Colorado § 42-3-245 - Special plates - wildlife sporting.

§ 42-3-245. Special plates - wildlife sporting.

(1) Beginning the earlier of January 1, 2013, or when the department is able to issue the plates, the department shall issue special license plates to qualified applicants under this section for motorcycles, passenger cars, trucks, or noncommercial or recreational motor vehicles that do not exceed sixteen thousand pounds empty weight; except that the department shall not issue the license plate until the proponents comply with section 42-3-207 (6).

(2) (a) There is hereby established the wildlife sporting license plate. The department may stop issuing the license plate if a total of three thousand license plates are not issued by July 1, 2017. A person who was issued a license plate on or before July 1, 2017, may continue to use the license plate after July 1, 2017, regardless of whether the department stops issuing the special license plate.

(b) The division of parks and wildlife may design the special license plate in consultation with sportsmen's advisory groups. The plate must conform with standards established by the department.

(3) A person may apply for a wildlife sporting license plate if the person pays the taxes and fees required under this section.

(4) (a) The amount of the taxes and fees for special license plates under this section is the same as the amount of the taxes and fees specified for regular motor vehicle license plates; except that the department shall collect the following fees:

(I) A one-time, twenty-five-dollar fee for issuance or replacement of the license plate, which fee the department shall transmit to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the highway users tax fund created in section 43-4-201, C.R.S.;

(II) A one-time, ten-dollar fee for issuance or replacement of the wildlife sporting license plate, which fee the department shall transmit to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the wildlife cash fund created in section 33-1-112, C.R.S.; and

(III) An annual twenty-five-dollar renewal fee, which the department shall transmit to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the wildlife cash fund created in section 33-1-112, C.R.S.; except that the department and its authorized agents may retain the portion of the fee necessary to offset implementing this subparagraph (III), up to a maximum of two dollars.

(b) The division of parks and wildlife shall use the money from fees paid under subparagraphs (II) and (III) of paragraph (a) of this subsection (4) for the following purposes:

(I) Providing grants to create and enhance shooting ranges and areas throughout Colorado to increase public recreational shooting opportunities, including hunter education, marksmanship training, and youth shooting;

(II) Providing grants to local and county governments, park and recreation departments, water districts, angling organizations, and others for projects to improve fishing opportunities in Colorado.

(5) An applicant may apply for personalized wildlife sporting license plates. Upon payment of the additional fee required by section 42-3-211 (6)(a) for personalized license plates, the department may issue the plates if the applicant complies with section 42-3-211. If an applicant has existing personalized license plates for a motor vehicle, the applicant may transfer the combination of letters or numbers to a new set of wildlife sporting license plates for the vehicle upon paying the fee required by section 42-3-211 (6)(a) and upon turning in the existing plates to the department. A person who has obtained personalized wildlife sporting license plates under this subsection (5) shall pay the annual fee imposed by section 42-3-211 (6)(b) for renewal of the personalized plates. The fees under this subsection (5) are in addition to all other applicable taxes and fees.

Source: L. 2012: Entire section added, (HB 12-1275), ch. 194, p. 773, § 1, effective August 8. L. 2013: (1) amended, (HB 13-1300), ch. 316, p. 1708, § 136, effective August 7.