§ 404-b. Distinctive plates for volunteer firefighters. 1. Any member of any volunteer fire department or company in this state or the spouse of any such member shall, upon request, be issued a license plate bearing a Maltese cross and the letters "V.F.". If a distinctive plate is issued to any such member pursuant to this section, such a distinctive plate shall not be issued to the spouse of such member. Application for said license plate shall be filed with the commissioner in such form and detail as the commissioner shall prescribe, and shall be verified annually by the applicant.

2. The distinctive plate authorized in subdivision one of this section shall be issued upon proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, that the applicant or the spouse of the applicant is presently an active member of a volunteer fire department or company.

3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this chapter and an initial one time service charge of fifteen dollars.