(1)(a) Each owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for private use or recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d), which is not used for hire or commercial use, who is a resident of the state and a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, a Woman Veteran, a World War II Veteran, a Navy Submariner, an active or retired member of the Florida National Guard, a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, a recipient of the Purple Heart medal, an active or retired member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces Reserve, or a recipient of the Combat Infantry Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Combat Action Badge, Combat Action Ribbon, Air Force Combat Action Medal, or Distinguished Flying Cross, upon application to the department, accompanied by proof of release or discharge from any branch of the United States Armed Forces, proof of active membership or retired status in the Florida National Guard, proof of membership in the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association or proof of active military duty in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, proof of being a Purple Heart medal recipient, proof of active or retired membership in any branch of the United States Armed Forces Reserve, or proof of membership in the Combat Infantrymen’s Association, Inc., proof of being a recipient of the Combat Infantry Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Combat Action Badge, Combat Action Ribbon, Air Force Combat Action Medal, or Distinguished Flying Cross, and upon payment of the license tax for the vehicle as provided in s. 320.08, shall be issued a license plate as provided by s. 320.06 which, in lieu of the serial numbers prescribed by s. 320.06, is stamped with the words “Veteran,” “Woman Veteran,” “WWII Veteran,” “Navy Submariner,” “National Guard,” “Pearl Harbor Survivor,” “Combat-wounded veteran,” “U.S. Reserve,” “Combat Infantry Badge,” “Combat Medical Badge,” “Combat Action Badge,” “Combat Action Ribbon,” “Air Force Combat Action Medal,” or “Distinguished Flying Cross,” as appropriate, and a likeness of the related campaign medal or badge, followed by the serial number of the license plate. Additionally, the Purple Heart plate may have the words “Purple Heart” stamped on the plate and the likeness of the Purple Heart medal appearing on the plate.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, beginning with fiscal year 2002-2003 and annually thereafter, the first $100,000 in general revenue generated from the sale of license plates issued under this section shall be deposited into the Grants and Donations Trust Fund, as described in s. 296.38(2), to be used for the purposes established by law for that trust fund. Any additional general revenue generated from the sale of such plates shall be deposited into the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and used to support program operations that benefit veterans or the operation, maintenance, or construction of domiciliary and nursing homes for veterans, subject to the requirements of chapter 216.

(c) Any revenue generated from the sale of Woman Veteran license plates must be deposited into the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund administered by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs pursuant to s. 20.375(3) and must be used solely for the purpose of creating and implementing programs to benefit women veterans. Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, an applicant for a Pearl Harbor Survivor license plate or a Purple Heart license plate who also qualifies for a disabled veteran’s license plate under s. 320.084 shall be issued the appropriate special license plate without payment of the license tax imposed by s. 320.08.

(2) Each owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for private use, a truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or a recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d), which is not used for hire or commercial use who is a resident of this state and who is a former prisoner of war, or his or her unremarried surviving spouse, upon application to the department, shall be issued a license plate as provided in s. 320.06, stamped with the words “Ex-POW” followed by the serial number. Each application shall be accompanied by proof that the applicant meets the qualifications specified in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b).

(a) A citizen of the United States who served as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the armed forces of a nation allied with the United States who was held as a prisoner of war at such time as the Armed Forces of the United States were engaged in combat, or his or her unremarried surviving spouse, may be issued the special license plate provided for in this subsection without payment of the license tax imposed by s. 320.08.

(b) A person who was serving as a civilian with the consent of the United States Government, or a person who was a member of the Armed Forces of the United States while he or she was not a United States citizen and was held as a prisoner of war when the Armed Forces of the United States were engaged in combat, or his or her unremarried surviving spouse, may be issued the special license plate provided for in this subsection upon payment of the license tax imposed by s. 320.08.

(3) Each owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for private use, a truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or a recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d), which is not used for hire or commercial use who is a resident of this state and who is the unremarried surviving spouse of a recipient of the Purple Heart medal, upon application to the department accompanied by the payment of the required fees, shall be issued a license plate as provided in s. 320.06 which is stamped with the words “Purple Heart” and the likeness of the Purple Heart medal followed by the serial number. Each application shall be accompanied by proof that the applicant is the unremarried surviving spouse of a recipient of the Purple Heart medal.

(4) The owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for private use, a truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or a recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d) which is not used for hire or commercial use who is a resident of this state and a current or former member of the United States Armed Forces who was deployed and served in Korea during the Korean War as defined in s. 1.01(14), upon application to the department accompanied by proof of active membership or former active duty status during the Korean War and payment of the license tax for the vehicle as provided in s. 320.08, shall be issued a license plate as provided by s. 320.06 which, in lieu of the registration license number prescribed by s. 320.06, is stamped with the words “Korean War Veteran” and a likeness of the Korean Service Medal, followed by the registration license number of the plate. Proof that the applicant was awarded the Korean Service Medal is sufficient to establish eligibility for the license plate.

(5) The owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for private use, a truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or a recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d) which is not used for hire or commercial use who is a resident of this state and a current or former member of the United States military who was deployed and served in Vietnam during United States military deployment in Indochina, upon application to the department accompanied by proof of active membership or former active duty status during these operations and payment of the license tax for the vehicle as provided in s. 320.08, shall be issued a license plate as provided by s. 320.06 which, in lieu of the registration license number prescribed by s. 320.06, is stamped with the words “Vietnam War Veteran” and a likeness of the Vietnam Service Medal, followed by the registration license number of the plate. Proof that the applicant was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal is sufficient to establish eligibility for the license plate.

(6) The owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for private use, a truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or a recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d) which is not used for hire or commercial use who is a resident of this state and a current or former member of the United States military who was deployed and served in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, or another area of the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Shield or Operation Desert Storm; in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom; or in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, upon application to the department accompanied by proof of active membership or former active duty status during one of these operations and payment of the license tax for the vehicle as provided in s. 320.08, shall be issued a license plate as provided by s. 320.06 which, in lieu of the registration license number prescribed by s. 320.06, is stamped with the words “Operation Desert Shield,” “Operation Desert Storm,” “Operation Enduring Freedom,” or “Operation Iraqi Freedom,” as appropriate, and a likeness of the related campaign medal followed by the registration license number of the plate. Proof that the applicant was awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, or Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is sufficient to establish eligibility for the appropriate license plate.

History.—ss. 1-3, ch. 65-132; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 74-52; s. 5, ch. 77-68; s. 18, ch. 77-357; s. 5, ch. 82-97; s. 13, ch. 83-218; s. 35, ch. 83-318; s. 3, ch. 84-108; s. 1, ch. 85-66; s. 1, ch. 92-189; s. 67, ch. 93-120; s. 59, ch. 94-306; s. 8, ch. 95-282; s. 23, ch. 96-413; s. 1, ch. 99-296; s. 1, ch. 2000-358; s. 122, ch. 2002-20; s. 1, ch. 2002-181; s. 17, ch. 2005-164; s. 34, ch. 2006-290; s. 1, ch. 2008-87; s. 2, ch. 2009-109; s. 13, ch. 2012-159; s. 99, ch. 2012-174; s. 39, ch. 2012-181; s. 32, ch. 2013-160; s. 3, ch. 2014-63; s. 20, ch. 2014-216; s. 1, ch. 2015-91; s. 8, ch. 2017-157.