49-415. FORMER PRISONER OF WAR LICENSE PLATES. (1) Any veteran, who was a prisoner of war (POW) of an armed enemy of the United States during active service in the armed forces of the United States, that service occurring during any portion of a recognized war period enumerated in this section, and who has been released or discharged from the armed forces under other than dishonorable conditions, may upon application to the department, register and receive for not more than two (2) motor vehicles, special former prisoner of war license plates in lieu of regular license plates. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any vehicle with a registered maximum gross weight over twenty-six thousand (26,000) pounds.

(2) In addition to the regular registration fees required in section 49-402(1) or 49-434(1), Idaho Code, the applicant shall pay the plate fee required in section 49-450, Idaho Code. Whenever a former prisoner of war transfers or assigns his title or interest to a vehicle registered under this section the registration shall expire, but the former prisoner of war may hold the special plates and may have them transferred to another vehicle upon payment of the required transfer fee provided in section 49-431, Idaho Code. He may only display the plates after receipt of the new registration document from the department.

(3) Former prisoner of war license plates shall bear the words "Former Prisoner of War" and a declaration of the period of service, and shall in all other respects be as provided by law.

(4) Recognized war periods for the purpose of this section shall be any period of war recognized by the United States department of veterans affairs for the purpose of awarding federal veterans benefits as may be defined in title 38, U.S. code, chapter 1, section 101(11).

(5) Former prisoner of war license plates may be retained and displayed on vehicles owned by the surviving spouse of a deceased former prisoner of war. In addition, the surviving spouse of the deceased former prisoner of war is eligible to reapply for and shall be issued former prisoner of war license plates if the deceased former prisoner of war died on or after January 1 of the five (5) years preceding the date of reapplication for the plates. Such plates shall be used on a vehicle owned by the surviving spouse.

History:

[49-415, added 1988, ch. 265, sec. 83, p. 616; am. 1991, ch. 219, sec. 2, p. 524; am. 1992, ch. 23, sec. 1, p. 71; am. 1992, ch. 261, sec. 14, p. 767; am. 1998, ch. 113, sec. 9, p. 424; am. 2000, ch. 37, sec. 2, p. 67; am. 2000, ch. 87, sec. 13, p. 199.]