Alabama § 32-6-271 - Distinctive Plates Authorized; Design; Fees; Use; Violations.

§ 32-6-271. Distinctive Plates Authorized; Design; Fees; Use; Violations.

(a)(1) A firefighter, upon application and subject to this division, may be issued a distinctive license plate as identification as a firefighter. In addition to the proper numbers, words, and insignias used on the standard license plate issued for motor vehicles, the firefighter distinctive license plates shall bear a red Maltese cross emblem on each side to the left and right of the regular tag numbers. The words “Fire Fighter” should be centered at the bottom of the license plate.

(2)a. A fire chaplain, who is a member of the Alabama Fellowship of Fire Chaplains, upon application and subject to this division, may be issued one firefighter distinctive license plate.

b. Proof of service as a fire chaplain shall be verified by an affidavit signed by the President of the Alabama Fellowship of Fire Chaplains attesting that the applicant is a member in good standing of that organization and is eligible to receive the firefighter distinctive license plate. An individual who is no longer a member in good standing of the Alabama Fellowship of Fire Chaplains is ineligible to receive the firefighter distinctive license plate.

(b) In addition to any other fees provided for by law, an annual additional fee of ten dollars ($10) is added to the cost of the firefighter distinctive license plate provided for in this division. The annual additional fee collected pursuant to this section shall be distributed by each licensing official to the Comptroller, less the commission provided in Section 40-12-269. The Comptroller shall distribute the net proceeds monthly as follows:

(1) Twenty-five percent shall be deposited into a fund managed by the Alabama Joint Fire Council and shall be used for the purpose of expanding and maintaining the Alabama Firefighter Memorial located in Tuscaloosa.

(2) Twenty-five percent shall be distributed to the Alabama Joint Fire Council to be used for expenses associated with the Firefighter Peer Support Program.

(3) Twenty-five percent shall be distributed to the board of the Alabama Firefighters Annuity and Benefit Fund.

(4) Twenty-five percent shall be distributed to the secretary-treasurer of the Alabama Firefighters Emergency Relief Fund.

(c) The funds generated by the fee in subsection (b) shall be subject to audit from either the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts or an independent certified public accountant once every three calendar years.

(d) The firefighter distinctive license plates issued under this section shall be used only upon and for personally owned, private passenger vehicles registered in the name of the applicant and, when issued, shall be used only upon the vehicles for which they are issued in lieu of the standard license plates normally issued for the vehicles.

(e) Any individual who is proven to have falsely obtained or falsely certified an individual to obtain a firefighter distinctive license plate issued under this section shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.

(f) The Department of Revenue may adopt rules to administer this section.