(a) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may issue special number plates for antique, rare or special interest motor vehicles, including antique, rare or special interest motor vehicles that have been modified, such special number plates to be issued on a permanent basis. The commissioner shall charge a fee for such plates which shall cover the entire cost of making the same. An owner of such antique, rare or special interest motor vehicle may use such owner's own porcelain number plate in place of the plates issued by the commissioner provided (1) such plate was originally issued by the department, and (2) such owner files with the commissioner a description and the number of such plate and any additional information the commissioner may require.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, section 14-18 and section 14-21b, the owner of such antique, rare or special interest motor vehicle may be authorized by the commissioner to display a number plate originally issued by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles corresponding to the year of manufacture of such antique, rare or special interest motor vehicle. The commissioner shall issue a certificate of registration, as provided in section 14-12. Such registration shall be valid, subject to renewal, as long as the commissioner permits. Thereafter, the registration number and number plates, if any, which were assigned to such motor vehicle before such registration and number plates were issued under this section, shall be in effect. Each such number plate authorized for use by the commissioner shall be displayed in a conspicuous place at the rear of such motor vehicle at all times while the vehicle is in use or operation upon any public highway. A sticker shall be affixed to each such number plate to denote the expiration date of the registration, unless the commissioner authorizes the sticker, or other evidence of the period of the registration, to be placed elsewhere or carried in such motor vehicle. Such sticker may contain the corresponding letters and numbers of the registration and number plate. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section.

(1951, 1955, S. 1288d; 1957, P.A. 533; P.A. 79-25, S. 3; P.A. 80-42; P.A. 83-515, S. 1; P.A. 84-429, S. 53; P.A. 00-169, S. 21; P.A. 01-191, S. 2; P.A. 02-70, S. 50; P.A. 09-187, S. 28.)

History: P.A. 79-25 replaced “automobiles manufactured at least twenty-five years prior to the date such number plates are issued” with reference to antique, rare or special interest motor vehicles and deleted requirement that special plates be issued only to vehicles to be used in exhibitions, parades etc. and not for general transportation; P.A. 80-42 deleted requirement that plates conform as much as possible to plates used at time of vehicles manufacture and made technical correction; P.A. 83-515 eliminated the requirement of issuing number plates in addition to special number plates and permitted an owner of an antique, rare or special interest motor vehicle to substitute a porcelain number plate for the special number plates; P.A. 84-429 made technical change for statutory consistency; P.A. 00-169 designated existing section as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) authorizing the display on antique, rare or special interest motor vehicles of a number plate originally issued by the commissioner corresponding to the year of manufacture of such antique, rare or special interest motor vehicle, provided for the registration of such vehicles, authorized the adoption of regulations, and made a technical change for the purpose of gender neutrality; P.A. 01-191 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision allowing the sticker denoting the expiration date of registration to contain the corresponding letters and numbers of the registration and number plate; P.A. 02-70 amended Subsec. (b) to make a technical change, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 09-187 amended Subsec. (a) to include modified antique, rare or special interest motor vehicles, amended Subsec. (b) to authorize adoption of regulations to implement section and made technical changes.