CHAPTER 25. SPECIAL GROUP RECOGNITION LICENSE PLATES
IC 9-18-25
Chapter 25. Special Group Recognition License Plates
IC 9-18-25-1
Exemptions from chapter
Sec. 1. This chapter does not apply to the following:
(1) Antique motor vehicle license plates (IC 9-18-12).
(2) Recovery vehicle license plates (IC 9-18-13).
(3) Personalized license plates (IC 9-18-15).
(4) Prisoner of war license plates (IC 9-18-17).
(5) Disabled Hoosier veteran license plates (IC 9-18-18).
(6) Purple Heart license plates (IC 9-18-19).
(7) Indiana National Guard license plates (IC 9-18-20).
(8) Person with a disability license plates (IC 9-18-22).
(9) Amateur radio operator license plates (IC 9-18-23).
(10) In God We Trust license plates (IC 9-18-24.5).
(11) Pearl Harbor survivor license plates (IC 9-18-45.8).
(12) Hoosier veteran license plates (IC 9-18-50).
(13) Support our troops license plates (IC 9-18-51).
(14) Abraham Lincoln bicentennial license plates (IC 9-18-52).
(15) Indiana Gold Star family member license plates (IC9-18-54).
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.97-1991, SEC.1;P.L.23-1993, SEC.32; P.L.222-1999, SEC.10; P.L.58-2006, SEC.3;P.L.68-2006, SEC.3; P.L.1-2007, SEC.84; P.L.30-2008, SEC.2;P.L.87-2010, SEC.18.
IC 9-18-25-1.6
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.2-2005, SEC.131.)
IC 9-18-25-1.7
Applicability to college or university plates
Sec. 1.7. Section 15 of this chapter does not apply to a college oruniversity special group recognition license plate.
As added by P.L.225-1999, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.2-2005, SEC.32.
IC 9-18-25-2
Adoption of rules; petitions; design and issuance
Sec. 2. (a) The bureau shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2establishing the requirements to qualify for participation in thespecial group recognition license plate program.
(b) Representatives of a special group shall petition the bureau toqualify for participation in the special group recognition license plateprogram.
(c) Each petition submitted under this section must contain theprinted name, address, and signature of at least five hundred (500)members of the special group who pledge to purchase the specialgroup recognition license plate if a special group recognition licenseplate is issued for the group under this chapter. (d) When a petition containing the information required insubsection (c) is submitted to the bureau, the bureau may design andissue a special group recognition license plate that designates avehicle as being registered under this chapter by a person (as definedin IC 9-13-2-124) who is a member of the special group.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.125-1995, SEC.6;P.L.261-2001, SEC.2.
IC 9-18-25-3
Design and emblem; reflective material
Sec. 3. (a) The design of a special group recognition license plateissued under this chapter must be a distinct design and include anemblem that identifies the vehicle as being registered to a personwho is a member of a special group.
(b) A special group license plate must be treated with specialreflective material designed to increase the visibility and legibility ofthe special group license plate.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.118-1998, SEC.5.
IC 9-18-25-4
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.261-2001, SEC.5.)
IC 9-18-25-5
Special group representatives; design conference; groupmembership list
Sec. 5. The bureau:
(1) shall require representatives of a special group to conferwith the bureau concerning the design of the emblem thatidentifies the vehicle as being registered to a person who is amember of a special group; and
(2) may request a list of the names and addresses of the personswho are:
(A) members of the special group; and
(B) eligible for a special group recognition license plate.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.118-1998, SEC.6;P.L.261-2001, SEC.3.
IC 9-18-25-6
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.261-2001, SEC.5.)
IC 9-18-25-7
Display
Sec. 7. A special group recognition license plate issued under thischapter may be displayed on the following:
(1) A passenger motor vehicle.
(2) A truck registered as a truck with a declared gross weight ofnot more than eleven thousand (11,000) pounds.
(3) A recreational vehicle. (4) A motorcycle.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.117-2006, SEC.1.
IC 9-18-25-8
Owner registration; former prisoners of war
Sec. 8. (a) Except as provided under subsection (b), a motorvehicle may be registered under this chapter only by an owner whoqualifies for a special group recognition license plate.
(b) The bureau may register a vehicle under this chapter if theapplicant is:
(1) a former prisoner of war; or
(2) the surviving spouse of a former prisoner of war.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.
IC 9-18-25-9
Transfer of plates
Sec. 9. A person who owns a motor vehicle registered under thischapter may transfer the special group recognition license plate fromthe motor vehicle to another motor vehicle eligible to be registeredunder this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.
IC 9-18-25-10
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.125-1995, SEC.12.)
IC 9-18-25-11
Staggered registration
Sec. 11. The schedule for staggered registration under IC 9-18-2-8applies to registrations under this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.
IC 9-18-25-12
Vehicle use restricted; display by unqualified persons prohibited
Sec. 12. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c), a vehiclebearing a special group recognition license plate issued under thischapter may be used only for private and personal purposes.
(b) A person who does not qualify for the special grouprecognition license plate may not display a special group recognitionlicense plate on a vehicle the person is required to register.
(c) A vehicle:
(1) owned by a corporation (as defined in IC 6-5.5-1-6), amunicipal corporation (as defined in IC 36-1-2-10), apartnership (as defined in IC 6-3-1-19), or a sole proprietor; and
(2) bearing an environmental license plate issued underIC 9-18-29;
may be used for any lawful purpose.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.120-1993, SEC.2.
IC 9-18-25-13 Violations
Sec. 13. A person who violates this chapter commits a Class Cinfraction.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.
IC 9-18-25-14
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.2-2005, SEC.131.)
IC 9-18-25-15
Termination of organization's qualification; insufficient sales
Sec. 15. The bureau shall terminate an organization's qualificationfor the special group license plate program and no further specialgroup recognition license plates shall be issued for an organizationif less than two thousand (2,000) of the organization's special grouplicense plates are sold or renewed in the first four (4) years of thefive (5) year period beginning the earlier of January 1, 2002, orJanuary 1 of the year in which the organization's special grouplicense plate is first issued. The bureau shall reevaluate theorganization's qualification for the special group license plateprogram every five (5) years thereafter. The bureau shall terminatethe organization's qualification for the special group license plateprogram and no further special group recognition license plates shallbe issued for an organization if less than two thousand (2,000) of theorganization's special group license plates are sold or renewed in thefirst four (4) years of a subsequent five (5) year period.
As added by P.L.118-1998, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.1-1999, SEC.28.
IC 9-18-25-16
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.2-2005, SEC.131.)
IC 9-18-25-17
Sales of special group plates in excess of 10,000; design of plates
Sec. 17. (a) This section applies to a special group if at least tenthousand (10,000) of the special group's license plates are issuedunder this chapter in the first four (4) years of a five (5) year platecycle beginning after December 31, 2001.
(b) Notwithstanding section 3 of this chapter, the representativesof the special group may petition the bureau to design a distinctivelicense plate that identifies a vehicle as being registered to a personwho is a member of the special group.
(c) The design of the special group license plate must include abasic design for the special group recognition license plate withconsecutive numerals or letters, or both, to properly identify thevehicle.
(d) A special group license plate must be treated with specialreflective material designed to increase the visibility and legibility ofthe special group license plate.
As added by P.L.118-1998, SEC.11.
IC 9-18-25-17.5
Sales of special group plates in excess of 5,000; fees and trust funds
Sec. 17.5. (a) This section applies to a special group if at least fivethousand (5,000) of the special group's license plates are issuedunder this chapter during one (1) calendar year beginning afterDecember 31, 2004.
(b) Notwithstanding section 2 of this chapter, the representativesof the special group may petition the bureau to design a distinctivelicense plate that identifies a vehicle as being registered to a personwho is a member of the special group.
(c) The design of the special group license plate must include abasic design for the special group recognition license plate withconsecutive numerals or letters, or both, to properly identify thevehicle.
(d) A special group license plate must be treated with specialreflective material designed to increase the visibility and legibility ofthe special group license plate.
(e) Beginning with the calendar year following the year in whichthe representatives petition the bureau under subsection (b), thebureau shall issue the special group's license plate to a person whois eligible to register a vehicle under this title who:
(1) completes an application for the license plate; and
(2) pays the following fees:
(A) The appropriate fee under IC 9-29-5-38(a).
(B) An annual fee of twenty-five dollars ($25).
(f) The annual fee referred to in subsection (e)(2)(B) shall becollected by the bureau and deposited in a trust fund for the specialgroup established under subsection (g). However, the bureau shallretain two dollars ($2) for each license plate issued until the cost ofdesigning and issuing the special group license plate is recovered bythe bureau.
(g) The treasurer of state shall establish a trust fund for eachspecial group for which the bureau collects fees under this section.
(h) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund notcurrently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the samemanner as other public funds are invested. Interest that accrues fromthese investments shall be deposited in the fund. Money in the fundis continuously appropriated for the purposes of this section. Moneyin the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert to the stategeneral fund.
(i) The commissioner shall administer the fund. Expenses ofadministering the fund shall be paid from money in the fund.
(j) On June 30 of each year, the commissioner shall distribute themoney from the fund to the special group for which the bureau hascollected fees under this section.
(k) The bureau may not disclose information that identifies thepersons to whom special group license plates have been issued underthis section.
As added by P.L.54-2004, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.117-2006, SEC.2.
IC 9-18-25-17.7
Special group plates; collection of annual fee by bureau
Sec. 17.7. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, representatives ofa special group that participates in the special group recognition plateprogram may request that the bureau collect an annual fee oftwenty-five dollars ($25) on behalf of the special group.
(b) If a request is made under subsection (a), the bureau shallcollect the following fees:
(1) The appropriate fee under IC 9-29-5-38(a).
(2) An annual fee of twenty-five dollars ($25).
(c) The annual fee referred to in subsection (b)(2) shall becollected by the bureau and deposited in a trust fund for the specialgroup established under subsection (d).
(d) The treasurer of state shall establish a trust fund for eachspecial group for which the bureau collects fees under this section.
(e) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund notcurrently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the samemanner as other public funds are invested. Interest that accrues fromthese investments shall be deposited in the fund. Money in the fundis continuously appropriated for the purposes of this section. Moneyin the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert to the stategeneral fund.
(f) The commissioner shall administer the fund. Expenses ofadministering the fund shall be paid from money in the fund.
(g) Before June 30 of each year, the commissioner shall distributethe money from the fund to the special group for which the bureauhas collected fees under this section.
(h) Subject to section 18 of this chapter, the bureau may notdisclose information that identifies the persons to whom specialgroup license plates have been issued under this section.
(i) If:
(1) representatives of a special group have collected an annualfee as set forth in subsection (a) from purchasers of the specialgroup recognition license plates that was paid directly to thespecial group; and
(2) the representatives of the special group request the bureauto collect the annual fee on behalf of the special group as setforth in subsection (a);
representatives of the special group may request the bureau to changethe method of collection of the annual fee for the following calendaryear. The representatives of the special group must make a requestunder this subsection by July 1 of the year preceding the year forwhich the change has been requested. The group may request onlyone (1) change in the method of collection in a plate cycle.
(j) If:
(1) the bureau collects an annual fee as set forth in subsection(a) on behalf of a special group; and
(2) representatives of the special group request the bureau tocease collection of the annual fee as set forth in subsection (a)on behalf of the special group as the annual fee will be paid
directly to the special group by purchasers of the special grouprecognition license plates;
representatives of the special group may request the bureau to changethe method of collection of the annual fee for the following calendaryear. The representatives of the special group must make a requestunder this subsection by July 1 of the year preceding the year forwhich the change has been requested. The group may request onlyone (1) change in the method of collection in a plate cycle.
As added by P.L.117-2006, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.87-2010,SEC.19.
IC 9-18-25-18
Disclosure to special group of personal information on application
Sec. 18. (a) This section applies to an application form for aspecial group recognition license plate that:
(1) is subject to an annual special group fee; and
(2) does not require an applicant to obtain authorization fromthe special group that sponsors the license plate.
(b) The application form must include a box for the applicant tocheck that states the following:
"By checking the above box, I am authorizing the bureau ofmotor vehicles to disclose my personal information included onthis application form to the special group that sponsors thelicense plate for which I am applying. I understand that:
(1) the special group may contact me with information aboutits activities but may not use my personal informationprimarily for fundraising or solicitation purposes;
(2) the bureau will not disclose my personal information toany other person or group; and
(3) the special group will not disclose my personalinformation to any other person or group without my writtenconsent.".
(c) If an applicant checks the box described in subsection (b), thebureau may disclose personal information about the applicantincluded on the application form only to the special group thatsponsors the license plate.
(d) If a special group receives personal information disclosedunder subsection (c), the special group:
(1) may contact the applicant with information about the specialgroup's activities;
(2) may not contact the applicant primarily for fundraising orsolicitation purposes; and
(3) may not disclose the applicant's personal information to anyother person or group without the applicant's written consent.
As added by P.L.87-2010, SEC.20.