Section 249-9.7 - Special number plates for environmental conservation; authorized(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the director of finance shall issue to any registered owner of an electric vehicle, who is a resident of the State and has completed the application and paid the required fees, special number plates that commemorate the importance of environmental conservation, for the registered owner's motor vehicle. The special number plates shall be granted the same benefits and restrictions granted to any other electric vehicle special number plates.(b) The director of finance of the city and county of Honolulu shall establish special number plate designs that commemorate the importance of environmental conservation. The design : (1) Shall contain words or images, or both, that indicate that the special number plate is being issued to commemorate the importance of environmental conservation;(2) Shall be similar in shape and size to the uniform state number plate prescribed by law; (3) Shall be readily identifiable and distinguishable under actual traffic conditions; and(4) May, but shall not be required to, bear the words "Aloha State" along the lower portion of the plate. The director of finance of the city and county of Honolulu shall consult with the directors of finance of the counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii; the chiefs of police of the city and county of Honolulu and the counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii; and the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources in establishing the special number plate design, which shall be visually attractive and highlight Hawaii's environment, native species, or both.
(c) Each special number plate design shall not:(1) Infringe upon or otherwise violate any trademark, trade name, service mark, copyright, or other proprietary or property right;(2) Represent any obscene or degrading image, idea, word, or phrase;(3) Advertise or endorse a product, brand, or service that is provided for sale;(4) Promote any religious belief;(5) Promote any philosophy based on prejudice or that is contrary to state civil rights laws; or(6) Obstruct the visibility of the number plate's numbers or letters or any other information that is required by law to be on a number plate.(d) Each special number plate shall be securely fastened to the electric vehicle in lieu of the uniform state number plate.(e) The director of finance shall charge a special number plate fee at least equal to the county's cost of providing the special number plate and administrative costs, if any, plus a fundraising fee to be set by the department of land and natural resources. The fundraising fee established by this subsection shall be in addition to any other state or county fees collected for a motor vehicle registration or license plates.(f) The revenue generated by the fundraising fees established pursuant to subsection (e) shall be deposited into the conservation and resources enforcement special fund established under section 199-1.5.(g) The director of finance may revoke all special number plates issued pursuant to this section if the total number of registered owners of electric vehicles that obtain the special number plates is less than one hundred fifty within three years of issuance of the first special number plate.(h) Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to any plates issued pursuant to section 249-9.2.(i) For the purposes of this section : "Special number plate" means a license plate that is not a uniform state number plate, unless a different meaning appears from the context.
"Electric vehicle" shall have the same meaning as the term is defined in section 196-2 and produce zero emissions.
Amended by L 2024, c 64,§ 2, eff. 6/21/2024.Added by L 2021, c 50,§ 2, eff. 6/8/2021.