of personalized license plates to retain the same 
          number after the personalized plates have been 
          damaged, lost, or stolen; amending Minnesota Statutes 
          1982, section 168.12, subdivision 2a. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 168.12, 
subdivision 2a, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 2a.  [PERSONALIZED LICENSE PLATES.] Personalized 
license plates shall must be issued to any an applicant for 
registration of a passenger automobile, station wagon, van, or 
pickup truck with a gross weight of 9,000 pounds or less, or 
self-propelled recreational vehicle, upon compliance with all 
the laws of this state relating to registration of the vehicle, 
and upon payment of a fee of $100 in addition to the 
registration tax required by law for the vehicle.  In lieu of 
the numbers assigned as provided in subdivision 1, personalized 
license plates shall must have imprinted thereon on them a 
series of not to exceed any combination of more than six numbers 
and letters in any combination.  When an applicant has once 
obtained personalized plates, the applicant shall have a prior 
claim for similar personalized plates in the next succeeding 
year that plates are issued if application is made for them at 
least 30 days prior to before the first date on which that 
registration can be renewed.  The commissioner of public safety 
shall adopt rules and regulations in the manner provided by 
chapter 14, regulating the issuance and transfer of personalized 
license plates.  No words or combination of letters placed on 
personalized license plates may be used for commercial 
advertising or, be of an obscene, indecent, or immoral nature, 
or be of a nature that would offend public morals or decency.  
The call signals or letters of a radio or television station 
shall are not be construed as commercial advertising for the 
purposes of this subdivision. 
    Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision 1, 
personalized license plates issued pursuant to under this 
subdivision may be transferred to another motor vehicle owned or 
jointly owned by the applicant, upon the payment of a fee of $5, 
which fee shall must be paid into the state treasury and 
credited to the highway user tax distribution fund.  The 
registrar may by regulation provide a form for notification.  
    Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, if the 
personalized license plates are lost, stolen, or destroyed, the 
applicant may apply and shall receive duplicate license plates 
bearing the same combination of letters and numbers as the 
former personalized plates upon the payment of a $5 fee.  
    The fee prescribed for personalized license plates shall 
must be paid only in those years in which the number plate 
itself is issued, and shall must not be payable in any a year in 
which a year plate, tab, or sticker is issued in lieu of a 
number plate. 
    All Fees from the sale of permanent and duplicate 
personalized license plates shall must be paid into the state 
treasury and credited to the highway user tax distribution fund. 
    Approved May 19, 1983