§ 404-c. Distinctive plates for former prisoners of war. 1. Any former prisoner of war residing in this state or the spouse of any such former prisoner of war shall, upon request, be issued a license plate bearing the words "former prisoner of war". If a distinctive plate is issued to a former prisoner of war pursuant to this section, additional distinctive plates may be issued for every vehicle registered in the name of the former prisoner of war residing in this state or the spouse of such former prisoner of war. Application for said license plate shall be filed with the commissioner in such form and detail as the commissioner shall prescribe.

2. The distinctive plate authorized herein shall be issued upon proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, that the applicant or the spouse of the applicant is a former prisoner of war.

3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this chapter provided, however, that no additional service charge shall be charged for such plate.

4. The unremarried widow or widower of a former prisoner of war married to such former prisoner at the time of his or her imprisonment shall be included in the term "spouse" for the purposes of this section. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be issued in the same manner as other number plates upon the payment of the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this chapter, provided, however, that no additional service charge shall be charged for such plate.

5. Notwithstanding subdivision three of this section and the fees prescribed or permitted by section four hundred one of this article, there shall be no charge for the issuance of a number plate pursuant to this section to a former prisoner of war, nor shall there be imposed an additional service charge for the issuance of such a plate to such a person. Furthermore, upon the issuance of a distinctive plate pursuant to this section, such a former prisoner of war shall be exempt from the payment of any fees relating to the registration or renewal thereof as prescribed by section four hundred one of this article.