House of Representatives

HB 2001

vehicle registration; plate to owner

commercial vehicles; plate to owner

Sponsors: Kyle

DPA	Committee on Transportation
DPA	Caucus and COW	This bill as passed the Senate contains an Appropriation clause.
DPA	As Passed the House
X	As Transmitted to the Governor

HB 2001 establishes a “plate-to-owner” system requiring a vehicle owner to retain the license plates upon ownership transfer of a vehicle, and if applicable, transfer the license plates to a replacement vehicle.

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 partly 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 a vehicle owner to retain the license plates when transferring vehicle ownership to another person. Retained plates must be transferred to another vehicle, surrendered to MVD or an authorized third party or destroyed within thirty days.

· Mandates that the person acquiring the vehicle apply for title and/or registration within fifteen days of the date the conveying owner relinquishes ownership of the vehicle.

· Stipulates that the acquiring owner must display on the vehicle a temporary registration plate, other appropriate registration permits or a valid license plate pending ownership transfer in MVD records unless the acquiring owner is an insurer who acquires the vehicle pursuant to a claim settlement.

· Allows MVD to prorate the vehicle registration period to coincide with emissions inspection requirements.

· Authorizes MVD to assign the license plates to another vehicle belonging to the owner if: a) the vehicle is the same vehicle type; b) the owner makes proper application to MVD or an authorized third party; c) the owner pays a transfer fee of $12 and any other required fees or taxes.

· Allows the owner to obtain a credit for the unexpired portion of the annual fees and taxes on the 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 fees and taxes paid by the owner unless:

1. The owner is not claiming a credit (transferring the plate) and;

2. The unexpended portion of the fees and taxes exceeds $350.

· Requires MVD to carry forward to a subsequent registration period excess credit if the existing credit exceeds the amount of fees and taxes due at the time of ownership transfer.

· Prescribes that a person is subject to a penalty for improper use of license plates on a vehicle.

· Requires fleet operators to notify MVD when a license plate has been removed from an assigned vehicle and enables MVD to allow retention of plates for transfer to another vehicle by fleet operators. Fleet operators not allowed to retain a license plate must surrender the plate or submit an affidavit of destruction to MVD 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.

· Appropriates $900,600 from the state highway fund to ADOT

· Contains a delayed effective date of December 31, 2001 for all other sections.

· Makes technical and conforming changes.

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· 44th Legislature Analyst Initials _______

· Second Regular Session April 11, 2000

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