1. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the Department, in cooperation with the Division of State Lands of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, shall design, prepare and issue license plates for the support of the preservation and restoration of the natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin using any colors that the Department deems appropriate. The design of the license plates must include a depiction of Lake Tahoe and its surrounding area. The Department shall not design, prepare or issue the license plates unless it receives at least 250 applications for the issuance of those plates.

2. The Department may issue license plates for the support of the preservation and restoration of the natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin for a passenger car or light commercial vehicle upon application by a person who is entitled to license plates pursuant to NRS 482.265 and who otherwise complies with the requirements for registration and licensing pursuant to this chapter. A person may request that personalized prestige license plates issued pursuant to NRS 482.3667 be combined with license plates for the support of the preservation and restoration of the natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin if that person pays the fees for the personalized prestige license plates in addition to the fees for the license plates for the support of the preservation and restoration of the natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin pursuant to subsections 3 and 4.

3. The fee for license plates for the support of the preservation and restoration of the natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin is $35, in addition to all other applicable registration and license fees and governmental services taxes. The license plates are renewable upon the payment of $10.

4. In addition to all fees for the license, registration and governmental services taxes, a person who requests a set of license plates for the support of the preservation and restoration of the natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin must pay for the initial issuance of the plates an additional fee of $25 and for each renewal of the plates an additional fee of $20 to finance projects for the preservation and restoration of the natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

5. The Department shall deposit the fees collected pursuant to subsection 4 with the State Treasurer for credit to the Account for License Plates for the Support of the Preservation and Restoration of the Natural Environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin created pursuant to NRS 321.5951.

6. If, during a registration period, the holder of license plates issued pursuant to the provisions of this section disposes of the vehicle to which the plates are affixed, the holder may retain the plates and:

(a) Affix them to another vehicle that meets the requirements of this section if the transfer and registration fees are paid as set out in this chapter; or

(b) Within 30 days after removing the plates from the vehicle, return them to the Department.

(Added to NRS by 1997, 136; A 2001, 326; 2013, 2850)