(A) Upon payment of a fee of twenty-five dollars for a license that is valid for eight years, the department shall issue to every qualified applicant a driver’s license as applied for by law. The license must bear on it a distinguishing number assigned to the licensee, the full name, date of birth, residence address, a brief description and unobstructed photograph of the licensee’s face, any marking otherwise required or in compliance with law, and a facsimile of the signature of the licensee. No license is valid until it has been so signed by the licensee. The license authorizes the licensee to operate only those classifications of vehicles as indicated on the license.

(B) An applicant for a new, renewed, or replacement driver’s license may apply to the department to obtain a veteran designation on the front of his driver’s license by providing a:

(1) United States Department of Defense discharge certificate, also known as a DD Form 214, that shows a characterization of service, or discharge status of "honorable" or "general under honorable conditions" and establishes the person’s qualifying military service in the United States armed forces;

(2) National Guard Report of Separation and Record of Service, also known as an NGB Form 22, that shows a characterization of service, or discharge status of "honorable" or "general under honorable conditions" and establishes the person’s qualifying military service of at least twenty years in the National Guard; or

(3) Veterans Identification Card (VIC) or a letter from a Military Reserve component notifying the recipient of the person’s eligibility for retirement pay at age sixty (twenty-year letter). A Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC) may not be accepted.

(C) The department may determine the appropriate form of the veteran designation on the driver’s license authorized pursuant to this section.

(D) The fees collected pursuant to this section must be credited to the Department of Transportation State Non-Federal Aid Highway Fund.