1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Department, in cooperation with professional full-time salaried firefighters in the State of Nevada, shall design, prepare and issue license plates that recognize current or former employment as a professional full-time salaried firefighter using any colors and designs which the Department deems appropriate. 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 shall issue license plates that recognize current or former employment as a professional full-time salaried firefighter for a passenger car or a light commercial vehicle upon application by a qualified 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 that recognize current or former employment as a professional full-time salaried firefighter if that person pays the fees for the personalized prestige license plates in addition to the fees for the license plates that recognize current or former employment as a professional full-time salaried firefighter.

3. An application for the issuance or renewal of license plates that recognize current or former employment as a professional full-time salaried firefighter is void unless it is accompanied by documentation which, in the determination of the Department, provides reasonable proof of the identity of the applicant and proof of the applicant’s:

(a) Current employment as a professional full-time salaried firefighter; or

(b) Status as a former professional full-time salaried firefighter who retired from employment after completing at least 10 years of creditable service as a firefighter within this State or any other jurisdiction with:

(1) A fire department; or

(2) A federal or state agency, the duties of which involve the prevention and suppression of fires, including, without limitation, the Bureau of Land Management and the Division of Forestry of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

4. Proof of an applicant’s current or former employment as a professional full-time salaried firefighter must consist of:

(a) An identification card issued by the Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada or its successor;

(b) An identification card issued by the Nevada Fire Chiefs Association or its successor;

(c) An identification card issued by a professional firefighters’ or chiefs’ organization or association from any other jurisdiction that is acceptable to the Department; or

(d) A letter certifying the applicant’s current or former employment as a professional full-time salaried firefighter, which letter must be from:

(1) The Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada or its successor;

(2) The Nevada Fire Chiefs Association or its successor;

(3) A professional firefighters’ or chiefs’ organization or association from any other jurisdiction that is acceptable to the Department; or

(4) The chief officer of a federal or state agency or any other jurisdiction, the duties of which involve the prevention and suppression of fires, including, without limitation, the Bureau of Land Management and the Division of Forestry of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

5. The fee payable to the Department for license plates that recognize current or former employment as a professional full-time salaried firefighter is $35, in addition to all other applicable registration and license fees and governmental services taxes. The license plates are renewable upon the payment to the Department of $10 in addition to all other applicable registration and license fees and governmental services taxes.

6. In addition to all other applicable registration and license fees and governmental services taxes and the fees prescribed in subsection 5, a person who requests a set of license plates that recognize current or former employment as a professional full-time salaried firefighter 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 support the Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada Benevolent Association.

7. The Department shall deposit the fees collected pursuant to subsection 6 with the State Treasurer for credit to the State General Fund. The State Treasurer shall, on a quarterly basis, distribute the fees deposited pursuant to this subsection to the Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada Benevolent Association.

8. 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 shall:

(a) Retain the plates and 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.

9. As used in this section:

(a) “Any other jurisdiction” means any governmental or quasi-governmental entity within the United States which employs professional full-time salaried firefighters and includes, without limitation, any city, county, state, territory, Indian tribe or branch of the Armed Forces of the United States.

(b) “Professional full-time salaried firefighter” means a person employed in this State or any other jurisdiction in a full-time salaried occupation of fire fighting for the benefit or safety of the public.

(Added to NRS by 1997, 1358; A 2001, 318, 1510; 2007, 78; 2013, 2838; 2015, 62)