This bill proposes significant amendments to the Code of West Virginia, primarily aimed at eliminating fees related to license plates, vehicle registration, operator's licenses, and inspection fees for volunteer firefighters. It introduces provisions for special license plates for various groups, including elected officials, military members, and youth organizations, with specific eligibility criteria and application processes. Notably, the bill establishes a $15 annual fee for certain special plates and a $10 initial application fee for others. Additionally, it removes previous requirements for registration numbers and outlines new guidelines for issuing special plates for honorably discharged veterans, disabled veterans, and members of the National Guard, while allowing surviving spouses to retain special plates under certain conditions.

Moreover, the bill modifies the inspection fee structure, reducing the maximum charge for vehicle inspections from $19 to $14, and introduces a provision for no fee for the inspection of one Class A vehicle owned by a volunteer firefighter, provided it is not used commercially. It also clarifies that inspection stations will be reimbursed for costs when proper documentation is presented. The bill emphasizes the importance of verifying eligibility for special plates through appropriate documentation and mandates that organizations must collect a minimum number of applications before production can begin. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the registration process, enhance benefits for veterans and volunteer firefighters, and promote recognition for various groups while generating revenue for the State Road Fund.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 17A-3-14, 17A-10-8, 17B-2-1, 17C-16-6