PURPOSE: This rule establishes procedures for the issuance of license plates to honorary consuls.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The secretary of state has determined that the publication of the entire text of the material which is incorporated by reference as a portion of this rule would be unduly cumbersome or expensive. This material as incorporated by reference in this rule shall be maintained by the agency at its headquarters and shall be made available to the public for inspection and copying at no more than the actual cost of reproduction. This note applies only to the reference material. The entire text of the rule is printed here.

1. (1) Under the authority of the Foreign Missions Act, 22 U.S.C. Section 4301, the Office of Foreign Missions of the United States Department of State issues a series of motor vehicle license plates for vehicles owned by foreign missions and their authorized representatives. These federal license plates replace and supersede the special diplomatic and consular plates formerly issued by the various states including Missouri. The law also provides for federal titling of vehicles owned by foreign missions and their authorized representatives.

2. (2) The federal license plates are issued to the following categories of personnel:

   1. (A) Representatives of foreign missions (nationwide) having diplomatic status;
   2. (B) Representatives of foreign missions (nationwide) having consular status;
   3. (C) Representatives of foreign missions (nationwide) having official status;
   4. (D) Official representatives of foreign missions (United Nations) whose member states maintain permanent missions at the United Nations headquarters;
   5. (E) Official representatives of foreign missions (United Nations) assigned to the United Nations and family members;
   6. (F) Officials of the Secretariat of the United Nations; and
   7. (G) Official representatives to the Organization of American States.
3. (3) The federal license plates are easily recognizable, being painted red, white, and blue, are the standard six inches by twelve inches (6" × 12") in size, and bear the words Issued by the United States Department of State at the bottom.
4. (4) In accordance with the Foreign Missions Act, 22 U.S.C. Section 4301, the United States Department of State has directed that license plates issued by any state, including Missouri, to honorary consuls must contain words, symbols, and colors that are clearly distinguishable from the federal plates. Furthermore, each state has been requested to refrain from embossing the words, CONSULAR OFFICER on the license plates. This procedure should assist law enforcement agencies in determining if the license plate displayed on a motor vehicle is a federalor state-issued license plate. Missouri may not issue license plates to any motor vehicle which is required to be registered with the federal government.
5. (5) Honorary consuls are defined as United States nationals or permanent residents who are appointed as honorary consular officers of foreign missions. The United States Department of State has notified Missouri that honorary consuls will not be permitted to register their vehicles under the federal program. However, honorary consuls are authorized under section 26.140, RSMo to use Missouri motor vehicle license plates which identify them as honorary consular officers. Accordingly, the director of revenue has established a category of specialized personalized license plates for issuance to honorary consuls patterned after the provisions of section 301.144, RSMo.
6. (6) Honorary consular license plates consist of white letters and numerals on a royal blue field. The configuration of these plates consist of the letter C followed by a dash and the numerals one through and including sixty-six (1–66). At the bottom of the royal blue field appear the words HON. CONSUL in the place of Show Me State.
7. (7) No more than one (1) set of two (2) honorary consular license plates will be issued to a qualified applicant.

8. (8) A qualified applicant is an honorary consular officer who—

   1. (A) Appears on the United States Department of State, Office of Foreign Missions, Foreign Consular Duty Officer List;
   2. (B) Has registered as an honorary consular officer with the United States Department of State and has been duly issued an exequatur or a diplomatic note by that department which remains valid;
   3. (C) Has presented his/her credentials to the governor of Missouri;
   4. (D) Has obtained from the Missouri secretary of state an identification card identifying him/her as an honorary consular officer; and
   5. (E) Is a resident of Missouri.
9. (9) Honorary consular license plates will only be issued to passenger motor vehicles subject to the registration fees provided in section 301.055, RSMo.
10. (10) Applicants for honorary consular license plates are required to comply with all Missouri laws and rules relating to the taxing, titling, registration, and safety inspection of motor vehicles.
11. (11) Any person desiring to obtain a set of two (2) honorary consular license plates will make application and pay a personalized plate fee of fifteen dollars ($15) in addition to the regular registration fees for passenger vehicles as detailed in section 301.055, RSMo. Initial application for honorary consular license plates are submitted to the Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Bureau, PO Box 100, Jefferson City, MO 65105 and be accompanied by the personalized plate fee, any other documents required by law to obtain registration, and a copy of the honorary consular officer identification card issued by the Missouri secretary of state. Upon approval, honorary consular license plates will be issued. Subsequent annual renewals may be accomplished at any license office statewide where the renewing applicant will be issued universal registration renewal tabs.
12. (12) Prior to the receipt of honorary consular license plates, the applicant is to surrender all previously issued license plates which bear the words Consular Officer and pay any additional fees due. If no consular officer plates were issued, the applicant is to surrender the regular license plates which the honorary consular license plates will replace. If the honorary consular license plates are to be issued for a period of less than one
13. (1) full year, the department will assess registration fees on a prorated basis. No refunds are to be made for any unused portion of registration fees for any license plates surrendered in exchange for honorary consular license plates.
14. (13) Applications for renewal of honorary consular license plates will be filed with the Department of Revenue prior to the last regular work day of January each year. All plates annually expire on January 31.

AUTHORITY: sections 26.140, 301.135, and 301.144, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed Oct. 3, 1986, effective Dec. 26, 1986. Emergency amendment filed Oct. 30, 1989, effective Nov. 9, 1989, expired March 8, 1990. Amended: Filed Oct. 30, 1989, effective Feb. 25, 1990. Amended: Filed Oct. 25, 2018, effective May 30, 2019. *Original authority: 26.140, RSMo 1955, amended 1985; 301.135, RSMo 1981; and 301.144, RSMo 1977, amended 1979, 1983, 1984, 1989.