Cite as: 68 CNCA § 1356

A. Standard license plate. Each vehicle registered with the Cherokee Nation shall be issued a license plate to be properly displayed on the rear of said vehicle. The Commission shall be responsible for the design of all license plates issued hereunder, provided that the same may be subject to review pursuant to the terms and conditions of an applicable tribal-state compact. All license plates shall conform to the following requirements:

1. Each license plate shall be made of metal with a background and lettering of sufficient contrast so as to be easily read from a distance of not less than fifty (50) feet;

2. Each license plate shall bear the name of Cherokee Nation along the upper portion of the plate;

3. Each license plate shall bear the Cherokee Nation seal;

4. Each license plate shall bear the word Oklahoma;

5. Each license plate number shall contain no more than seven (7) characters, made up of numbers, letters or a unique combination of both, unless otherwise provided herein;

6. The identifying symbols on the license plate shall be large and clear enough to be read by the unaided eye at a distance of not less than fifty (50) feet;

7. Each license plate shall provide a space for the placement of month and year decals in two corners of the license plate;

8. The license plates for each class of vehicles shall bear some mark or decal as determined by the Commission so as to make it different from those assigned to other classes of vehicles; and

9. The Commission may in its discretion provide by regulation for special identifying symbols or legends to be placed upon personal vehicles license plates issued for:

a. the physically handicapped;

b. veterans of the Armed Forces;

c. winners of selected medals for heroism in combat;

d. past or present prisoners of war;

e. parents whose child has been killed as a result of service in the armed forces;

f. past and present elected tribal officials;

g. Manufactured Home;

h. Commercial Trailer;

i. Farm Trailer;

j. Nation Vehicle.

The Commission shall require such documentation as it deems appropriate that the owner of the vehicle is eligible for the special symbol or legend.

B. Cherokee Nation government vehicles. The Commission shall issue without charge appropriate titles, certificates of registration, license plates and decals for any vehicle owned by Cherokee Nation or its agencies. Title to any such vehicles shall be in the name of Cherokee Nation and such vehicles shall not be sold or transferred except in accordance with applicable law.

C. Delaware Tribe of Indians government vehicles. The Commission shall issue without charge appropriate titles, certificates of registration, license plates and decals for any eligible vehicle owned by the federally-recognized Delaware Tribe of Indians, its agencies. Title to any such vehicles shall be in the name of the Delaware Tribe of Indians and such eligible vehicles shall not be sold or transferred except in accordance with applicable law.

D. Physically-disabled license plate. For those eligible individuals a specially-designed plate will be available which shall prominently display the international accessibility symbol, which is a stylized human figure in a wheelchair. Upon the death of the physically-disabled person, the special license plate shall be returned to the Tax Commission. There shall be no fee for such plate in addition to the rate provided by this Act for the registration fee of the vehicle.

E. Lost, mutilated or destroyed license plate or decal.

1. In the event of loss, mutilation or destruction of a license plate or decal issued to an eligible vehicle the owner of the vehicle shall file an affidavit showing such fact and obtain a replacement plate or decal. The charge shall be Ten Dollars ($10.00) for each such plate or decal.

2. In the event a license plate becomes so mutilated as to make its numbers, letters or decals illegible, the owner/operator of the vehicle to which the plate was issued shall be subject to a fine of Fifty Dollars ($50.00). Law enforcement shall have the authority to detain and cite any owner or operator of vehicles bearing such mutilated license plates.

Historical Data

LA 01–01, eff. March 12, 2001. Amended LA 29–04, eff. September 10, 2004; LA 05–08, eff. May 18, 2008; LA 33–10, eff. December 23, 2010; LA 06–16, eff. April 21, 2016. Amended LA 45-24, eff. December 20, 2024.