§ 515a - Commemorative 'Vermont Bicentennial 1791-1991' plates - Vermont Statutes

§ 515a. Commemorative "Vermont Bicentennial 1791-1991" plates

(a) Legislative intent. It is the intent of this section to commemorate the 200 years between 1791 and 1991 during which Vermont has existed as a state. In order to provide an appropriate tribute to the 200th anniversary of the Statehood of Vermont, it is the purpose of this section to allow the design, purchase, and sale of commemorative motor vehicle plates bearing the message "Vermont Bicentennial 1791-1991."

(b) Authority. The department of motor vehicles is authorized to design in conjunction with the Vermont Statehood Bicentennial Commission, purchase, distribute and sell commemorative motor vehicle plates as described in subsection (a) of this section at retail or to the bicentennial commission. The bicentennial commission may wholesale or retail the plates. Plates shall not be sold, distributed or displayed which are not approved by the commissioner of motor vehicles.

(c) Use. Residents of the state of Vermont may display one approved commemorative plate on the front of any registered motor vehicle. The commemorative plates shall not be used instead of regular registration plates, nor are they required to be displayed on a motor vehicle. The commemorative plate may be displayed on a motor vehicle registered as a pleasure car or a motor truck with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less by covering the front registration plate with the commemorative plate until December 31, 1995. The regular front registration plate shall not be removed. The rear registration plate shall be in place and clearly visible at all times. Nonresidents may purchase commemorative plates and may display the plates on the front of their motor vehicles, in the same manner and for the same period of time as the plates are displayed by residents, while the vehicles are being operated in Vermont.

(d) Prices. The retail price shall be a maximum of $15.00 and the price at which the department of motor vehicles may retail the plates shall be $15.00. The commission may establish a schedule of wholesale prices for bulk purchases. Wholesale bulk purchase prices shall be not less than the actual cost of the plate as determined by the commission.

(e) Allocation of revenue. Funds received by the department from the sale of the plates or licenses granted for the design, distribution or sale of the plates shall be used by the department for the purpose of recovering not more than the actual costs of production of the commemorative plate. After all costs of the department of motor vehicles are recovered, the balance of the revenues shall go to the bicentennial commission for support of its programs.

(f) Funding. The department of motor vehicles is authorized to obtain an advance from the transportation fund in an amount to be determined by the commissioner of motor vehicles in anticipation of receipts from the administration of this section.

(g) Tax exemption. Sales of commemorative plates pursuant to this section shall be exempt from the sales and use tax established by 32 V.S.A. chapter 233. (Added 1989, No. 137 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. April 10, 1990.)