(A) The Department of Motor Vehicles may issue "South Carolina Highway Patrol-Retired" license plates for use on private passenger motor vehicles, as defined in Section 56-3-630, or motorcycles as defined in Section 56-3-20, registered in a person's name in this State who served as a South Carolina Highway Patrolman or State Trooper and who honorably retired. An application for this special motor vehicle license plate must include certification from the South Carolina Highway Patrol that the applicant honorably retired.
(B) The requirements for production, collection and distribution of fees for a license plate are those set forth in Section 56-3-8100. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall imprint the special license plates with the insignia of the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the words "South Carolina Highway Patrol-Retired" with numbers the department may determine.
(C) Only one special license plate authorized by this section may be issued to a person. A license plate issued pursuant to this section may be transferred to another vehicle of the same weight class owned by the same person upon application being made and being approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
(D) Any person issued a special license plate pursuant to this section who is convicted of any felony, classified misdemeanor, traffic violation requiring a suspension of driving privileges, crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, or other crime punishable by imprisonment for one year or more, shall surrender the special license plate to the Department of Motor Vehicles within three days of the date of the conviction.
(E) The provisions of this section do not affect the registration and licensing of motor vehicles required by other provisions of this chapter, but are cumulative to those other provisions.
(F) A person violating the provisions of this section or a person who:
(1) fraudulently gives false or fictitious information in any application for a special license plate authorized by this section;
(2) conceals a material fact or otherwise commits fraud in the application for a special license plate issued pursuant to this section;
(3) permits the special license plate to be displayed on any vehicle except the one authorized by the Department of Motor Vehicles; or
(4) who fails to surrender the special license plate as required by this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both.
HISTORY: 2012 Act No. 272, Section 8, eff December 26, 2012.