Any legal resident of the State of Mississippi who is the unremarried surviving spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, a reserve component of the Armed Forces or of the National Guard, who, while on active duty, is killed or dies in time of war or national emergency declared by the President of the United States, or in an area determined by the Secretary of Defense to be of immediate military hazard, is privileged to purchase annually one (1) motor vehicle license plate or tag in his county of legal residence, for the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) in total cost, regardless of make or model of motor vehicle. The registration year of such motor vehicle shall commence the first day of the month in which application for registration is made, as provided in Section 27-19-31.

Not more than one (1) such motor vehicle license plate or tag shall be issued to each such qualified spouse. This section pertains only to license plates for private passenger motor vehicles or pickup trucks. Proof of ownership of each particular motor vehicle for which a license plate or tag is requested must be shown at time of application for such plate or tag.

Vehicles owned by qualified spouses are hereby exempt from all privilege taxes. At the time of application or renewal registration, a surviving spouse who desires to retain the distinctive plate or tag issued under this section shall file with the county tax collector a sworn statement that the spouse is unmarried. Any such vehicle when so registered shall be exempt from all privilege taxes.

The State Tax Commission is directed to prescribe the color and design for license plates or tags issued under this section.

A license issued under this section shall not be transferable to any other person.

Any person evading or violating any of the provisions of this section, or attempting to secure benefits hereunder to which he is not entitled, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).