(a) On and after January 1, 1999, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall issue Amistad commemorative number plates of a design to enhance public awareness of the 1839 uprising against the crew of the Spanish slave schooner, The Amistad. Said design shall be determined by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. No use shall be made of such plates except as official registration marker plates.

(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, which shall provide for a one-time fee of fifty dollars to be charged for Amistad commemorative number plates, in addition to the regular fee or fees prescribed for the registration of a motor vehicle. Fifteen dollars of such one-time fee shall be deposited in an account controlled by the Department of Motor Vehicles to be used for administrative costs of carrying out the provisions of this subsection. Such number plates shall have letters and numbers selected by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may establish a higher fee for: (1) Such number plates which contain letters in place of numbers as authorized by section 14-49 in addition to the fee or fees prescribed for plates issued under said section 14-49; and (2) such number plates which are low number plates, in accordance with section 14-160, in addition to the fee or fees prescribed for plates issued under said section 14-160. All fees established and collected pursuant to this section, except moneys designated for administrative costs of the Department of Motor Vehicles, shall be deposited in the Amistad commemorative account established pursuant to section 14-21k.

(c) No additional renewal fee shall be charged for renewal of registration for any motor vehicle bearing Amistad commemorative number plates which contain letters in place of numbers, or low number plates, in excess of the renewal fee for Amistad commemorative number plates with letters and numbers selected by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. No transfer fee shall be charged for transfer of an existing registration to or from a registration with Amistad commemorative number plates.

(d) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish standards and procedures for the issuance, renewal and replacement of Amistad commemorative number plates.

(P.A. 98-182, S. 9, 22.)

History: P.A. 98-182 effective July 1, 1998.