Act No. 119

Public Acts of 2000

Approved by the Governor

May 26, 2000

Filed with the Secretary of State

May 26, 2000

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2000

STATE OF MICHIGAN

90TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2000

Introduced by Reps. Pappageorge, Ehardt, Sanborn, Geiger, Jellema, Richner, Kuipers, Caul, Howell, Ruth Johnson, Green, Law, Woronchak, DeWeese, DeVuyst, Jelinek, Stamas, Patterson, Julian, Tabor, Koetje, Toy, Jamnick, Daniels, Schermesser, Byl, Frank, Gosselin, Faunce, Pestka, Mortimer, Pumford, Wojno, Price, Raczkowski, Tesanovich, Prusi, Woodward, Hale and Shackleton

ENROLLED HOUSE BILL No. 4458

AN ACT to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled "An act to provide for the registration, titling, sale, transfer, and regulation of certain vehicles operated upon the public highways of this state or any other place open to the general public or generally accessible to motor vehicles and distressed vehicles; to provide for the licensing of dealers; to provide for the examination, licensing, and control of operators and chauffeurs; to provide for the giving of proof of financial responsibility and security by owners and operators of vehicles; to provide for the imposition, levy, and collection of specific taxes on vehicles, and the levy and collection of sales and use taxes, license fees, and permit fees; to provide for the regulation and use of streets and highways; to create certain funds; to provide penalties and sanctions for a violation of this act; to provide for civil liability of owners and operators of vehicles and service of process on residents and nonresidents; to provide for the levy of certain assessments; to provide for the enforcement of this act; to provide for the creation of and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies; to repeal all other acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act or contrary to this act; and to repeal certain parts of this act on a specific date," (MCL 257.1 to 257.923) by adding section 803q.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 803q. (1) A person who is designated an honorary consul by a diplomatic corps of a nation other than the United States that is recognized by the government of the United States and who is assigned or stationed in Michigan may make application to the secretary of state for a set of 2 special registration plates. Each special registration plate shall have the words "honorary consul" inscribed on the plate.

(2) Application for the set of 2 special registration plates described in subsection (1) shall be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, and shall be accompanied by proof that the applicant is designated as an honorary consul. The application for the set of 2 special registration plates shall also be accompanied by payment of a $35.00 consulate identification fee for the set of 2 special registration plates. The consulate identification fee shall be deposited in the state treasury and be credited to the Michigan transportation fund. It shall be used first to defray the expenses of the secretary of state in issuing these plates.

(3) Upon proper application and payment of the appropriate consulate identification fee required under subsection (2), the secretary of state shall issue a set of 2 special registration plates described in subsection (1) for each applicant for use on a passenger vehicle. A person issued a set of 2 special registration plates under this section shall be assessed the applicable tax under section 801.

(4) The use of a special registration plate described in subsection (1) on a vehicle other than the vehicle for which the plate is issued, or by a person who does not qualify under this section, is a misdemeanor.

(5) A special registration plate issued under this section shall expire on the birthday of the vehicle owner.

(6) The issuance of a set of 2 special registration plates to an applicant under this section does not confer diplomatic status or diplomatic immunity upon the applicant.

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect October 1, 2000.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Secretary of the Senate.

Approved

Governor.