It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 31-3-17.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

{ADD 31-3-17.1. Courtesy plates. -- ADD} The registrar {DEL may DEL} {ADD shall ADD} design and issue under such regulations as he or she shall deem appropriate, special courtesy automobile, {ADD and ADD} motorcycle {ADD plates, ADD} and {DEL commercial DEL} {ADD may issue commercial ADD} registration plates to be used on passenger motor vehicles, motorcycles, and all commercial vehicles in lieu of other number plates. Special plates shall be of such design and shall bear such letters or combinations of letters and numbers as the registrar shall prescribe and shall be made of light-reflecting sheeting applied on a metal base, provided that no automobile set of plates shall contain more than six (6) letters and numbers in a combination of letters and numbers, or less than two (2) letters, and that no motorcycle plate shall contain more than five (5) letters or more than five (5) letters and numbers in a combination or less than two (2) letters, and that a commercial courtesy plate shall be marked "commercial," and shall contain no more than five (5) letters or more than five (5) letters and numbers in a combination or less than two (2) letters, and provided further, that there shall be no duplication of identification and the registrar shall in his or her discretion refuse to issue any letter or combination of letters and numbers which might carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency. A special {ADD automobile ADD} courtesy plate shall be issued upon application {DEL upon DEL} {ADD using ADD} forms furnished by the registrar upon payment, in addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee {ADD , ADD} {DEL of DEL} a service charge of thirty dollars ($30.00) for each issue and for each registration renewal. {ADD For motorcycles, a special courtesy plate shall be issued upon application using forms furnished by the registry upon payment, in addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, a service charge of seventeen dollars ($17.00) for each issue and for each registration renewal. ADD} The service charge shall be paid to the registrar prior to the registrar's acceptance of the application. The Rhode Island state lottery commission shall not be required to pay the service charge for any special courtesy plate issued pursuant to this section for motor vehicles owned, or used, by the the lottery commission, and may utilize the special courtesy plates on all types of vehicles owned or operated by the lottery commission.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.