§249-9  Number plates; purchase.  (a) The number plates hereinabove referred to shall be used upon all vehicles forwhich a tax has been paid pursuant to sections 249-1 to 249-13.  All suchplates shall:

(1)  Bear the word "Hawaii" along the upperportion of the plate and the words "Aloha State" along the lowerportion of the plate;

(2)  Have a distinct contrast between the color of theplate and the numerals and letters thereon; and

(3)  Be of such shape, size, and color, and with sucharrangements of letters and numbers as may, subject to sections 249-1 to249-13, be determined by the directors of finance of each county throughmajority consent.

The numerals on all such plates shall be not lessthan three inches in height and the strokes thereof not less than three-eighths inch in width, except in the case of motorcycles, in which case thenumerals shall not be less than one inch in height and the strokes thereof notless than one-eighth inch in width.

The director of finance of the city and countyof Honolulu shall contract annually on behalf of the counties for the purchaseof all number plates, tags, or emblems required.  The council of each countyshall appropriate and cause to be paid over to the party with whom the directorof finance of the city and county of Honolulu shall contract, or to thedirector of finance of the city and county of Honolulu as the director maydirect, such sum or sums as the director of finance of the city and county ofHonolulu shall determine to be the county's proportionate share of the expenseof such contract and the charges connected therewith.  The contract shall bemade by the director of finance of the city and county of Honolulu as agent ofthe several counties, and the proportionate liability of each county shall bestated in the contract.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, thecontract shall constitute a valid obligation of each county for itsproportionate share.

(b)  The number plates for members of theCongress of the United States from the State shall designate their office andbe of the type and color authorized for motor vehicles in the State; providedthat the number on the plates of the United States senator and the UnitedStates representative shall be assigned in terms of seniority of service withthe senator or representative having the greater length of service having thenumber "1" and consecutively thereafter for the others.  The directorof finance of the city and county of Honolulu shall, in the director'sprocurement of the number plates on behalf of the counties, contract for thenumber plates of the members of Congress and all expenses connected therewithshall be paid by the respective members of Congress.

(c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of thelaw, any antique motor vehicle shall be issued a special number plate for a feeof $10 which plate shall be permanent and valid for use on such vehicles solong as the vehicle is in existence in lieu of the uniform state numberplates.  The director of finance may discard and allow for new applications ofinactive special number plates that have not been assigned or registered duringthe preceding three years.  In addition to the payment of any other feerequired by law, applicable to antique motor vehicles, the owner of any suchvehicle shall pay the fee for the issuance of the special number plate.  Theregistration numerals and special number plates assigned to antique motorvehicles shall be labeled "Horseless Carriage" and"Permanent" and shall run in a separate numerical series, commencingwith Horseless Carriage No. 1. [RL 1935, pt of §2157; am L 1937, c 214, §1,subs 6; RL 1945, §5710; am L 1947, c 33, §1; am L 1951, c 162, §4; RL 1955,§130-9; am L Sp 1959 2d, c 1, §9; am L 1961, c 11, §1; am L 1967, c 137, §3;HRS §249-9; am L 1982, c 237, §2; gen ch 1985; am L 1990, c 132, §2; am L 1997,c 326, §2; am L 1999, c 208, §1]

 

Attorney General Opinions

 

  All motor vehiclenumber plates must be uniform in all respects including the reflectivematerial.  Att. Gen. Op. 67‑17.