39:3-27.85. Pinelands preservation license plates; fees

1. a. The director may issue for a motor vehicle registered in this State special license plates bearing, in addition to the registration number and other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law, words and an emblem indicating support for, or an interest in, Pinelands preservation. The license plate shall be designed by the director, in consultation with the Pinelands Commission created by section 4 of P.L.1979, c.111 (C.13:18A-4). Issuance of Pinelands preservation license plates shall be subject to all applicable requirements of chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, except as hereinafter otherwise specifically provided.

b. The director shall collect a $50 application fee for the Pinelands preservation license plate in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of the motor vehicle. The director shall collect annually subsequent to the year of issuance of the license plate a $10 fee for the license plate in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of the motor vehicle. The additional fees required by this subsection shall be deposited into the Pinelands Preservation Fund, established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1996, c.147 (C.13:18A-55).

c. The director shall annually certify to the State Treasurer the average cost per license plate incurred in the immediately preceding year by the Division of Motor Vehicles in producing, issuing, renewing, making computer programming changes in connection with and publicizing the Pinelands preservation license plates. On a quarterly basis, the State Treasurer shall transfer a sum equal to the division's cost in connection with the Pinelands preservation license plates from the Pinelands Preservation Fund, established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1996, c.147 (C.13:18A-55), to the division. The annual certification of the average cost per license plate shall be approved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor.

d. In the event that the average cost per license plate as certified by the director and approved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor, is greater than the $50 application fee established in subsection b. of this section in two consecutive fiscal years, the director may discontinue the issuance of Pinelands preservation license plates.

e. The Pinelands Commission and the director shall develop and enter into an interagency memorandum of agreement on procedures to be followed to carry out their respective responsibilities under this act.

L.1996,c.147,s.1.