(a)  Every registration plate shall have displayed upon it the registration number assigned to the vehicle for which it is issued, the name of the state of Rhode Island, which may be abbreviated “R.I.”, and the year number for which it is issued or the date of its expiration. Registration plates shall also have printed on them the words, “ocean state”.

(b)  The provision requiring the printing of the words “ocean state” on these plates shall not pertain to commercial plates or to plates issued to recipients of the Purple Heart.