In recognition of the patriotic service rendered by Mississippians who are recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal, any such person is privileged to obtain one (1) distinctive motor vehicle license plate or tag identifying him as recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross or the Air Medal. The distinctive plates or tags shall be of a color and design designated by the Tax Commission.
The distinctive license plates shall be prepared by the Tax Commission and shall be issued through the tax collectors of the counties in the same manner as are other motor vehicle license plates or tags. An additional tag fee of Thirty Dollars ($30.00) shall be collected by the tax collector for such license plates or tags and shall be forwarded to the State Tax Commission which shall deposit such fee to the credit of the State General Fund. An applicant for such distinctive plates shall present to the issuing official written proof that the applicant is a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross or the Air Medal. The distinctive license plates or tags so issued shall be used only upon a personally or jointly owned private passenger vehicle (to include station wagons, recreational motor vehicles and pickup trucks) registered in the name, or jointly in the name, of the person making application therefor, and when issued to such person shall be used upon the vehicle for which issued in lieu of the standard license plate or license tag normally issued for such vehicle.
The distinctive license plates shall not be transferable between motor vehicle owners; and in the event the owner of a vehicle bearing a distinctive plate shall sell, trade, exchange or otherwise dispose of the vehicle, such plate shall be retained by such owner and returned to the tax collector.