Section 42-3-234 - Special plates - adopt a shelter pet(1) Beginning the earlier of January 1, 2011, or when the department is able to issue the plates created by this section, the department shall issue special license plates to qualified applicants in accordance with this section for motorcycles, passenger cars, trucks, and noncommercial or recreational motor vehicles that do not exceed sixteen thousand pounds empty weight.(2)(a) There is hereby established the adopt a shelter pet special license plate.(b) The design for the special license plate shall conform with standards established by the department and shall be subject to the department's approval.(3) A person may apply for an adopt a shelter pet special license plate if the person pays the taxes and fees required under this section.(4) The amount of the taxes and fees for special license plates under this section is the same as the amount of the taxes and fees specified for regular motor vehicle license plates; except that the department shall collect the following fees and donations:(a) A one-time, twenty-five-dollar fee for issuance or replacement of the license plate, which fee shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the highway users tax fund created in section 43-4-201, C.R.S.;(b) A one-time, thirty-dollar donation for issuance or replacement of the license plate, which donation shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the adopt a shelter pet account in the pet overpopulation fund created in section 35-80-116.5, C.R.S.; and(c) An annual twenty-five-dollar license plate renewal donation, which donation shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the adopt a shelter pet account in the pet overpopulation fund created in section 35-80-116.5, C.R.S.; except that the department and its authorized agents may retain the portion of the donation necessary to offset implementing this paragraph (c), up to a maximum of two dollars.(5) An applicant may apply for personalized adopt a shelter pet special license plates. Upon payment of the additional fee required by section 42-3-211 (6)(a) for personalized license plates, the department may issue such plates if the applicant complies with section 42-3-211. If an applicant has existing personalized license plates for a motor vehicle, the applicant may transfer the combination of letters or numbers to a new set of adopt a shelter pet special license plates for the vehicle upon payment of the fee imposed by section 42-3-211 (6) and upon turning in such existing plates to the department. A person who has obtained personalized adopt a shelter pet special license plates under this subsection (5) shall pay the annual fee imposed by section 42-3-211 (6)(b) for renewal of such personalized plates. The fees under this subsection (5) are in addition to all other taxes and fees imposed for personalized adopt a shelter pet special license plates.(6)(a) The department shall retire the adopt a shelter pet license plate if three thousand plates are not issued by July 1, 2016. A person who was issued an adopt a shelter pet license plate on or before July 1, 2016, may continue to use the plate after July 1, 2016.(b) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2011, (HB 11-1236), ch. 289, p. 289, § 13, effective April 8, 2011.)L. 2010: Entire section added, (HB 10 -1214), ch. 394, p. 1872, § 3, effective August 11. L. 2011: (6) amended, (HB 11 -1236), ch. 98, p. 289, § 13, effective April 8.