Chapter 336.          AN ACT FURTHER REGULATING DISTINCTIVE REGIS-

TRATION PLATES.

Be it enacted, etc., as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 60A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 1988 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "conflict", in line 76, the words:-; provided, however, that the excise tax shall not apply to a motor vehicle owned and registered by the surviving spouse of a deceased former prisoner of war, until such time as the surviving spouse remarries or fails to renew such registration.

SECTION 2. The sixth paragraph of section 2 of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the third sentence and inserting

in place thereof the following sentence:- The registrar of motor vehicles may issue, without charge, to former prisoners of war, defined as any regularly appointed, enrolled, enlisted, or inducted member of the military forces of the United States who was captured and incarcerated by an enemy of the United States during an armed conflict, upon presentation of satisfactory evidence of such prisoner of war status, as determined by the registrar, distinctive registration plates for one pleasure passenger vehicle owned and principally used by said individual; provided, however, that the surviving spouse of a deceased prisoner of war may elect to retain a distinctive registration plate for personal use until such time as such spouse remarries, fails to renew such registration, or does not wish to retain usage thereof.

Approved December 18, 1990.