(2) Upon application by an honorary consul who qualifies under this section, the Department of Transportation shall issue consular corps registration plates for use on the motor vehicle of the honorary consul. Registration plates issued under this section may be displayed on the vehicle of the honorary consul in lieu of regular registration plates issued under the vehicle code.
(3) The following apply to registration plates issued under this section:
(a) The plates shall be considered customized plates for purposes of the fee in ORS 805.250.
(b) The plates shall be assigned to a specific vehicle.
(c) The plates may not be transferable from vehicle to vehicle, except as provided by the department by rule.
(d) The plates shall be valid for the term in which the person is acting in the official capacity of honorary consul for a foreign consulate. If the term of honorary consul continues into a new registration period, the department may provide for validation of the plates for the subsequent term by means of a sticker or by any other means the department determines convenient.
(e) The person to whom the plates are issued may retain the plates after the official term of honorary consul is over, but the plates may not be valid if displayed on any vehicle when the term of honorary consul has ended and the person is no longer appointed as an honorary consul.
(4) To qualify for consular corps registration plates, the person must provide the department with proof that the person is appointed by a government as an honorary consul and is acting in that capacity.
(5) The department shall adopt rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. [2009 c.621 §2]