2. a. The Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles may issue for a motor vehicle owned or leased and registered in the State special license plates bearing, in addition to the registration number and other markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law, an appropriate slogan and an emblem, to be designed by the Superintendent of State Police, in consultation with the State Police Benevolent Association, the State Fraternal Order of Police and the staff of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc., and approved by the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles. These design features shall commemorate and honor law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in New Jersey.

b. Application for issuance of law enforcement officer memorial license plates shall be made to the director on such forms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the director. The director shall collect for each set of plates issued an application fee of $50, and an annual renewal fee of $10, in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law for the registration of motor vehicles.

c. Monies collected from all fees for law enforcement officer memorial license plates shall be deposited in a special account to be known as the “Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund” to be established in the Department of the Treasury. Other funds made available to the State to support the provisions of this act shall be deposited in this fund for use as set forth in this act. Interest or other income earned on monies deposited into the fund shall be credited to the fund for use as set forth in this act.

d. The director shall annually certify to the Commissioner of Transportation the average cost per license plate incurred in the immediately preceding year by the Division of Motor Vehicles in producing, issuing, renewing and publicizing the availability of law enforcement officer memorial license plates. The Commissioner of Transportation shall annually report to the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury the costs incurred by the Department of Transportation and the Division of Motor Vehicles to implement the provisions of this section.

e. The director shall notify eligible motorists of the opportunity to obtain law enforcement officer memorial license plates by including a notice with all motor vehicle registration renewals, and by posting appropriate posters or signs in all division facilities and offices. The notices, posters and signs shall be designed by the Superintendent of State Police after consulting with the State Police Benevolent Association, the State Fraternal Order of Police and the staff of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc. The designs shall be subject to the approval of the director. The Superintendent shall supply the division with the notices, posters and signs to be circulated or posted by the division.

f. In the event that the average cost per license plate, as certified by the director and approved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor, is greater than the $50 application fee established in subsection b. of this section in two consecutive fiscal years, the director may discontinue the issuance of the law enforcement officer memorial license plate.

L.2001,c.41,s.2.