1999 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 128 – MV license plate, reissue/reservatn

HOUSE BILL NO. 128

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H0128.........................................by TRANSPORTATION AND DEFENSE
MOTOR VEHICLES - LICENSE PLATES - Amends existing law to delete the
requirement that motor vehicle license plates be reissued every seven
years; and to delete provision for a license plate number reservation
program.

01/27    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
01/29    Rpt prt - to Transp

Bill Text


H0128


                                                                        
 ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
Fifty-fifth Legislature                 First Regular Session - 1999
                                                                        

                             IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 128

                         BY TRANSPORTATION AND DEFENSE COMMITTEE

 1                                        AN ACT
 2    RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE  PLATES;  AMENDING  SECTION  49-402C,  IDAHO
 3        CODE,  TO PROVIDE A CORRECT CODE REFERENCE AND TO DELETE REFERENCE TO RES-
 4        ERVATION OF MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS; AMENDING SECTIONS  49-406
 5        AND  49-406A,  IDAHO  CODE,  TO DELETE INCORRECT REFERENCES TO IDAHO CODE;
 6        AMENDING SECTION  49-428, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE A  CORRECT  REFERENCE  TO
 7        IDAHO  CODE  AND  TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CORRECTION; AMENDING SECTION 49-443,
 8        IDAHO CODE, TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT  THAT  LICENSE  PLATES  BE  REISSUED
 9        EVERY  SEVEN YEARS AND TO DELETE PROVISION FOR A LICENSE PLATE NUMBER RES-
10        ERVATION PROGRAM; AMENDING SECTION 67-7602B, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE A COR-
11        RECT REFERENCE TO IDAHO CODE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

12    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:

13        SECTION 1.  That Section 49-402C, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
14    amended to read as follows:

15        49-402C.  SPECIAL  LICENSE  PLATE PROGRAMS -- STANDARDIZED PLATE COLOR AND
16    DESIGN. (1) It is the intent of the legislature that  special  license  plates
17    issued  by  the department be readily recognizable as plates from the state of
18    Idaho without losing the uniqueness for which the special plate  was  designed
19    and  purchased.  In  addition,  the  legislature finds that the department can
20    operate in a more  efficient,  cost-effective  manner  by  conforming  special
21    plates to a basic color and design.
22        (2)  No  special  license  plates and no special license plate programs in
23    existence on or before June 30, 1998, shall be affected by the  provisions  of
24    this section. On and after July 1, 1998, any new special license plate program
25    authorized or any redesign of an existing special license plate, shall use the
26    same  red,  white  and blue background as the standard issue of license plates
27    described in section 49-4 3      4  3,  Idaho
28    Code, except that:
29        (a)  The identification of county shall be omitted;
30        (b)  The word "Idaho" shall appear on every plate;
31        (c)  The  inscription  "Scenic  Idaho"  may be omitted without legislative
32        consideration and approval; and
33        (d)  No slogan shall be used that infringes upon, dilutes or  compromises,
34        or  could  be  perceived  to  infringe  upon,  dilute  or  compromise, the
35        trademarks of the state of Idaho, including, but not  limited  to,  "Idaho
36        Potatoes   ,"  "Grown  in  Idaho  ," "Famous Idaho Potatoes   " or "Famous
37        Potatoes   ."
38    The provisions of this section shall not apply  to  the  second  plate  design
39    issued pursuant to the provisions of section 49-417, Idaho Code.
40        (3)  Any redesign required for a special plate to conform with legislative
41    intent  and  the provisions of this section may be done in a manner similar to
42    that used to produce the original design.
43        (4)  The special plates shall conform in all other respects with the  pro-


                                          2

 1    visions  of  section  49-443, Idaho Code, relating to visibility requirements,
 2    display of registration number,  and  time period for  validity  of
 3    plates , and reservation of plate numbers .

 4        SECTION  2.  That  Section  49-406, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 5    amended to read as follows:

 6        49-406.  IDAHO OLD TIMER -- SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE PROGRAM --  REGISTRATION
 7    AND STANDARD LICENSE PLATES. (1) Any motor vehicle manufactured prior to Janu-
 8    ary  1,  1943, that is maintained to its original likeness using original-type
 9    parts and materials, without major modifications shall be known as  an  "Idaho
10    Old Timer." Any motor vehicle which is altered from its original design is not
11    an "Idaho Old Timer" as herein defined.
12        (2)  Any  motor  vehicle  which qualifies as an "Idaho Old Timer" shall be
13    used for exhibits, parades, tours, club activities and such occasional use  as
14    is  necessary  for  operation and maintenance of the vehicle, and shall not be
15    used for business or commercial purposes or as customary and usual transporta-
16    tion.
17        (3)  Applicants for a special "Idaho Old Timer" license plate shall pay an
18    initial program fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and the license plate  fee
19    required in section 49-450, Idaho Code, for each "Idaho Old Timer" plate which
20    shall  be  displayed on the rear of the vehicle. The initial program fee shall
21    be deposited in the state highway account, and  the  plate  manufacturing  fee
22    shall be deposited in the plate manufacturing account.
23        (4)  Once  every  three (3) years, on a schedule set by the department, an
24    ownership verification form shall be mailed to each plate holder on file  with
25    the  department.  The  owner shall provide such information as is requested by
26    the department to verify ownership of the  vehicle(s)  and  that  the  special
27    license  plate(s) is still in use by the owner. A fee of three dollars ($3.00)
28    shall be charged by the department for each vehicle. This fee shall be  depos-
29    ited  in  the  state highway account to defray costs of the license plate pro-
30    gram. If the owner no longer has an interest in a  vehicle(s)  the  owner  may
31    retain  the plates as specified in subsection (7) of this section. If the own-
32    ership verification form is not returned by the date specified by the  depart-
33    ment, the registration record will be purged from the files of the department.
34    Any further use of the plate is lost to the owner and the plate number becomes
35    available for issue to another applicant.
36          The  r  R eissue of license plates  as speci-
37    fied in section 49-443(2), Idaho Code,  shall  not  be  required  unless
38    there  is  a  general consensus among the majority of plate holders that a new
39    plate design is needed. Representatives of the plate holders  shall  make  the
40    request  known  to the department. The cost of manufacturing a new design will
41    be set by the department based upon the cost  of  manufacturing  supplies  and
42    administering  the  reissue. The equivalent cost of each plate will be charged
43    to each plate holder who purchases the new plate. If a  new  plate  design  is
44    authorized,  the  design and color shall be approved by representatives of the
45    interest group. The design, color and numbering scheme shall also  be  subject
46    to  approval of the department. The existing plate design will be canceled and
47    all plate holders, present and future  shall  purchase  and  display  the  new
48    plate.
49        (5)  An applicant for the special "Idaho Old Timer" plate shall execute an
50    affidavit  on  a form provided by the department that the vehicle qualifies as
51    an old timer and shall only be used for the purposes allowed.
52        The department shall have the authority to refuse to issue a plate and may
53    demand the return of such plate if the applicant has failed to comply with the


                                          3

 1    provisions of this section.
 2        (6)  If an "Idaho Old Timer" is to be used as customary and  usual  trans-
 3    portation,  or  for  business or commercial purposes, the owner shall register
 4    the vehicle under the provisions of section 49-402, or section  49-434,  Idaho
 5    Code,  as  applicable,  and  shall  obtain   and display the standard issue of
 6    license plates after payment of the plate  fee  required  in  section  49-450,
 7    Idaho  Code.  It  shall  be  permissible to display both the standard issue of
 8    plates and the special "Idaho Old Timer" plate.
 9        (7)  Whenever title or interest in an Old Timer vehicle is transferred  or
10    assigned,  the  transferor  may  retain  the plates for use on another vehicle
11    which qualifies by providing the information required  in  subsection  (5)  of
12    this  section  and by paying the required transfer fee. If the vehicle is also
13    registered under the provisions of section 49-402  or  section  49-434,  Idaho
14    Code,  the provisions of section 49-431, Idaho Code, relating to the procedure
15    for assignment and transfer of interest, shall apply.

16        SECTION 3.  That Section 49-406A, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
17    amended to read as follows:

18        49-406A.  IDAHO  CLASSIC  -- SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE PROGRAM -- REGISTRATION
19    AND STANDARD LICENSE PLATES. (1) Any motor vehicle or motorcycle which  is  at
20    least  thirty (30) years old that does not qualify as an "Idaho Old Timer" and
21    that is maintained to its original  likeness  using  original-type  parts  and
22    materials,  without  major modifications shall be known as an "Idaho Classic."
23    Any motor vehicle which is altered from its original design is not  an  "Idaho
24    Classic" as herein defined.
25        (2)  Any motor vehicle or motorcycle which qualifies as an "Idaho Classic"
26    shall  be  used  for  exhibits, parades, tours, club activities and such occa-
27    sional use as is necessary for operation and maintenance of the  vehicle,  and
28    shall  not  be  used  for  business or commercial purposes or as customary and
29    usual transportation.
30        (3)  Applicants for a special "Idaho Classic" license plate shall  pay  an
31    initial  program fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and the license plate fee
32    required in section 49-450, Idaho Code, for each  Idaho  classic  plate  which
33    shall  be  displayed on the rear of the vehicle. The initial program fee shall
34    be deposited in  the state highway account, and the  plate  manufacturing  fee
35    shall be deposited in the plate manufacturing account.
36        (4)  Once  every  three (3) years, on a schedule set by the department, an
37    ownership verification form shall be mailed to each plate holder on file  with
38    the  department.  The  owner shall provide such information as is requested by
39    the department to verify ownership of the  vehicle(s)  and  that  the  special
40    plate(s) is still in use by the owner. A fee of three dollars ($3.00) shall be
41    charged by the department for each vehicle. This fee shall be deposited in the
42    state  highway  account  to  defray costs of the license plate program. If the
43    owner no longer has an interest in a vehicle(s) the owner may retain the plate
44    as specified in subsection (7) of this section. If the ownership  verification
45    form is not returned by the date specified by the department, the registration
46    record  will  be  purged  from  the  files  of  the department. Any use of the
47    plate(s) is lost to the owner and the plate number becomes available for issue
48    to another applicant.
49         The r  R eissue of license plates   as  speci-
50    fied  in  section  49-443(2),  Idaho Code,  shall not be required unless
51    there is a general consensus among the majority of plate holders  that  a  new
52    plate  design  is  needed. Representatives of the plate holders shall make the
53    request known to the department. The cost of manufacturing a new  design  will


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 1    be  set  by  the  department based upon the cost of manufacturing supplies and
 2    administering the reissue. The equivalent cost of each plate will  be  charged
 3    to  each  plate  holder who purchases the new plate. If  a new plate design is
 4    authorized, the design and color shall be approved by representatives  of  the
 5    interest  group.  The design, color and numbering scheme shall also be subject
 6    to the approval of the department. The existing plate design will be  canceled
 7    and  all  plate holders, present and future shall purchase and display the new
 8    plate.
 9        (5)  An applicant for the special "Idaho Classic" plate shall  execute  an
10    affidavit  on a form provided by the department that the vehicle or motorcycle
11    qualifies as an "Idaho Classic" and  shall  only  be  used  for  the  purposes
12    allowed.
13        The  department  shall have the authority to refuse to issue the plate and
14    may demand the return of such plate if the applicant has failed to comply with
15    the provisions of this section.
16        (6)  If an "Idaho Classic" is to be used as customary and usual  transpor-
17    tation,  or  for business or commercial purposes, the owner shall register the
18    vehicle under the provisions of section 49-402, or section 49-434, Idaho Code,
19    as applicable, and shall obtain and display  the  standard  issue  of  license
20    plates  after payment of the plate fee required in section 49-450, Idaho Code.
21    It shall be permissible to display both the standard issue of plates  and  the
22    "Idaho Classic" plate.
23        (7)  Whenever  title  or  interest  in  an  Idaho classic motor vehicle or
24    motorcycle is transferred or assigned, the transferor may retain  the  special
25    plate  for use on another vehicle which qualifies by providing the information
26    required in subsection (5) of this section and by paying the required transfer
27    fee. If the vehicle is also registered under the provisions of section  49-402
28    or  section  49-434, Idaho Code, the provisions of section 49-431, Idaho Code,
29    relating to the procedure for  assignment  and  transfer  of  interest,  shall
30    apply.

31        SECTION  4.  That  Section  49-428, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
32    amended to read as follows:

33        49-428.  DISPLAY OF PLATE AND STICKERS. (1) License plates assigned  to  a
34    motor  vehicle  shall  be  attached, one  (1)  in the front and the
35    other in the rear, with the exception of the following:
36        (a)  The license plate assigned to a motorcycle,  all-terrain  vehicle  or
37        semitrailer  and the license plate assigned to a motor vehicle operated by
38        a manufacturer, repossession agent or dealer  shall  be  attached  to  the
39        rear.
40        (b)  Vehicles  displaying  year  of manufacture, old timer, classic car or
41        street rod license plates shall  be  allowed  to  display  one  (1)  plate
42        attached to the rear of the vehicle.
43        (c)  The  license  plate  attached  to  a tractor shall be attached to the
44        front.
45    License plates shall be displayed during the current  registration  year.  The
46    annual  registration  sticker  for the current registration year shall be dis-
47    played on each license plate, except for trailers and semitrailers on extended
48    registration under the provisions of section 49-434, Idaho Code. For the  pur-
49    poses  of  this  title,  the  license  plates  together  with the registration
50    stickers shall be considered as license plates for the year designated on  the
51    registration sticker.
52        (2)  Every  license  plate  shall at all times be securely fastened to the
53    vehicle to which it is assigned to prevent the plate from swinging,  be  at  a


                                          5

 1    height  not  less  than twelve (12) inches from the ground, measuring from the
 2    bottom of the plate, be in a place and position to  be  clearly  visible,  and
 3    shall  be  maintained  free  from  foreign  materials and in a condition to be
 4    clearly legible, and all registration stickers shall be securely  attached  to
 5    the  license plates and shall be displayed as provided in section 49-443(
 6    4  2 ), Idaho Code.

 7        SECTION 5.  That Section 49-443, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
 8    amended to read as follows:

 9        49-443.  LICENSE  PLATES  TO  BE  FURNISHED BY DEPARTMENT -- FORM AND CON-
10    TENTS. (1) The assessor or the department shall furnish to every  owner  whose
11    vehicle is registered by that office, pursuant to sections 49-402 and 49-402A,
12    Idaho Code, one (1) license plate for vehicles registered under the provisions
13    of  section  49-406,  49-406A or 49-408, Idaho Code, or a motorcycle, trailer,
14    truck-tractor, or semitrailer, and two (2)  license  plates  for  every  other
15    motor  vehicle. If a vehicle is issued one (1) plate only, that plate shall be
16    displayed in accordance with the provisions of section 49-428, Idaho Code. For
17    vehicles registered under the provisions of section 49-407,  Idaho  Code,  the
18    applicant shall provide one (1) plate to be displayed on the rear of the vehi-
19    cle.
20        Commencing  January  1,  1992, the color and design of the plates shall be
21    comparable to the color and  design  of  the  statehood  centennial  issue  of
22    license plates with blue numerals and letters on a multicolored red, white and
23    blue   background. Each license plate must bear upon its face the inscriptions
24    "Famous Potatoes" and "Scenic Idaho."
25        Every license plate shall have displayed upon it the  registration  number
26    assigned to the vehicle and its owner and the name "Idaho" which may be abbre-
27    viated.  The  plates  issued  under the provisions of section 49-402(1), Idaho
28    Code, and the required letters and numerals, including  an  identification  of
29    the  county  in which the motor vehicle to which the plates will be affixed is
30    registered, shall be of sufficient size to be plainly readable from a distance
31    of seventy-five (75) feet during daylight, and each license plate  and  regis-
32    tration sticker shall be treated with a fully reflectorized material according
33    to specifications prescribed by the board.
34        (2)    License  plates shall be valid for a period of seven (7) years
35    beginning with the date of issuance of new plates. At the  end  of  the  sixth
36    year,  the  registered  owner  shall receive notice of the date upon which the
37    plates will expire. The department shall implement a plate-number  reservation
38    program beginning prior to the 1999 plate issue and following once every seven
39    (7) years thereafter, for a limited plate-number sequence in each county which
40    chooses to offer a reservation program. Requests for license plate number res-
41    ervations  shall be submitted to the county during the open reservation period
42    established by the department. The department may  charge  a  minimal  fee  as
43    determined  by the board to recover costs to the department for reservation of
44    license plate numbers.
45     
46         (3)  If a license plate number has expired as provided in subsection
47    (2) of this section and the number was not reserved, or if the vehicle  regis-
48    tration  is  not  renewed  within sixty (60) days of its expiration, the plate
49    number shall be available for use by another registrant. To obtain a  specific
50    number  in  the  recycled license plate number file, the owner of a registered
51    vehicle shall pay a one (1) time fee as determined by rule of the board.
52     
53         The provisions of this subsection shall apply only to vehicles  reg-


                                          6

 1    istered  under  the  provisions  of section 49-402(1), Idaho Code, and section
 2    49-434(1), Idaho Code, as it applies to noncommercial vehicles.
 3     
 4         (4)   License plates issued for vehicles required to be regis-
 5    tered in accordance with the provisions of sections 49-402 and 49-402A,  Idaho
 6    Code, shall be issued color coded registration validation stickers showing the
 7    year of registration. Each registration validation sticker shall bear a number
 8    from 1 through 12, which number shall  correspond to the month of the calendar
 9    year  in which the registration of the vehicle expires and shall be affixed to
10    the  lower right-hand corner of the plates  within  the  outlined  rectangular
11    area.
12        ( 5  3 )  License plates for utility trailers regis-
13    tered  under  the  provisions of section 49-402A, Idaho Code, which are issued
14    for five (5) or ten (10) years and license plates for trailers, rental utility
15    trailers and semitrailers registered under the provisions of  section  49-434,
16    Idaho Code, which are issued for five (5) years shall use the design in effect
17    on  the date of manufacture. If a design change occurs, plates from the effec-
18    tive date of the design change shall be manufactured  using  the  new  design.
19    Unexpired plates need not be reissued to conform to a design change.
20        ( 6  4 )  For license plates which are lost, stolen,
21    mutilated,  or illegible, the owner shall apply for a duplicate or substitute.
22    The assessor shall also furnish for each registration,  and  to  validate  the
23    license  plate,  a pressure-sensitive, serially-numbered registration sticker,
24    except for trailers and semitrailers registered under the optional  seven  (7)
25    year  trailer  provisions in section 49-434, Idaho Code. License plates issued
26    for state, county and city motor vehicles shall be permanent and remain on the
27    vehicle for which issued from year to year, and need no renewal or  validation
28    sticker.
29        ( 7  5 )  Whenever a vehicle is completely destroyed
30    by  fire  or  accident  and  the  operator  submits satisfactory proof of that
31    destruction to the department or appropriate assessor's office, the  registra-
32    tion  use  increment and fees shall be  transferred to the replacement vehicle
33    for a service transfer fee  of  five  dollars  ($5.00),  which  fee  shall  be
34    retained by the registering authority. None of the original fees shall be sub-
35    ject to  refund.
36        (  8    6  )  The  department shall furnish to every
37    owner whose vehicle is registered under  sections  49-434  and  49-435,  Idaho
38    Code, a pressure-sensitive, serially-numbered registration sticker to validate
39    the license plate.
40        (  9  7 )  The board shall have authority to require
41    the return to the department of all license plates and  registration  stickers
42    upon termination of the lawful use of them by the owner.
43        (  10    8 )  The board may promulgate such rules as
44    are necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

45        SECTION 6.  That Section 67-7602B, Idaho Code, be, and the same is  hereby
46    amended to read as follows:

47        67-7602B.  FUNDING. The Idaho heritage trust shall receive funds collected
48    in  section  49-450,  Idaho Code, in the amount of fifty cents (50[) per plate
49    for the use of the copyrighted design  provided  in  section  49-443(1  0
50    ),  Idaho  Code.  The Idaho transportation department shall collect such
51    funds and distribute them to the Idaho heritage trust fund quarterly. The role
52    of the heritage trust is to accept proposals from the public requesting  funds
53    for heritage preservation projects. The proposals are evaluated on established


                                          7

 1    criteria,  and  if  in the opinion of the heritage trust they qualify, a grant
 2    may be awarded subject to the availability of funds. The heritage trust  shall
 3    insure that the following occurs in respect to the management of funds:
 4        (1)  Funds  earned  from the use of the motor vehicle license plate design
 5    shall be deposited directly into the trust fund where it  will  earn  interest
 6    that  will be used for heritage preservation projects. Contributions from pri-
 7    vate fund raising efforts may also be deposited to the trust fund.
 8        (2)  Only the interest earned from the trust fund shall be  expended,  and
 9    the trust fund shall remain as a permanent endowment generating income in per-
10    petuity for heritage preservation.
11        (3)  The  Idaho heritage trust shall require project sponsors to match the
12    funds granted for each project, so that no more than half the monetary support
13    for any project shall come from the proceeds of the trust fund.

14        SECTION 7.  This act shall be in full force and effect on and  after  July
15    1, 2000.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                         RS 08670 C1

The purpose of this bill is to remove the mandatory
requirement that license plates be reissued every seven (7)
years regardless of their physical condition. It would require
that license plates be replaced when they are lost, stolen,
mutilated or illegible. It would also allow license plate
numbers that have not been registered for more than one year to
be reissued to new registrants.

                          FISCAL IMPACT

It is currently estimated that 2.66 million license plates
will be replaced over a seven-year period. At $3.00 per plate,
the public will pay nearly eight (8) million dollars over 7
years. With the passage of this legislation there would be a
savings to taxpayers for not having to replace their license
plates.

Some counties ordered a supply of lower number plates in
advance and it is estimated, with a July 1, 2000 implementation
date, there will still be nearly 25,000 plate pairs at a cost
of $96,000 as a loss to the plate manufacturing account. Those
plates could be reissued out of counties inventory since
inactive plate numbers could be reissued.

There would be a postponement of $185,000 per year to the
Idaho Heritage Trust and $216,000 to the Highway Distribution
Account. The revenue would come to these accounts as plates are
sold.

CONTACT: Idaho Association of Counties 
PHONE: 345-9126

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE    Bill No.      H128