CHAPTER 231
FORMERLY
HOUSE SUBSTITUTE NO. 1 FOR
HOUSE BILL NO. 263
AS AMENDED BY
HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES.
WHEREAS, on October 7, 2001, four weeks after the tragic September 11th terrorist attacks on Washington, D.C., and New York City, the United States Military began combat operations in Afghanistan with the objective of destroying terrorist training camps and infrastructure in Afghanistan, capturing al-Qaeda leaders and ending terrorist activities in Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, on March 20, 2003, the United States Military launched Operation Iraqi Freedom to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction and remove the Iraqi Regime of Saddam Hussein from power; and
WHEREAS, military operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom continue to this day; and
WHEREAS, members of the Delaware National Guard have served and continue to serve honorably and with distinction in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom; and
WHEREAS, the 144th General Assembly, through the passage of Senate Bill 201 (76 Del. Laws c. 204, §2), designated a special license plate for veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly believes it is also appropriate to designate a special plate for veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom;
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Three-fifths of all members elected to each house thereof concurring therein):
Section 1. Amend Subchapter II, Chapter 21, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by inserting a new section 2139N as indicated by underlining as follows:
§ 2139N. Special license plates for veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom.
(a) (1) The owner of any vehicle described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section may apply to the Department for assignment to that vehicle of a special Operation Enduring Freedom veterans registration number; provided however, that the owner of the vehicle must possess official documentation which indicates that such owner is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom.
(2) This section applies only to:
a. A private passenger vehicle; or
b. A truck with a three-fourths ton or less manufacturer’s rated capacity.
(b) Special registration may be issued by the Department under this section if the United States Department of Defense certifies that the applicant is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom.
(c) No fee in addition to the annual registration fee otherwise required by this title is required for registration under this section; provided however, that an original application under this section be subject to a $15 administrative fee, which shall be deposited into a special fund and used by the Division of Motor Vehicles for the purpose of administering this section and to fund Department projects notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 13 and 14 of Title 2 to the contrary.
(d) Only 1 such plate shall be issued to an applicant.
(e) The Department shall reserve sufficient special license plates including the letters "OEF" and numbered consecutively beginning with the numeral "1" as are necessary to implement this section.
Approved April 28, 2012