HONOLULU – Gov. Linda Lingle signed into law Thursday a measure that provides vehicle weight tax exemptions for non-commercial vehicles registered to Hawai'i residents who are members of the military, including the National Guard, Coast Guard and reserves.

Under the new law, residents who are service members assigned to a Hawai'i-based military unit, and are in good standing, can exempt one non-commercial vehicle from state and county vehicle weight taxes, according to a news release from the governor's office.

Service members can apply for the vehicle weight tax exemption starting Oct. 1, 2008 through their county motor vehicle offices as part of the vehicle registration or renewal process. Required forms will be available through their assigned units.

Currently, non-resident service members assigned to a unit based in Hawai'i are exempt from vehicle taxes and fees as a result of the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2004. However, service members who are assigned to a unit based in the state of their residence, such as those in the Hawai'i National Guard or Coast Guard, are not covered by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act for the purposes of vehicle tax exemptions, according to the news release.

With the enactment of this law by Lingle, which supplements the federal law, Hawai'i resident military service members assigned to a unit in Hawai'i are exempt from state and county vehicle weight taxes, regardless of whether they are in an active duty, reserve, or guard unit.

"This bill is one small way to show our gratitude and support for Hawai'i's military and their families for all they do to serve our nation and protect our state," Lingle said.