The director, in cooperation with the North Dakota firefighter’s association, shall design a decorative decal that contains an insignia representing service in the pursuit of firefighting and which is to be placed on a distinctive number plate. On payment of all other fees required under this chapter for registration of the motor vehicle, and payment of an additional annual fee of fifteen dollars for deposit in the highway fund, the applicant is entitled to issuance of the decals and plates. However, the director may not issue the decal and plates to the owner of a passenger motor vehicle or a truck the registered gross weight of which exceeds twenty thousand pounds [9071.84 kilograms]. A registrant is eligible for distinctive number plates under this section if the registrant is a member of the North Dakota firefighter’s association. On request of the director, the North Dakota firefighter’s association shall certify those members of the North Dakota firefighter’s association eligible to receive the decals and plates. On termination of the registrant’s eligibility, the registrant shall return the decals and plates to the director, who shall reissue for a fee of not more than five dollars another number plate to which that registrant is entitled under this chapter. The director and the North Dakota firefighter’s association shall cooperate in establishing procedures to implement this section.