I. The department shall furnish one set of special number plates, designed by the director with the approval of the commissioner, for one motor vehicle owned by a veteran, who may be listed as the first or second owner on the certificate of title or certificate of registration, who:
(a) Because of being an amputee, or paraplegic, has received said motor vehicle from the United States government or whose vehicle is to replace one so received, or who is evaluated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to be permanently and totally disabled from such service-connected disability. The special number plates shall incorporate the international accessibility symbol. The permanently and totally disabled veteran, in lieu of the special number plates described in this subparagraph, may opt to receive without charge one set of the special number plates for veterans described in N.H. Rev. Stat. § 261:87-b, but in such case shall not be entitled to free parking privileges that are reserved for plates with the international accessibility symbol.
(b) Has been determined by the veterans administration to be suffering from total blindness as a result of a service-connected disability.
(c) Is a former prisoner of war and was captured and incarcerated while serving in a qualifying war or armed conflict as defined in N.H. Rev. Stat. § 72:28, V or while serving in military operations in Iraq or Afghanistan, and who was honorably discharged, provided that such person has furnished the director with satisfactory proof of these circumstances. The plates shall be transferable upon death to the surviving spouse of the prisoner of war. The surviving spouse shall be entitled to the plate as long as he or she lives, unless he or she remarries. For purposes of this subparagraph, “prisoner of war” shall include a person who was captured and incarcerated while serving in military operations in Iraq or Afghanistan whether or not he or she was formerly designated as a “prisoner of war” by the United States Department of Defense.
(d) Was awarded the Purple Heart medal in a qualifying war or armed conflict as defined in N.H. Rev. Stat. § 72:28, V, and who was honorably discharged or is still on active duty, provided that such person has furnished the director with satisfactory proof of these circumstances. A veteran furnished a Purple Heart plate while on active duty shall furnish proof of honorable discharge to the director prior to the first renewal of registration following discharge. The surviving spouse shall be entitled to the plate as long as he or she lives, unless he or she remarries.
(e) Survived Pearl Harbor and was honorably discharged, provided that such person has furnished the director with satisfactory proof of these circumstances. The plates shall be issued upon payment of the regular registration fee. The plates shall be transferable upon death to the surviving spouse of the Pearl Harbor survivor. The surviving spouse shall be entitled to the plate as long as he or she lives, unless he or she remarries.
II. The initial set of plates furnished pursuant to subparagraphs I(a)-I(e) shall be issued without charge. An additional set of plates shall be issued to a person who qualifies for the special plates upon payment of the state and municipal permit fees for issuance of number plates. Notwithstanding N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265:73 or any other law, any person who is issued a plate pursuant to subparagraphs I(c)-I(e) shall not be entitled to free parking privileges for disabled veterans. A person who qualifies for special plates pursuant to subparagraph I(a), I(c), I(d), or I(e) may be issued an additional plate for a motorcycle.