A. The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Tax Commission shall initiate the reissue of the official vehicle license plates and substitute therefor a new license plate designed by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department with the approval of the Department of Public Safety.
B. 1. In addition to all other vehicle registration fees specified by law, beginning July 1, 2016, there is levied and there shall be paid to the Oklahoma Tax Commission a fee of Five Dollars ($5.00) upon every vehicle to be registered.
3. Beginning July 1, 2017, all monies collected under the provisions of this subsection shall be deposited by the Oklahoma Tax Commission to the credit of the State Public Safety Fund created in Section 2-147 of this title.
C. In addition to the monies apportioned by Section 1104 of this title, the following amounts of monies shall be placed to the credit of the Oklahoma Tax Commission Fund for the purpose of conducting a new general issue of license plates commencing January 1, 2017:
1. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016, and ending June 30, 2017, the first One Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,800,000.00) collected or received by the Tax Commission pursuant to the registration of vehicles as provided by the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act; and
2. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, and ending June 30, 2018, the first Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) collected or received by the Tax Commission pursuant to the registration of vehicles as provided by the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act.
D. Subject to the Oklahoma Tax Commission Fund receiving credit for the funds referenced in subsection C of this section, the Executive Director shall devise a numbering system suitable for a new general issue of license plates commencing January 1, 2017. Unless otherwise provided by the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act, new license plates will be issued to all registrants applying for an original or renewal registration on or after January 1, 2017, and will continue until all previously issued license plates have been replaced. Upon receipt of the new general issue license plate, registrants shall replace any previously issued Oklahoma general issue license plate currently displayed on their vehicle.
E. The Tax Commission shall have the authority to promulgate any rules necessary to implement such a new general issue.
F. Except for vehicles registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 1120 of this title and certain official special license plates, the new license plate design provided for in subsection A of this section shall be a part of all license plates issued on or after January 1, 2017. The Oklahoma Tax Commission may establish procedures for the purpose of allowing current registrants to reserve their present general issue or personalized license plate numbers for a fee of Fifteen Dollars ($15.00), provided payment of the fees is received by the Tax Commission on or before November 1, 2016. The fees shall be deposited into the Oklahoma Tax Commission Reimbursement Fund for the purpose of conducting the new general issue of license plates.
G. The license plates shall be issued with identification numbers and letters in a color that provides a distinct contrast with a light-colored background in the plate identification area. All license plates and decals shall be made with reflectorized material as a background to the letters, numbers and characters displayed thereon. The reflectorized material shall be of such a nature as to provide effective and dependable brightness during the service period for which the license plate or decal is issued.
H. In furtherance of the public safety of Oklahoma drivers, the Department of Public Safety may request that the Oklahoma Tax Commission initiate subsequent reissues of the official vehicle license plate. Provided however, such request shall not occur more frequently than five (5) years following the most recent reissue. Upon such request and subject to the Tax Commission receiving the necessary funds the Tax Commission shall initiate the reissue.
Added by Laws 2008, c. 335, § 1, eff. July 1, 2008. Amended by Laws 2016, c. 359, § 1; Laws 2017, c. 1, § 7, emerg. eff. March 2, 2017.