Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Division of Motorist Services

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1 PROCEDURE Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles DESCRIPTION AND USE: THIS PROCEDURE PROVIDES INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS TO ASSIST TAX COLLECTOR EMPLOYEES, LICENSE PLATE AGENCY EMPLOYEES, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES FOR THE ISSUANCE OF. I. PROVISIONS OF LAW: Section (1), Florida Statutes, provides for any vehicle displaying a Disabled Veteran, Disabled Veteran Wheelchair, Paralyzed Veterans of America, International Wheelchair Suffix or Motorcycle Wheelchair Emblem license plate to park in spaces designated for handicapped parking. Section (1), Florida Statutes, provides free parking at metered or timed parking on the public streets for Disabled Veteran, Disabled Veteran Wheelchair, Wheelchair Suffix or Paralyzed Veterans of America license plates, or if the vehicle is transporting the person who has a disability and was issued a disabled parking permit or license plate. Section (3), Florida Statutes, provides that when a state, county, or municipal parking facility or lot is being used in connection with an event at a convention center, cruise-port terminal, sports stadium, sports arena, coliseum, or auditorium, the parking facility may charge a person whose vehicle displays such parking permit a parking fee in the same manner and amount as it charges other person. Section (5), Florida Statutes, provides that when an on-street parking meter restricts the duration of time that a vehicle may be parked, a vehicle properly displaying a disabled parking permit is allowed a maximum of 4 hours at no charge; however, local governments may extend such time by local ordinance. Section (1), Florida Statutes, provides for the issuance of one tax free Disabled Veteran symbol license plate for use on any motor vehicle owned or leased by a veteran who has been a Florida resident continuously for the preceding 5 years or has established a domicile in this state as provided by (1), (2), or (3) Florida Statutes, and who has been honorably discharged from the US Armed Forces, upon application, accompanied by proof that: (a) A vehicle was initially acquired through financial assistance by the US Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor specifically for the purchase of an automobile; Revision(s) to this procedure: Added other applicable statutes to pg. 1, corrected statute references on pg. 2, updated to allow DV license plates to be issued biennially on pg. 2, adding new sections B and D regarding lost and stolen plates, changed 5-year to 10-year replacement, and removed current Exhibit B. DIVISION DIRECTOR EFFECTIVE DATE 10/01/89-01

2 (b) The applicant has been determined by the US Department of Veterans Affairs or the predecessor to have a service-connected 100% disability rating for compensation; or (c) The applicant has been determined to have a service-connected disability rating of 100% and is in receipt of disability retirement pay from any branch of the US Armed Forces. Section (4)(a), Florida Statutes, states with the issuance of each permanent "DV" license plate, the department shall initially issue, without cost to the applicant, a validation sticker reflecting the owner's birth month and a serially numbered validation sticker reflecting the year of expiration. The initial sticker reflecting the year of expiration may not exceed 27 months. Section (4)(b), Florida Statutes, states there shall be a service charge in accordance with the provisions of s , Florida Statutes, for each initial application or renewal of registration and an additional sum of 50 cents on each license plate and validation sticker as provided in s (3)(b), Florida Statutes. Section (4)(c), Florida Statutes, states the registration is to be renewed annually or biennially during the applicable renewal period on forms prescribed by the department, which shall include, in addition to any other information required by the department, a certified statement as to the continued eligibility of the applicant to receive the special "DV" license plate. Any applicant who falsely or fraudulently submits to the department the certified statement required by this paragraph is guilty of a noncriminal violation and is subject to a civil penalty of $50. Section (5), Florida Statutes, authorizes free parking in any metered or timed parking space except: (a) (b) As provided in s , Florida Statutes; or When the person is parked without a permit issued under , Florida Statutes, in a space designated for use by persons who have disabilities. Section (2)(b), Florida Statutes, provides for the issuance of a Disabled Veteran wheelchair license plate if the applicant qualifies for a regular Disabled Veteran license plate under section , Florida Statutes, and a parking permit under , Florida Statutes. II. GENERAL INFORMATION: A. Only one tax-free Disabled Veteran (or Disabled Veteran Wheelchair license plate, See RS-18) license plate can be issued to each disabled veteran with a 100% service connected disability. Additional Disabled Veteran (DV) license plates may be issued by charging the regular registration tax and applicable fees. B. The disabled veteran must have received an honorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces. C. The DV license plate must be issued in the disabled veteran s name as owner, co-owner, or lessee. -02

3 D. When one of the following situations occur, an alternate license plate for which the applicant is eligible must be purchased in the county license plate agency and the DV license plate returned to any county tax collector's office or Division of Motorist Services for cancellation: 1. Death of the disabled veteran (co-owner(s) must purchase a new license plate). 2. The disability of the veteran is reduced below 100%. 3. The veteran no longer owns a motor vehicle. 4. The veteran is no longer a resident of the state of Florida. III. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: DV license plates may be issued in any county license plate agency. These license plates can be issued on all vehicles except mobile homes, commercial vehicles, and trucks over 26,000 GVW. The following must be submitted for processing: A. PROOF OF FLORIDA RESIDENCY (one of the following): 1. An affidavit stating the applicant has been a resident of the state of Florida continuously for the preceding five years. 2. A photocopy of the applicants Declaration of Domicile, which has been properly filed with the Clerk of the Court. 3. Copy of the applicant s Florida Voter Registration Card. 4. A Florida Driver License. B. PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY: A letter issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Veterans Administration Office in St. Petersburg, Florida, stating the veteran has a serviceconnected disability evaluated at 100%, accompanied by proof that: 1. A vehicle was initially acquired through financial assistance by the US Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor specifically for the purchase of an automobile; or 2. The applicant has been determined by the US Department of Veterans Affairs or the predecessor to have a service-connected 100% disability rating for compensation; or 3. The applicant has been determined to have a service-connected disability rating of 100% and is in receipt of disability retirement pay from any branch of the US Armed Forces. -03

4 C. FEES: 1. The first DV license plate is tax-free and not subject to the annual use tax. However, the following fees are applicable: Reflectorization, Decal on Demand, Service fee, and branch fee if applying through a county branch office. Refer to the Registration Fees and Flat Taxes Distribution Chart for all applicable fees. MI (military) must be entered in the REG USE field. 2. For an additional DV license plate(s) (Example: license plate issued to an additional vehicle owned by the disabled veteran), submit the annual use tax shown in the Tax Due and Credit Manual using the appropriate class codes, Original License Plate fee, Decal on Demand fee, Service fee, and branch fee, when applicable. Refer to the Registration Fees and Flat Taxes Distribution Chart and the License Plate Rate Chart (HSMV 83140) for all applicable taxes and fees. D. PROOF OF OWNERSHIP: Proof of ownership of the vehicle may be shown by submitting one of the following: 1. Copy of the current Florida Vehicle Registration. 2. Copy of the Florida Certificate of Title. 3. Copy of a title application receipt (form HSMV 82041), showing that a Florida title has been applied for. E. PROOF OF INSURANCE: Proof of Florida Insurance is required. Refer to DMS Procedure RS-36 for additional insurance requirements. F. If the vehicle is leased, a copy of the lease agreement is required. IV. RENEWALS AND TRANSFERS OF : Renewals and transfers may be processed by any county license plate agency. A. On renewals, a verbal or written statement certifying continued eligibility must be obtained. B. Transfers must be processed in the disabled veteran s name as owner, co-owner, or lessee. -04

5 V. REPLACEMENT LICENSE PLATES: Replacement license plates may be issued in any local county license plate agency. A. For replacement of lost license plates, submit the following: 1. Form HSMV 83146, Application For Replacement License Plate, Decal or Parking Permit, accurately completed. 2. Fees: Reflectorization fee, Decal on Demand fee, Service fee, and branch fee, when applicable. Refer to the Registration Fees and Flat Taxes Distribution Chart for all applicable fees. NOTE: If replacing an additional DV license plate that was lost (Example: license plate issued to an additional vehicle owned by the disabled veteran), submit all applicable replacement fees, and branch fee, when applicable. Refer to the Registration Fees and Flat Taxes Distribution Chart for all applicable fees. B. For replacement of stolen license plates, submit the following: Form HSMV 83146, Application For Replacement License Plate, Decal or Parking Permit, accurately completed. When an applicant reports a license plate or decal as stolen to a law enforcement agency and attests that the license plate or decal has been reported as stolen on form HSMV 83146, no fee should be charged for the replacement license plate or decal. C. The first tax-free DV license plate must be replaced every 10 years; Please note that the disabled veteran is not charged the advanced license plate replacement fee. If a DV license plate becomes defaced, faded, or damaged, use the following steps to assist disabled veterans with obtaining a replacement license plate: 1. The customer must turn in the defaced, faded, or damaged license plate to the local county license plate agency for cancellation. 2. The customer must accurately complete and submit form HSMV 83146, Application For Replacement License Plate, Decal or Parking Permit, with appropriate fees. D. An additional DV license plate(s) is subject to the regular registration tax, fees, and the advanced license plate replacement fee for the 10-year license plate replacement program. -05

6 EXHIBIT A (Please note that under section 2, Proof of Florida Residency, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles also accepts a Florida Driver License. Additionally, the remittance fee shown as number 5 has increased to $9.50) ()

7 () EXHIBIT B