House of Representatives

HB 2001

commercial vehicles; plate to owner

Sponsor: Kyle

DPA	Committee on Transportation
X	Caucus and COW
	As Passed the House

HB 2001 expands the “plate-to-owner” system for commercial vehicles. The bill requires all commercial vehicle owners to retain the license plates upon ownership transfer of a vehicle, and if applicable, transfer the license plates to a replacement vehicle. The bill is effective from and after December 31, 2000.

History

Laws 1995, Chapter 271 authorized the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) to implement a “plate-to-owner system” for vehicle registration of interstate rental car and rental truck fleets. The plate-to-owner system also in part applies to special (vanity) license plates. Consequently, MVD currently maintains both a “plate-to-owner” and a “plate-to-vehicle” license plate system. Under the plate-to-vehicle system the license plate stays on the vehicle when ownership is transferred.

Provisions

· Requires the owner of a commercial vehicle to retain the license plates when transferring vehicle ownership to another person.

· Authorizes the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to assign the license plates to another commercial vehicle belonging to the owner if: a) the vehicle is the same vehicle type; b) the vehicle is subject to commercial registration and gross weight fees; c) the owner makes proper application to ADOT or an authorized third party; d) the owner pays a transfer fee of $12; and e) the owner pays any applicable fees and taxes less any credit the owner is entitled to receive.

· Allows the owner to obtain a credit for the unexpired portion of the annual fees and taxes on the commercial vehicle when transferring plates to another vehicle. The credit for the unexpired portion is reduced by one-twelfth of the annual fees and taxes for each month of the registration year that has passed, or one twenty-fourth for a vehicle that is registered biennially or permanently.

· Prohibits ADOT from issuing a refund of any unexpended portion of the fees and taxes paid by the owner for the registration and license plates if the fees and taxes for the acquired vehicle are less than the unexpended portion of the fees and taxes of the previous vehicle.

· Specifies that a vehicle owner conveying ownership must transfer the license plates, surrender them, or submit an affidavit of their destruction to ADOT within 30 days of conveying title or interest in a vehicle.

· States that an owner who transfers license plates to another vehicle is subject to the same penalties for improper use of the plates as the owner would have been subject to for use of the plates on the vehicle to which the plates were assigned previously.

· Mandates the owner acquiring a vehicle to apply for transfer of license plates and registration within 15 days of acquiring the vehicle.

· Requires fleet operators to notify ADOT when a license plate has been removed from an assigned vehicle and enables ADOT to allow the fleet operator to retain a license plate for transfer to another vehicle. Fleet operators not allowed to retain a license plate must surrender the plate or an affidavit of destruction to ADOT or an authorized third party.

· Allows the fleet registrant to submit a sworn affidavit to ADOT if the license plates are lost or stolen and are unable to be retained, surrendered, or destroyed.

· Makes technical and conforming changes.

HB 2001 was amended in the Transportation Committee as follows:

· Changes the effective date from December 31, 2000 to December 31, 2001.

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44th Legislature Analyst Initials _______

Second Regular Session January 21, 2000

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