28-2511. Official vehicles; registration exemption; definitions

A. A registration fee is not required for a vehicle owned by a foreign government, by a consul or any other official representative of a foreign government, by the United States, by a state or political subdivision of a state, by an Indian tribal government, by a provider of ambulance, fire fighting or rescue services that is used solely for the purpose of providing emergency services or by a nonprofit organization that presents to the department a form approved by the director of the division of emergency management pursuant to section 26-318. The person who has custody of these vehicles shall register them as required by this chapter and shall display official license plates that bear distinguishing marks. The department shall furnish the license plates free of charge. The department may issue regular license plates without any distinguishing marks for vehicles that are exempt from title 38, chapter 3, article 10 pursuant to section 38-538.03, subsection B.

B. The director may issue license plates for vehicles owned by and used in the line of duty by law enforcement agencies in other states and the federal government without being registered as required by this chapter.

C. The director may enter into agreements or arrangements subject to the approval of the attorney general of this state with the federal government and with motor vehicle departments in other states to provide for a reciprocal exchange of license plates for use on vehicles owned or operated by law enforcement agencies for investigating actual or suspected violations of law. License plates of other states obtained pursuant to this subsection may be used on exempt vehicles of law enforcement agencies of this state or a political subdivision of this state.

D. The director shall maintain a record of the license plates issued pursuant to subsections B and C of this section. The director shall also keep a record of the license plates received pursuant to subsection C of this section, the regular license plates issued pursuant to subsection A of this section and the vehicles to which the plates are attached. These records are not open to public inspection except on demand of the attorney general.

E. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, any vehicle that is registered pursuant to this section and that is exclusively powered by an alternative fuel shall display an alternative fuel vehicle special plate issued pursuant to section 28-2416. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, any vehicle that is registered pursuant to this section and that is a low emission and energy efficient vehicle as defined in section 28-601 shall display a low emission and energy efficient vehicle special plate issued pursuant to section 28-2416.01. The department may issue regular license plates without any alternative fuel or low emission and energy efficient distinguishing marks or regular alternative fuel vehicle special plates or low emission and energy efficient vehicle special plates for vehicles that are exempt from title 38, chapter 3, article 10 pursuant to section 38-538.03, subsection B. This subsection applies to all existing vehicles that are registered pursuant to this section and all newly-acquired vehicles that are registered pursuant to this section.

F. For the purposes of this section:

1. " Alternative fuel" has the same meaning prescribed in section 1-215.

2. " Ambulance" means a vehicle for which a certificate of registration has been issued pursuant to section 36-2212.