(a) On and after January 1, 2010, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may issue, within available appropriations, Share the Road commemorative number plates of a design to enhance public awareness of the rights and responsibilities of both motorists and bicyclists while jointly using the highways of this state. The design shall be determined by agreement between the Department of Transportation and the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, in consultation with an organization advocating on behalf of bicyclists. No use shall be made of such plates except as official registration marker plates.

(b) A fee of sixty dollars shall be charged for Share the Road commemorative number plates, in addition to the regular fee or fees prescribed for the registration of a motor vehicle. Fifteen dollars of such fee shall be deposited in an account controlled by the Department of Motor Vehicles to be used for the cost of producing, issuing, renewing and replacing such number plates and forty-five dollars of such fee shall be deposited in the account established under subsection (d) of this section. No additional fee shall be charged in connection with the renewal of such number plates. No transfer fee shall be charged for transfer of an existing registration to or from a registration with Share the Road commemorative number plates. Such number plates shall have letters and numbers selected by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The commissioner may establish a higher fee for: (1) Number plates that contain the numbers and letters from a previously issued number plate; (2) number plates that contain letters in place of numbers as authorized by section 14-49, in addition to the fee or fees prescribed for registration under said section; and (3) number plates that are low number plates issued in accordance with section 14-160, in addition to the fee or fees prescribed for registration under said section. All fees established and collected pursuant to this section, except the amount deposited in the account controlled by the department, shall be deposited in the Share the Road account established under subsection (d) of this section.

(c) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, in consultation with the Commissioner of Transportation, may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish standards and procedures for the issuance, renewal and replacement of Share the Road commemorative number plates.

(d) There is established a Share the Road account which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund. The account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account. The funds in the account shall be expended by the Department of Transportation to enhance public awareness of the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists and motorists while jointly using the highways of this state and to promote bicycle use and safety in this state. The Commissioner of Transportation may receive private donations to said account and any such receipts shall be deposited in said account.

(e) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may provide for the reproduction and marketing of the Share the Road commemorative number plate image for use on clothing, recreational equipment, posters, mementoes or other products or programs deemed by the commissioner to be suitable as a means of supporting the Share the Road account established under subsection (d) of this section. Any moneys received by the commissioner from such marketing shall be deposited in said account.

(P.A. 09-187, S. 60.)

History: P.A. 09-187 effective July 1, 2009.