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



(1)  Bear the word "Hawaii" along the upper
portion of the plate and the words "Aloha State" along the lower
portion of the plate;



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



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



The numerals on all such plates shall be not less
than 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 the
numerals shall not be less than one inch in height and the strokes thereof not
less than one-eighth inch in width.



The director of finance of the city and county
of Honolulu shall contract annually on behalf of the counties for the purchase
of all number plates, tags, or emblems required.  The council of each county
shall appropriate and cause to be paid over to the party with whom the director
of finance of the city and county of Honolulu shall contract, or to the
director of finance of the city and county of Honolulu as the director may
direct, such sum or sums as the director of finance of the city and county of
Honolulu shall determine to be the county's proportionate share of the expense
of such contract and the charges connected therewith.  The contract shall be
made by the director of finance of the city and county of Honolulu as agent of
the several counties, and the proportionate liability of each county shall be
stated in the contract.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, the
contract shall constitute a valid obligation of each county for its
proportionate share.



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



(c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of the
law, any antique motor vehicle shall be issued a special number plate for a fee
of $10 which plate shall be permanent and valid for use on such vehicles so
long as the vehicle is in existence in lieu of the uniform state number
plates.  The director of finance may discard and allow for new applications of
inactive special number plates that have not been assigned or registered during
the preceding three years.  In addition to the payment of any other fee
required by law, applicable to antique motor vehicles, the owner of any such
vehicle shall pay the fee for the issuance of the special number plate.  The
registration numerals and special number plates assigned to antique motor
vehicles shall be labeled "Horseless Carriage" and
"Permanent" and shall run in a separate numerical series, commencing
with 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 vehicle
number plates must be uniform in all respects including the reflective
material.  Att. Gen. Op. 67‑17.