(a) General rule.--Upon request by the applicant, the department may issue registration plates consisting of any combination of numbers, letters or numbers and letters. They shall have the same force and effect as regular registration plates. The department may refuse any combination of letters and numbers for cause and shall adopt reasonable rules and regulations for the issuance of the plates and for carrying out the provisions of this section. The applicant shall comply with all laws and regulations pertaining to registration including the payment of any additional fees.

(b) Personal registration plates.--Upon request by the applicant, the department is authorized to issue personal registration plates. The department is authorized to reissue a combination of numbers or letters for a personal plate if the department records reveal that no activity, such as renewal or transfer of the personal registration plate, has occurred for a period of five or more consecutive years and provided that the personal registration plate was never reported as lost or stolen. Whenever the department reissues an inactive personal plate, the department may purge its records of all references to the previous owners of that personal plate. The department shall, however, note upon its records the reissuance of the personal plate and to whom the plate was issued. A personal registration plate may be used only on a passenger car or truck, with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds, motorcycle, trailer or motor home.

(c) Organization registration plates.--Upon request by the applicant, the department is authorized to issue organization registration plates. Organization registration plates may be issued for special groups or for special purposes and bear an appropriate designation. Special groups may charge an initial fee for authorization to request a registration plate bearing the name of the group or an abbreviation of the group name desired by the organization and as approved by the department. Special groups with more than 2,000 organization registration plates may charge a renewal fee for authorization to renew a registration plate bearing the name of the group. The imposition or collection of initial or renewal fees for authorization to request or continue use of a special group's plate is at the special group's discretion and does not require any action by the department. If the vehicle is licensed to a business that is not a member of the special group, the department shall issue the plate as long as the business owner or officer making application is a member of that group. An organization registration plate may be used only on a passenger car or truck, with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds, trailer, motorcycle or motor home.