(1)   

      (a)    Whenever a current registration plate is lost or destroyed, the owner of the vehicle to which the plate was attached shall immediately apply to the department for replacement. Except as provided in par. (b) and sub. (2m), upon satisfactory proof of the loss or destruction of the plate and upon payment of a fee of $4 for each plate, the department shall issue a replacement.

      (b)    Upon satisfactory proof of the loss or destruction of a special plate issued under s. 341.14 (6m) (a), (6r) (b), or (6w) or a special personalized plate issued under s. 341.145 (1) (b), (c), or (f) and upon payment of a fee of $5 for each plate or, if the plate is for a special group specified under s. 341.14 (6r) (f) 35. to 47. or 53., $6 for each plate, the department shall issue a replacement.

   (2)   Whenever a current registration plate becomes illegible, the owner of the vehicle to which the plate is attached shall apply to the department for a replacement. Except as provided in sub. (2m), upon receipt of satisfactory proof of illegibility, and upon payment of a fee of $4 for each plate, the department shall issue a replacement. Upon receipt of a replacement plate, the applicant shall destroy the illegible plate.

   (2e)   The owner of a vehicle to which special group plates under s. 341.14 (6r) (f) 33. or 48. are attached may apply to the department for replacement special group plates under s. 341.14 (6r) (f) 33m. or 48m., respectively. Upon receipt of the application and payment of a fee of $40, the department shall issue the replacement special group plates. Upon receipt of replacement plates, the applicant shall destroy the replaced plates.

   (2m)   Upon request therefor and payment of a fee of $10, the department may issue an applicant for replacement plates for an automobile registered pursuant to the registration system under s. 341.27 registration plates of the design specified in s. 341.13 for the plate issuance cycle next succeeding the cycle under which the original plates were issued. The department may limit the receipt of requests under this subsection to applicants for a renewal registration of a motor vehicle.

   (2s)   When the owner of a vehicle applies to the department to renew the registration of a vehicle for which new plates are required under s. 341.135 (2), and upon payment of a fee of $4 for each plate, the department shall issue new replacement plates. Upon receipt of replacement plates, the applicant shall destroy the replaced plates.

   (3)   When issuing a replacement plate, the department may assign a new number and issue a new plate rather than a duplicate of the original if in its judgment that is in the best interests of economy or prevention of fraud. Upon receipt of a replacement plate, the applicant shall destroy all plates replaced.

   (4)   Any person issued replacement plates who fails to destroy the original plates as required by sub. (2), (2e), or (3) may be required to forfeit not more than $200.

   (5)   This section does not apply to plates issued pursuant to the law pertaining to the registration of dealers, distributors, manufacturers or transporters.