20-79.7. Fees for special registration plates and distribution of the fees.

(a) Free of Charge. - Upon request, and except for the special registration plate listed in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the Division shall annually provide and issue free of charge a single special registration plate listed in this subsection to a person qualified to receive the plate in accordance with G.S. 20-79.4(a2). For the special registration plate listed in subdivision (2) of this subsection, and upon request, the Division shall annually provide and issue free of charge a single registration plate for both a motor vehicle and a motorcycle to a person qualified to receive each plate in accordance with G.S. 20-79.4(a2). This subsection does not apply to a special registration plate issued for a vehicle that has a registered weight greater than 6,000 pounds. The regular motor vehicle registration fees in G.S. 20-88 apply if the registered weight of the vehicle is greater than 6,000 pounds:

(1) A Legion of Valor registration plate to a recipient of the Legion of Valor award.

(2) A 100% Disabled Veteran registration plate to a 100% disabled veteran.

(3) An Ex-Prisoner of War registration plate to an ex-prisoner of war.

(4) A Bronze Star Valor registration plate to a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal for valor in combat award.

(5) A Silver Star registration plate to a recipient of the Silver Star award.

(a1) (Effective until February 1, 2019) Fees. - All other special registration plates are subject to the regular motor vehicle registration fee in G.S. 20-87 or G.S. 20-88 plus an additional fee in the following amount:

(a1) (Effective February 1, 2019) Fees. - All other special registration plates are subject to the regular motor vehicle registration fee in G.S. 20-87 or G.S. 20-88 plus an additional fee in the following amount:

(b) (Effective until February 1, 2019) Distribution of Fees. - The Special Registration Plate Account and the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account are established within the Highway Fund. The Division must credit the additional fee imposed for the special registration plates listed in subsection (a) of this section among the Special Registration Plate Account (SRPA), the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account (CCAPA), the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF), which is established under G.S. 113A-253, and the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, which is established under G.S. 113-44.15, as follows:

(b) (Effective February 1, 2019) Distribution of Fees. - The Special Registration Plate Account and the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account are established within the Highway Fund. The Division must credit the additional fee imposed for the special registration plates listed in subsection (a) of this section among the Special Registration Plate Account (SRPA), the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account (CCAPA), the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF), which is established under G.S. 113A-253, and the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, which is established under G.S. 113-44.15, as follows:

(c) Use of Funds in Special Registration Plate Account. -

(1) The Division shall deduct the costs of special registration plates, including the costs of issuing, handling, and advertising the availability of the special plates, from the Special Registration Plate Account.

(2) From the funds remaining in the Special Registration Plate Account after the deductions in accordance with subdivision (1) of this subsection, there is annually appropriated from the Special Registration Plate Account the sum of one million three hundred thousand dollars ($1,300,000) to provide operating assistance for the Visitor Centers:

a. on U.S. Highway 17 in Camden County, ninety-two thousand eight hundred fifty-seven dollars ($92,857);

b. on U.S. Highway 17 in Brunswick County, ninety-two thousand eight hundred fifty-seven dollars ($92,857);

c. on U.S. Highway 441 in Macon County, ninety-two thousand eight hundred fifty-seven dollars ($92,857);

d. in Watauga County, ninety-two thousand eight hundred fifty-seven dollars ($92,857);

e. on U.S. Highway 29 in Caswell County, ninety-two thousand eight hundred fifty-seven dollars ($92,857);

f. on U.S. Highway 70 in Carteret County, ninety-two thousand eight hundred fifty-seven dollars ($92,857);

g. on U.S. Highway 64 in Tyrrell County, ninety-two thousand eight hundred fifty-seven dollars ($92,857);

h. at the intersection of U.S. Highway 701 and N.C. 904 in Columbus County, ninety-two thousand eight hundred fifty-seven dollars ($92,857);

i. on U.S. Highway 221 in McDowell County, ninety-two thousand eight hundred fifty-seven dollars ($92,857);

j. on Staton Road in Transylvania County, ninety-two thousand eight hundred fifty-seven dollars ($92,857);

k. in the Town of Fair Bluff, Columbus County, near the intersection of U.S. Highway 76 and N.C. 904, ninety-two thousand eight hundred fifty-seven dollars ($92,857);

l. on U.S. Highway 421 in Wilkes County, ninety-two thousand eight hundred fifty-seven dollars ($92,857); and

m. at the intersection of Interstate 73 and Interstate 74 in Randolph County, ninety-two thousand eight hundred fifty-eight dollars ($92,858) each, for two centers.

(3) The Division shall transfer fifty percent (50%) of the remaining revenue in the Special Registration Plate Account quarterly, and funds are hereby appropriated to the Department of Transportation to be used solely for the purpose of beautification of highways. These funds shall be administered by the Department of Transportation for beautification purposes not inconsistent with good landscaping and engineering principles. The Division shall transfer the remaining revenue in the Special Registration Plate Account quarterly to the Highway Fund to be used for the Roadside Vegetation Management Program.

5-216, ss. 4, 5; 2005-276, s. 28.16; 2006-209, ss. 3, 4, 7; 2007-323, s. 27.20(b); 2007-345, s. 10.1; 2007-400, ss. 3, 4; 2007-483, ss. 4, 5, 8(a), (b); 2009-228, s. 1; 2010-31, ss. 11.4(i), (j), 28.11; 2010-132, s. 7; 2011-145, s. 28.30(b); 2011-392, ss. 4, 5, 5.1; 2012-79, s. 1.12(b); 2013-360, ss. 14.3(c), 34.22; 2013-376, ss. 3, 4, 9(c), (d); 2013-414, s. 57(b), (c); 2014-100, s. 8.11(d); 2015-241, ss. 14.30(dd), 29.30B(a), 29.36A, 29.40(c), (h), (j), (n); 2017-100, s. 2; 2017-107, s. 3; 2017-114, s. 3; 2018-7, s. 1(b); 2018-74, ss. 11(b), (e), 12(c)-(e), 13, 14(b); 2018-77, ss. 1(b), 2(c)-(e), 3.5(b).)