2006 Indiana Code - CHAPTER 15. PERSONALIZED LICENSE PLATES

IC 9-18-15
     Chapter 15. Personalized License Plates

IC 9-18-15-1 Version a
Authorization
     Note: This version of section amended by P.L.58-2006, SEC.2. See also following version of this section amended by P.L.68-2006, SEC.1.
    Sec. 1. (a) A person who is the registered owner or lessee of a:
        (1) passenger motor vehicle;
        (2) motorcycle;
        (3) recreational vehicle; or
        (4) vehicle registered as a truck with a declared gross weight of not more than:
            (A) eleven thousand (11,000) pounds;
            (B) nine thousand (9,000) pounds; or
            (C) seven thousand (7,000) pounds;
registered with the bureau or who makes an application for an original registration or renewal registration of a vehicle may apply to the bureau for a personalized license plate to be affixed to the vehicle for which registration is sought instead of the regular license plate.
    (b) A person who:
        (1) is the registered owner or lessee of a vehicle described in subsection (a); and
        (2) is eligible to receive a license plate for the vehicle under:
            (A) IC 9-18-17 (prisoner of war license plates);
            (B) IC 9-18-18 (disabled veteran license plates);
            (C) IC 9-18-19 (purple heart license plates);
            (D) IC 9-18-20 (Indiana National Guard license plates);
            (E) IC 9-18-21 (Indiana Guard Reserve license plates);
            (F) IC 9-18-22 (license plates for persons with disabilities);
            (G) IC 9-18-23 (amateur radio operator license plates);
            (H) IC 9-18-24 (civic event license plates);
            (I) IC 9-18-25 (special group recognition license plates);
            (J) IC 9-18-29 (environmental license plates);
            (K) IC 9-18-30 (kids first trust license plates);
            (L) IC 9-18-31 (education license plates);
            (M) IC 9-18-32.2 (drug free Indiana trust license plates);
            (N) IC 9-18-33 (Indiana FFA trust license plates);
            (O) IC 9-18-34 (Indiana firefighter license plates);
            (P) IC 9-18-35 (Indiana food bank trust license plates);
            (Q) IC 9-18-36 (Indiana girl scouts trust license plates);
            (R) IC 9-18-37 (Indiana boy scouts trust license plates);
            (S) IC 9-18-38 (Indiana retired armed forces member license plates);
            (T) IC 9-18-39 (Indiana antique car museum trust license plates);
            (U) IC 9-18-40 (D.A.R.E. Indiana trust license plates);
            (V) IC 9-18-41 (Indiana arts trust license plates);
            (W) IC 9-18-42 (Indiana health trust license plates);             (X) IC 9-18-43 (Indiana mental health trust license plates);
            (Y) IC 9-18-44 (Indiana Native American Trust license plates);
            (Z) IC 9-18-45.8 (Pearl Harbor survivor license plates);
            (AA) IC 9-18-46.2 (Indiana state educational institution trust license plates);
            (BB) IC 9-18-47 (Lewis and Clark bicentennial license plates);
            (CC) IC 9-18-48 (Riley Children's Foundation license plates);
            (DD) IC 9-18-49 (National Football League franchised professional football team license plates);
            (EE) IC 9-18-50 (Hoosier veteran license plates); or
            (FF) IC 9-18-51 (support our troops license plates);
may apply to the bureau for a personalized license plate to be affixed to the vehicle for which registration is sought instead of the regular special recognition license plate.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.118-1998, SEC.3; P.L.1-1999, SEC.26; P.L.222-1999, SEC.9; P.L.216-2003, SEC.4; P.L.54-2004, SEC.1; P.L.214-2005, SEC.55; P.L.58-2006, SEC.2.

IC 9-18-15-1 Version b
Authorization
     Note: This version of section amended by P.L.68-2006, SEC.1. See also preceding version of this section amended by P.L.58-2006, SEC.2.
    Sec. 1. (a) A person who is the registered owner or lessee of a:
        (1) passenger motor vehicle;
        (2) motorcycle;
        (3) recreational vehicle; or
        (4) vehicle registered as a truck with a declared gross weight of not more than:
            (A) eleven thousand (11,000) pounds;
            (B) nine thousand (9,000) pounds; or
            (C) seven thousand (7,000) pounds;
registered with the bureau or who makes an application for an original registration or renewal registration of a vehicle may apply to the bureau for a personalized license plate to be affixed to the vehicle for which registration is sought instead of the regular license plate.
    (b) A person who:
        (1) is the registered owner or lessee of a vehicle described in subsection (a); and
        (2) is eligible to receive a license plate for the vehicle under:
            (A) IC 9-18-17 (prisoner of war license plates);
            (B) IC 9-18-18 (disabled veteran license plates);
            (C) IC 9-18-19 (Purple Heart license plates);
            (D) IC 9-18-20 (Indiana National Guard license plates);
            (E) IC 9-18-21 (Indiana Guard Reserve license plates);
            (F) IC 9-18-22 (license plates for persons with disabilities);
            (G) IC 9-18-23 (amateur radio operator license plates);             (H) IC 9-18-24 (civic event license plates);
            (I) IC 9-18-24.5 (In God We Trust license plates);
            (J) IC 9-18-25 (special group recognition license plates);
            (K) IC 9-18-29 (environmental license plates);
            (L) IC 9-18-30 (kids first trust license plates);
            (M) IC 9-18-31 (education license plates);
            (N) IC 9-18-32.2 (drug free Indiana trust license plates);
            (O) IC 9-18-33 (Indiana FFA trust license plates);
            (P) IC 9-18-34 (Indiana firefighter license plates);
            (Q) IC 9-18-35 (Indiana food bank trust license plates);
            (R) IC 9-18-36 (Indiana girl scouts trust license plates);
            (S) IC 9-18-37 (Indiana boy scouts trust license plates);
            (T) IC 9-18-38 (Indiana retired armed forces member license plates);
            (U) IC 9-18-39 (Indiana antique car museum trust license plates);
            (V) IC 9-18-40 (D.A.R.E. Indiana trust license plates);
            (W) IC 9-18-41 (Indiana arts trust license plates);
            (X) IC 9-18-42 (Indiana health trust license plates);
            (Y) IC 9-18-43 (Indiana mental health trust license plates);
            (Z) IC 9-18-44 (Indiana Native American trust license plates);
            (AA) IC 9-18-45.8 (Pearl Harbor survivor license plates);
            (BB) IC 9-18-46.2 (state educational institution trust license plates);
            (CC) IC 9-18-47 (Lewis and Clark bicentennial license plates);
            (DD) IC 9-18-48 (Riley Children's Foundation license plates); or
            (EE) IC 9-18-49 (National Football League franchised football team license plates);
may apply to the bureau for a personalized license plate to be affixed to the vehicle for which registration is sought instead of the regular special recognition license plate.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.118-1998, SEC.3; P.L.1-1999, SEC.26; P.L.222-1999, SEC.9; P.L.216-2003, SEC.4; P.L.54-2004, SEC.1; P.L.214-2005, SEC.55; P.L.68-2006, SEC.1.

IC 9-18-15-2
Format; restrictions
     Sec. 2. (a) A personalized license plate may be the same color and size and contain similar required information as regular license plates issued for the respective class of vehicle.
    (b) A personalized license plate is limited to the:
        (1) numerals 0 through 9; or
        (2) letters A through Z;
in a continuous combination of numbers and letters with at least two (2) positions.
    (c) A personalized license plate may not be issued to duplicate a regularly issued plate.     (d) Only one (1) personalized plate, without regard to classification of registration, may be issued by the bureau with the same configuration of numbers and letters.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.

IC 9-18-15-3
Issuance limited to registered owners and lessees
     Sec. 3. A personalized license plate may be issued only to the person registered as the owner or lessee of the vehicle on which the license plate will be displayed.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.

IC 9-18-15-4
Applications; letter and number combination restrictions
     Sec. 4. (a) A person who applies for:
        (1) a personalized license plate; or
        (2) the renewal of a personalized license plate in the subsequent period;
must file an application in the manner the bureau requires, indicating the combination of letters or numerals, or both, requested as a registration number.
    (b) The bureau may refuse to issue a combination of letters or numerals, or both, that:
        (1) carries a connotation offensive to good taste and decency; or
        (2) would be misleading.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.115-1993, SEC.6.

IC 9-18-15-5
Reservation deadline; notification of holders of personalized license plates
     Sec. 5. (a) A reservation of a personalized license plate must be completed by October 31 of the year before issuance of the personalized license plate.
    (b) Before October 1 of each year, the bureau shall:
        (1) identify the persons who were issued personalized license plates during that calendar year;
        (2) contact the persons identified under subdivision (1); and
        (3) remind those persons of the necessity of reserving a personalized license plate before October 31, as provided in subsection (a), in order to be issued the same personalized license plate for the subsequent year.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.182-2002, SEC.2; P.L.233-2005, SEC.1; P.L.103-2006, SEC.4.

IC 9-18-15-5.5
Personalized license plate; annual issuance
     Sec. 5.5. After December 31, 2006, the bureau shall issue personalized license plates annually.
As added by P.L.103-2006, SEC.5.
IC 9-18-15-6
Previously issued letter and number combinations; availability
     Sec. 6. If a person who has been issued a personalized license plate reserves the same configuration of letters or numbers, or both, for the next plate cycle as set forth in section 5 of this chapter, that configuration of letters or numbers, or both, is not available to another person until the following plate cycle.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.115-1993, SEC.7; P.L.182-2002, SEC.3; P.L.233-2005, SEC.2.

IC 9-18-15-7
Availability of untransferred number and letter combinations
     Sec. 7. If a person who has:
        (1) registered a vehicle; and
        (2) been issued a personalized license plate for the vehicle;
releases ownership of the registered vehicle without transferring the registration to another vehicle, the combination of numbers or letters, or both, becomes available in the next registration year to any person.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.233-2005, SEC.3.

IC 9-18-15-8
Plates used on leased vehicles
     Sec. 8. (a) If a person has registered a vehicle and has been issued a personalized license plate for use on a leased vehicle, and:
        (1) the person cancels the lease; or
        (2) the lease expires during the registration year;
the person may transfer the registration to another vehicle eligible to be registered under this chapter.
    (b) A transfer of a license plate under subsection (a) must take place not more than thirty-one (31) days after the expiration of the lease.
    (c) The bureau may reissue the license plate with the combination of numerals and letters returned under subsection (a) upon receiving an application for registration under this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.2-2005, SEC.31.

IC 9-18-15-9
Surrender of regular plates and registration
     Sec. 9. A person who has registered a vehicle with the current year's license plate and applies for a personalized license plate for the same vehicle shall surrender the regular license plate and registration to the bureau when the personalized license plate is delivered to the person.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.

IC 9-18-15-10
Fees
     Sec. 10. (a) In addition to the applicable excise tax imposed under IC 6-6-5, the regular registration fees, and any additional fee required to receive a special recognition license plate described in section 1(b)

of this chapter, a person applying for or renewing the registration of a personalized license plate shall pay the personalized license plate fee under IC 9-29-5-32.5 upon an original application or registration renewal, as provided in this chapter.
    (b) Each license branch shall collect the personalized license plate fee at the time of application or registration renewal for the personalized license plate.
    (c) Upon the payment of the required fee and service charges for an original application or renewal of a personalized license plate, the bureau shall issue a receipt designating and acknowledging a state fee and the service charge under IC 9-29.
    (d) The payment of regular registration fees and excise tax, if applicable, may be deferred until the time that the personalized license plate is delivered to the person who applied for the plate.
    (e) A license branch shall collect the service charge prescribed under IC 9-29 for each initial or renewal application for a personalized license plate as a reservation and special processing fee.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.118-1998, SEC.4; P.L.182-2002, SEC.4; P.L.233-2005, SEC.4.

IC 9-18-15-11
Refund of fees
     Sec. 11. If a person who applies for a personalized license plate with a given configuration of letters or numbers is not able to obtain the license plate requested or a satisfactory alternative configuration, a license branch shall refund the entire fee to the person. However, a refund of a personalized license plate fee may not be made when the person who applies for the personalized license plate cancels the request.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.

IC 9-18-15-12
Dual fees and taxes prohibited
     Sec. 12. A vehicle that has been properly registered in a current year is not subject to dual registration fees or dual excise taxes.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.

IC 9-18-15-13
Revenue; special fund; distribution to political parties; reports; deduction
     Sec. 13. (a) Revenue derived from the fees and contributions collected before July 1, 2005, under section 10 of this chapter, except the part of the fee retained under section 10(e) of this chapter, shall be deposited with the treasurer of state in a special fund. The money from this fund remaining after the deduction provided for in subsection (d) shall be distributed monthly by the auditor of state in the following manner:
        (1) To any political party that cast at least five percent (5%) but less than thirty-three percent (33%) of the total vote of the state of all political parties at the last general election for the office

of governor, as certified to the secretary of state under IC 3-12-5-6, the auditor of state shall distribute an amount from the special fund equal to the fractional amount of the vote cast in the last general election for the office of governor. Distribution of money from this fund shall be made to the treasurer of the state central committee of the political party.
        (2) The balance of the special fund remaining after distributions provided by subdivision (1) shall be distributed monthly by the auditor of state in equal amounts to the treasurers of the state central committees of the two (2) political parties that cast the highest and next highest number of votes statewide for governor in the last election.
    (b) The bureau shall provide to:
        (1) the treasurers of the respective state central committees; and
        (2) the auditor of state by the twentieth day of each month for the purpose of making the distributions under subsection (a);
a report defining the number of personalized license plates sold in each county, including the total dollar amount due the treasurers, during the monthly period prescribed in subsection (a). In addition, the bureau shall provide to the treasurers information necessary to comply with IC 3-9.
    (c) Within thirty (30) days of receipt of money distributed under subsection (a), the treasurers of the respective state committees shall distribute to the treasurers of each county central committee of their respective parties an amount equal to one-half (1/2) of the distributions provided for in subsection (a)(2) that were collected during the quarterly period in that county.
    (d) The bureau shall deduct seven dollars ($7) for each original application and renewal application for a personalized plate and deposit the money in the motor vehicle highway account.
    (e) This section expires October 31, 2005.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.4-1996, SEC.97; P.L.233-2005, SEC.5.

IC 9-18-15-13.5
Deduction and deposits
     Sec. 13.5. The bureau shall:
        (1) deduct thirty-seven dollars ($37) of the fee collected for an initial or a renewal application for a personalized license plate; and
        (2) deposit:
            (A) seven dollars ($7) of the fee described in subdivision (1) in the motor vehicle highway account established under IC 8-14-1; and
            (B) thirty dollars ($30) of the fee described in subdivision (1) as a service charge into the state license branch fund established by IC 9-29-14-1.
As added by P.L.233-2005, SEC.6.

IC 9-18-15-14 Rules
     Sec. 14. The bureau may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 necessary to implement this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6.

IC 9-18-15-15
Acceptance of applications; registration requirement
     Sec. 15. (a) Applications for personalized license plates shall be accepted at any time for initial issuance of the plates for the following year.
    (b) Notwithstanding IC 9-18-2-7 and IC 9-18-2-8, a person who is the registered owner or lessee of a vehicle who is issued a personalized license plate shall be required to register the vehicle before May 1 of each year.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.182-2002, SEC.5.