Whenever any consular officer shall have registered as such with the Department of State of the United States and has been issued an^* exequatur or a diplomatic note by the Department of State, the governor shall issue or cause to be issued to such consular officer an identification card with a short statement of his rights and privileges as such, identifying him as a consular officer for the country he represents. “Consular officers”, as used in this section, shall be deemed to include consuls general, consuls, vice consuls, consular agents, honorary consuls and none other. Such consular officers are authorized to use a motor vehicle identification plate identifying him as an official consular officer. Any person other than a consular officer using such vehicle identification plate shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.