ORS 805.205
Special plates for certain groups

  • rules
  • surcharge
  • disposition of moneys

(1)

Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, the Department of Transportation shall provide for issuance of registration plates described in this section for nonprofit groups meeting the qualifications for tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and for institutions of higher education. Plates issued under this section may be issued to owners of motor vehicles registered under the provisions of ORS 803.420 (Registration fees) (6)(a). Plates issued under this section may not contain expressions of political opinion or religious belief. Rules adopted under this section shall include, but need not be limited to, rules that:

(a)

Specify circumstances under which the department may cease to issue plates for any particular group.

(b)

Require each group for which plates are issued to file an annual statement on a form designed by the department showing that the group is a nonprofit group or is an institution of higher education and that the group or institution otherwise meets the qualifications imposed for eligibility for plates issued under this section. The statement shall include names and addresses of current directors or officers of the group or institution or of other persons authorized to speak for the group or institution on matters affecting plates issued under this section.

(2)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection, in addition to any other fee authorized by law, upon issuance of a plate under this section and upon renewal of registration for a vehicle that has plates issued under this section, the department shall collect a surcharge for each year of the registration period. The surcharge shall be determined by the department by rule and may not be less than $2.50 per plate or more than $16 per plate. In setting the amount of the surcharge, the department shall consult with the nonprofit group for which the plates are issued.

(b)

In addition to any other fee authorized by law, upon issuance of a plate under this section that recognizes an institution of higher education in this state, and upon renewal of registration for a vehicle that has such plates, the department shall collect a surcharge of $8 per plate for each year of the registration period.

(c)

In addition to any other fee authorized by law, upon issuance of a Share the Road registration plate the department shall collect a surcharge of $5 per year of registration.

(3)

Plates issued under this section shall be from the current regular issue of plates except that:

(a)

If the group requesting the plates is an institution of higher education, the plates shall, upon request, contain words that indicate the plates are issued to recognize the institution or shall contain the institution’s logo or an image of the institution’s mascot; or

(b)

If the group requesting the plates is a group that recognizes fallen public safety officers, the plates shall, upon request, contain a decal that indicates the plates are issued to recognize fallen public safety officers.

(4)

Except as otherwise required by the design chosen, the plates shall comply with the requirements of ORS 803.535 (Size, form, material, color, design, contents). The department shall determine how many sets of plates shall be manufactured for each group approved under this section. If the department does not sell or issue renewal for 500 sets of plates for a particular group in any one year, the department shall cease production of those plates.

(5)

Except as otherwise provided in subsection (6) of this section, each group that is found by the department to be eligible for plates issued under this section may designate an account into which the net proceeds of the surcharge collected by the department under subsection (2) of this section are to be deposited. The department shall keep accurate records of the number of plates issued for each group that qualifies. After payment of administrative expenses of the department, moneys collected under this section for each group shall be deposited by the department into an account specified by that group. If any group does not specify an account for the moneys collected from the sale of plates issued under this section, the department shall deposit moneys collected for those plates into the Passenger Rail Transportation Account established under ORS 802.100 (Accounts related to driver and vehicle services) to be used as other moneys in the account are used. Deposits under this subsection shall be made at least quarterly.

(6)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Each institution of higher education that requests a plate under this section shall designate an account in the general fund of the institution, and the proceeds in the account shall be used for the purpose of academic enrichment at the institution.

(b)

Net proceeds of the surcharge collected by the department for Share the Road registration plates shall be deposited into two accounts designated by The Street Trust Community Fund and Cycle Oregon. The department shall evenly distribute the net proceeds to each account. Deposits under this paragraph shall be made at least quarterly. At any time that the department determines that the accounts designated by The Street Trust Community Fund and Cycle Oregon cease to exist, the department may deposit the proceeds into the Passenger Rail Transportation Account established under ORS 802.100 (Accounts related to driver and vehicle services).

(c)

Net proceeds of the surcharge collected by the department for Keep Kids Safe registration plates shall be deposited into an account designated by the Children’s Trust Fund of Oregon Foundation to fund strategies and approaches shown to prevent or reduce child abuse. Deposits made under this paragraph shall be made at least quarterly. At any time that the department determines that the account designated by the Children’s Trust Fund of Oregon Foundation ceases to exist, the department shall deposit the proceeds into the Keep Kids Safe Registration Plate Account established in ORS 805.207 (Keep Kids Safe Registration Plate Account). At the beginning of each biennium, the Early Learning Council shall evenly distribute the moneys in the Keep Kids Safe Registration Plate Account to the counties in this state, until each county receives $1,000. After each county has received $1,000, the council shall distribute any remaining moneys to each county in an amount equal to the percentage of Keep Kids Safe registration plates sold in that county. Each county shall use the moneys received under this paragraph solely for the purpose of funding strategies and approaches shown to prevent or reduce child abuse.

(7)

The department may not accept applications to create new group registration plates on or after August 12, 2015. [1993 c.741 §116; 1997 c.672 §1; 2001 c.102 §6; 2001 c.124 §4; 2003 c.409 §3; 2007 c.520 §1; 2007 c.564 §7; 2007 c.667 §3; 2009 c.621 §3; 2011 c.698 §1; 2012 c.37 §§68,68a; 2015 c.806 §15; 2017 c.750 §39k; 2018 c.93 §4]
Note: The amendments to 805.205 (Special plates for certain groups) by section 61, chapter 631, Oregon Laws 2021, become operative January 1, 2023. See section 64, chapter 631, Oregon Laws 2021. The text that is operative on and after January 1, 2023, is set forth for the user’s convenience.
805.205 (Special plates for certain groups). (1) Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, the Department of Transportation shall provide for issuance of registration plates described in this section for nonprofit groups meeting the qualifications for tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and for institutions of higher education. Plates issued under this section may be issued to owners of motor vehicles registered under the provisions of ORS 803.420 (Registration fees) (6)(a). Plates issued under this section may not contain expressions of political opinion or religious belief. Rules adopted under this section shall include, but need not be limited to, rules that:

(a)

Specify circumstances under which the department may cease to issue plates for any particular group.

(b)

Require each group for which plates are issued to file an annual statement on a form designed by the department showing that the group is a nonprofit group or is an institution of higher education and that the group or institution otherwise meets the qualifications imposed for eligibility for plates issued under this section. The statement shall include names and addresses of current directors or officers of the group or institution or of other persons authorized to speak for the group or institution on matters affecting plates issued under this section.

(2)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection, in addition to any other fee authorized by law, upon issuance of a plate under this section and upon renewal of registration for a vehicle that has plates issued under this section, the department shall collect a surcharge for each year of the registration period. The surcharge shall be determined by the department by rule and may not be less than $2.50 per plate or more than $16 per plate. In setting the amount of the surcharge, the department shall consult with the nonprofit group for which the plates are issued.

(b)

In addition to any other fee authorized by law, upon issuance of a plate under this section that recognizes an institution of higher education in this state, and upon renewal of registration for a vehicle that has such plates, the department shall collect a surcharge of $8 per plate for each year of the registration period.

(c)

In addition to any other fee authorized by law, upon issuance of a Share the Road registration plate the department shall collect a surcharge of $5 per year of registration.

(3)

Plates issued under this section shall be from the current regular issue of plates except that:

(a)

If the group requesting the plates is an institution of higher education, the plates shall, upon request, contain words that indicate the plates are issued to recognize the institution or shall contain the institution’s logo or an image of the institution’s mascot; or

(b)

If the group requesting the plates is a group that recognizes fallen public safety officers, the plates shall, upon request, contain a decal that indicates the plates are issued to recognize fallen public safety officers.

(4)

Except as otherwise required by the design chosen, the plates shall comply with the requirements of ORS 803.535 (Size, form, material, color, design, contents). The department shall determine how many sets of plates shall be manufactured for each group approved under this section. If the department does not sell or issue renewal for 500 sets of plates for a particular group in any one year, the department shall cease production of those plates.

(5)

Except as otherwise provided in subsection (6) of this section, each group that is found by the department to be eligible for plates issued under this section may designate an account into which the net proceeds of the surcharge collected by the department under subsection (2) of this section are to be deposited. The department shall keep accurate records of the number of plates issued for each group that qualifies. After payment of administrative expenses of the department, moneys collected under this section for each group shall be deposited by the department into an account specified by that group. If any group does not specify an account for the moneys collected from the sale of plates issued under this section, the department shall deposit moneys collected for those plates into the Passenger Rail Transportation Account established under ORS 802.100 (Accounts related to driver and vehicle services) to be used as other moneys in the account are used. Deposits under this subsection shall be made at least quarterly.

(6)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Each institution of higher education that requests a plate under this section shall designate an account in the general fund of the institution, and the proceeds in the account shall be used for the purpose of academic enrichment at the institution.

(b)

Net proceeds of the surcharge collected by the department for Share the Road registration plates shall be deposited into two accounts designated by The Street Trust Community Fund and Cycle Oregon. The department shall evenly distribute the net proceeds to each account. Deposits under this paragraph shall be made at least quarterly. At any time that the department determines that the accounts designated by The Street Trust Community Fund and Cycle Oregon cease to exist, the department may deposit the proceeds into the Passenger Rail Transportation Account established under ORS 802.100 (Accounts related to driver and vehicle services).

(c)

Net proceeds of the surcharge collected by the department for Keep Kids Safe registration plates shall be deposited into an account designated by the Children’s Trust Fund of Oregon Foundation to fund strategies and approaches shown to prevent or reduce child abuse. Deposits made under this paragraph shall be made at least quarterly. At any time that the department determines that the account designated by the Children’s Trust Fund of Oregon Foundation ceases to exist, the department shall deposit the proceeds into the Keep Kids Safe Registration Plate Account established in ORS 805.207 (Keep Kids Safe Registration Plate Account). At the beginning of each biennium, the Department of Early Learning and Care shall evenly distribute the moneys in the Keep Kids Safe Registration Plate Account to the counties in this state, until each county receives $1,000. After each county has received $1,000, the Department of Early Learning and Care shall distribute any remaining moneys to each county in an amount equal to the percentage of Keep Kids Safe registration plates sold in that county. Each county shall use the moneys received under this paragraph solely for the purpose of funding strategies and approaches shown to prevent or reduce child abuse.

(7)

The Department of Transportation may not accept applications to create new group registration plates on or after August 12, 2015.

Source: Section 805.205 — Special plates for certain groups; rules; surcharge; disposition of moneys, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors805.­html.

Attorney General Opinions

Separation of special license plate fees from State Highway Fund, (1997) Vol 48, p 345

805.010
Antique vehicles
805.020
Special interest vehicles
805.030
Violation of registration limits on antique or special interest vehicle
805.035
Racing activity vehicles
805.037
Violation of registration limits on racing activity vehicles
805.040
Registration of government-owned vehicles
805.045
Registration for certain state-owned vehicles
805.047
Regular registration for county-owned vehicles
805.050
School buses and school activity vehicles
805.060
Law enforcement undercover vehicles
805.080
Campers
805.090
Nonfarm tractors
805.092
Low-speed vehicles and medium-speed electric vehicles
805.100
Disabled veterans
805.103
Congressional Medal of Honor recipients
805.105
Veterans’ recognition plates
805.106
Funding for veterans’ recognition plate costs
805.107
Disposition of certain plates issued to veterans
805.110
Former prisoners of war
805.115
Active members of Oregon National Guard
805.117
Honorary consuls
805.120
Effect of fleet registration
805.200
Plates and other devices with special designs
805.205
Special plates for certain groups
805.207
Keep Kids Safe Registration Plate Account
805.210
Special interest vehicle plates
805.220
Elected official plates
805.222
Special registration program
805.225
Special registration plate
805.230
Amateur radio operator plates
805.240
Customized plates
805.242
Transfer of plates that are not from current issue
805.250
Fees for special plates
805.255
Salmon registration plate
805.256
Disposition of moneys from salmon registration plate surcharge
805.260
Cultural registration plates
805.261
Disposition of moneys from cultural registration plate surcharge
805.263
Crater Lake National Park registration plate
805.264
Disposition of moneys from Crater Lake National Park registration plate surcharge
805.266
Wine country registration plate
805.268
Wine country registration plate design
805.272
Disposition of moneys from wine country registration plate surcharge
805.274
Distribution of moneys
805.278
Portland Trail Blazers registration plate
805.279
Disposition of moneys from Portland Trail Blazers registration plate surcharge
805.283
Breast cancer awareness registration plate
805.285
Disposition of moneys from breast cancer awareness registration plate surcharge
805.287
Pacific Wonderland registration plate
805.289
Disposition of moneys from Pacific Wonderland registration plate surcharge
805.300
Farm vehicle registration
805.310
Qualifications for registration
805.320
Application for registration
805.322
Annual proof of qualification for farm vehicle registration
805.340
Effect of sale of vehicle
805.350
Violation of farm registration limits
805.360
Failure to register farm vehicle properly
805.370
False certification
805.380
Department investigation
805.390
Permitted uses of farm-registered vehicles
805.400
Proportional registration for farm vehicles
805.410
Department investigation of farm vehicle proportional registration application
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