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First Substitute H.B. 321

Representative Chad E. Bennion proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION

             2     
REVISIONS

             3     
2004 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: Chad E. Bennion

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Motor Vehicles Code and the Judicial Code to amend provisions
             10      related to license plates and registrations.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    provides that the Motor Vehicle Division shall issue a newly designed general issue
             14      license plate on the date the division determines a license plate numbering system is
             15      exhausted and that sufficient funding exists in the License Plate Reissue Account;
             16          .    provides that general issue license plates expire after a certain period when the
             17      division begins to issue a newly designed general issue license plate;
             18          .    allows the division to initiate digital license plate technologies for the design,
             19      administration, and enforcement of license plate and registration provisions;
             20          .    creates a restricted account in the General Fund known as the License Plate Reissue
             21      Account;
             22          .    increases the fines for registration violations and dedicates a portion of the fines to
             23      pay for license plate reissues; and
             24          .    makes technical changes.
             25      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:



             26          None
             27      Other Special Clauses:
             28          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2004.
             29          This bill provides a coordination clause.
             30      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             31      AMENDS:
             32          41-1a-214, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 1, Laws of Utah 1992
             33          41-1a-402, as last amended by Chapter 1, Laws of Utah 2003
             34          41-1a-1211, as last amended by Chapter 1, Laws of Utah 2003
             35          41-1a-1303, as last amended by Chapter 56, Laws of Utah 2002
             36          41-1a-1305, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 1, Laws of Utah 1992
             37          41-1a-1307, as last amended by Chapter 56, Laws of Utah 2002
             38          78-3-14.5, as last amended by Chapter 270, Laws of Utah 1998
             39          78-5-116, as last amended by Chapter 270, Laws of Utah 1998
             40      ENACTS:
             41          41-1a-401.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             42          41-1a-401.6, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             43     
             44      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             45          Section 1. Section 41-1a-214 is amended to read:
             46           41-1a-214. Registration card to be signed, carried, and exhibited.
             47          (1) A registration card shall be signed by the owner in ink in the space provided.
             48          (2) A registration card shall be carried at all times in the vehicle to which it was issued.
             49          (3) The person driving or in control of a vehicle shall display the registration card upon
             50      demand of a peace officer or any officer or employee of the division.
             51          (4) (a) A violation of this section is a class C misdemeanor and has a minimum fine of
             52      $40.
             53          (b) A court may dismiss the fine imposed for a violation of this section if proof of
             54      registration on the date of the citation is provided.
             55          Section 2. Section 41-1a-401.5 is enacted to read:
             56          41-1a-401.5. License plate expiration -- Reissue -- Exceptions.



             57          (1) Beginning on the date the division determines a license plate numbering system is
             58      exhausted and that sufficient funding exists in the License Plate Reissue Account created under
             59      Section 41-1a-401.6 , the division shall:
             60          (a) discontinue the issuance of any new current general issue license plates including
             61      any:
             62          (i) Ski Utah license plates; or
             63          (ii) statehood centennial license plates; and
             64          (b) issue a newly designed general issue license plate.
             65          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4) and except for newly designed general
             66      issue license plates issued under Subsection (1)(b), all license plates expire with the expiration
             67      of the vehicle registration beginning four years after the date determined by the division under
             68      Subsection (1).
             69          (b) After the date determined by the division under Subsection (1), upon application for
             70      original vehicle registration, the division shall issue the newly designed general issue license
             71      plates.
             72          (c) In accordance with Subsection (2)(a), beginning four years after the date determined
             73      by the division under Subsection (1), upon application for renewal of the vehicle registration,
             74      the division shall issue the newly designed general issue license plates.
             75          (3) If the division determines it is in the best interest of the state, the division may
             76      initiate digital license plate technologies for the design, administration, and enforcement of
             77      license plate and registration provisions.
             78          (4) The following license plates are exempt from the provisions of this section:
             79          (a) special group license plates issued under Section 41-1a-418 ;
             80          (b) personalized license plates issued under Section 41-1a-410 ;
             81          (c) multiyear license plates issued under Section 41-1a-222 ;
             82          (d) vintage vehicle registration license plates issued under Section 41-1a-226 ;
             83          (e) lifetime trailer license plates issued under Section 41-1a-228 ;
             84          (f) original issue license plates issued under Section 41-1a-416 ; and
             85          (g) Olympic license plates.
             86          Section 3. Section 41-1a-401.6 is enacted to read:
             87          41-1a-401.6. License Plate Reissue Account created -- Purposes.


             88          (1) There is created within the General Fund a restricted account known as the
             89      "License Plate Reissue Account."
             90          (2) The License Plate Reissue Account shall consist of:
             91          (a) fine revenues deposited in the account in accordance with Sections 78-3-14.5 and
             92      78-5-116 ;
             93          (b) appropriations made by the Legislature;
             94          (c) private contributions; and
             95          (d) donations or grants from public or private entities.
             96          (3) The cost of administering the License Plate Reissue Account shall be paid from
             97      monies in the account.
             98          (4) (a) Any appropriation made by the Legislature from the account may only be used
             99      for the design and reissuance of license plates required under Section 41-1a-401.5 .
             100          (b) Only license plates that are replaced solely to comply with the reissuance
             101      requirements under Subsection 41-1a-401.5 (2)(c) may be paid for from account monies.
             102          Section 4. Section 41-1a-402 is amended to read:
             103           41-1a-402. Required colors, numerals, and letters -- Expiration.
             104          (1) [(a)] Except as provided in [Subsection (3) and in] Section 41-1a-407 , each license
             105      plate shall be in colors selected by the commission and shall have displayed on it:
             106          [(i)] (a) the registration number assigned to the vehicle for which it is issued;
             107          [(ii)] (b) the name of the state;
             108          [(iii)] (c) a registration decal showing the date of expiration; and
             109          [(iv)] (d) a slogan determined as provided in Section 41-1a-405 .
             110          [(b)] (2) A special group license plate issued under Section 41-1a-418 is exempt from
             111      the slogan requirement under Subsection (1)[(a)(iv)] (d).
             112          [(2) If registration is extended by affixing a registration decal to the license plate, the
             113      expiration date of the decal governs the expiration date of the license plate.]
             114          [(3) Each original license plate that is not one of the special group license plates issued
             115      under Section 41-1a-418 shall be a:]
             116          [(a) statehood centennial license plate with the same color, design, and slogan as the
             117      plates issued in conjunction with the statehood centennial; or]
             118          [(b) Ski Utah license plate.]


             119          Section 5. Section 41-1a-1211 is amended to read:
             120           41-1a-1211. License plate fees -- Application fees for issuance and renewal of
             121      personalized and special group license plates -- Replacement fee for license plates --
             122      Postage fees.
             123          (1) (a) [A] Except for license plates issued under Section 41-1a-407 and for reissue
             124      license plates under Subsection (11), a license plate fee of $5 per set shall be paid to the
             125      division for the issuance of any new license plate under Part 4, License Plates and Registration
             126      Indicia[, except for license plates issued under Section 41-1a-407 ].
             127          (b) The license plate fee shall be deposited as follows:
             128          [(a)] (i) $4 as provided in Section 41-1a-1201 ; and
             129          [(b)] (ii) $1 in the Transportation Fund.
             130          (2) An applicant for original issuance of personalized license plates issued under
             131      Section 41-1a-410 shall pay a $50 per set license plate application fee in addition to the fee
             132      required in Subsection (1).
             133          (3) Beginning July 1, 2003, a person who applies for a special group license plate shall
             134      pay a $5 fee for the original set of license plates in addition to the fee required under
             135      Subsection (1).
             136          (4) An applicant for original issuance of personalized special group license plates shall
             137      pay the license plate application fees required in Subsection (2) in addition to the license plate
             138      fees and license plate application fees established under Subsections (1) and (3).
             139          (5) An applicant for renewal of personalized license plates issued under Section
             140      41-1a-410 shall pay a $10 per set application fee.
             141          (6) A fee of $5 shall be paid to the division for the replacement of any license plate
             142      issued under Part 4, License Plates and Registration Indicia. The license plate fee shall be
             143      deposited as follows:
             144          (a) $4 as provided in Section 41-1a-1201 ; and
             145          (b) $1 in the Transportation Fund.
             146          (7) The division may charge a fee established under Section 63-38-3.2 to recover its
             147      costs for the replacement of decals issued under Section 41-1a-418 .
             148          (8) The division may charge a fee established under Section 63-38-3.2 to recover the
             149      cost of issuing stickers under Section 41-1a-416 .


             150          (9) In addition to any other fees required by this section, the division shall assess a fee
             151      established under Section 63-38-3.2 to cover postage expenses if new or replacement license
             152      plates are mailed to the applicant.
             153          (10) The fees required under this section are separate from and in addition to
             154      registration fees required under Section 41-1a-1206 .
             155          (11) (a) There is no charge to an applicant for license plates that are replaced solely to
             156      comply with the reissuance requirements under Subsection 41-1a-401.5 (2)(c).
             157          (b) The cost to reissue license plates under Subsection 41-1a-401.5 (2)(c) shall be paid
             158      from the License Plate Reissue Account created under Section 41-1a-401.6 or from other state
             159      revenues.
             160          Section 6. Section 41-1a-1303 is amended to read:
             161           41-1a-1303. Driving without registration or certificate of title -- Class B or C
             162      misdemeanor.
             163          (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2) or Section 41-1a-211 , a person may not
             164      drive or move, or an owner may not knowingly permit to be driven or moved upon any
             165      highway any vehicle of a type required to be registered in this state:
             166          (i) that is not properly registered or for which a certificate of title has not been issued or
             167      applied for; or
             168          (ii) for which the required fee has not been paid.
             169          (b) A violation of this Subsection (1) is a class C misdemeanor[.] and has a minimum
             170      fine as follows:
             171          (i) $40 for a delinquency of less than six months, unless proof of proper registration on
             172      the date of the citation is provided;
             173          (ii) $100 for a delinquency of six months but less than 12 months; and
             174          (iii) $1,000 for a delinquency of 12 months or more.
             175          (c) (i) Except for a violation described in Subsection (1)(b)(i), a court may not dismiss
             176      an action brought for a violation of this Subsection (1) because the defendant has obtained
             177      appropriate registration subsequent to violating this Subsection (1).
             178          (ii) Upon proof of proper registration on the date of the citation, the court may reduce
             179      the fine as follows:
             180          (A) to $60 for a delinquency of six months, but less than 12 months; and


             181          (B) to $300 for a delinquency of 12 months or more.
             182          (2) (a) A violation of Subsection 41-1a-202 (3), related to registration of vehicles after
             183      establishing residency, is a class B misdemeanor and except as provided in Subsection (2)(b),
             184      has a minimum fine of $1000.
             185          (b) A court may not dismiss an action brought for a violation of Subsection
             186      41-1a-202 (3) merely because the defendant has obtained the appropriate registration
             187      subsequent to violating the section. The court may, however, reduce the fine to $200 if the
             188      violator presents evidence at the time of his hearing that:
             189          (i) the vehicle is currently registered properly; and
             190          (ii) the violation has not existed for more than one year.
             191          (3) A court may require proof of proper motor vehicle registration as part of any
             192      sentence imposed under this section.
             193          (4) The revenue from a fine imposed under this section shall be deposited in
             194      accordance with Sections 78-3-14.5 and 78-5-116 .
             195          Section 7. Section 41-1a-1305 is amended to read:
             196           41-1a-1305. License plate and registration card violations -- Class C
             197      misdemeanor.
             198          (1) It is a class C misdemeanor:
             199          [(1)] (a) to break, injure, interfere with, or remove from any vehicle any seal, lock, or
             200      device on it for holding or displaying any license plate or registration card attached for
             201      denoting registration and identity of the vehicle;
             202          [(2)] (b) to remove from any registered vehicle the license plate or registration card
             203      issued or attached to it for its registration;
             204          [(3) to place or display any license plate or registration card upon any other vehicle
             205      than the one for which it was issued by the division;]
             206          [(4) to use or permit the use or display of any license plate, registration card, or permit
             207      upon or in the operation of any vehicle other than that for which it was issued;]
             208          [(5)] (c) to operate upon any highway of this state any vehicle required by law to be
             209      registered without having the license plate or plates securely attached, and the registration card
             210      issued by the division carried in the vehicle, except that the registration card issued by the
             211      division to all trailers and semitrailers shall be carried in the towing vehicle;


             212          [(6)] (d) for any weighmaster to knowingly make any false entry in his record of
             213      weights of vehicles subject to registration or to knowingly report to the commission or division
             214      any false information regarding the weights;
             215          [(7)] (e) for any inspector, officer, agent, employee, or other person performing any of
             216      the functions required for the registration or operation of vehicles subject to registration, to do,
             217      permit, cause, connive at, or permit to be done any act with the intent, or knowledge that the
             218      probable effect of the act would be to injure any person, deprive him of his property, or to
             219      injure or defraud the state with respect to its revenues relating to title or registration of
             220      vehicles;
             221          [(8)] (f) for any person to combine or conspire with another to do, attempt to do, or
             222      cause or allow any of the acts in this chapter classified as a misdemeanor;
             223          [(9)] (g) to operate any motor vehicle with a camper mounted on it upon any highway
             224      without displaying a current decal in clear sight upon the rear of the camper, issued by the
             225      county assessor of the county in which the camper has situs for taxation;
             226          [(10)] (h) to manufacture, use, display, or sell any facsimile or reproduction of any
             227      license plate issued by the division or any article that would appear to be a substitute for a
             228      license plate; or
             229          [(11)] (i) to fail to return to the division any registration card, license plate or plates,
             230      decal, permit, or title that has been canceled, suspended, voided, or revoked.
             231          (2) It is a class B misdemeanor:
             232          (a) to place or display any license plate or registration card upon any vehicle other than
             233      the one for which it was issued by the division; or
             234          (b) to use or permit the use or display of any license plate, registration card, or permit
             235      upon or in the operation of any vehicle other than the one for which it was issued.
             236          (3) (a) The minimum fine for a violation of Subsection (2)(a) or (b) is $1,000.
             237          (b) (i) A court may not dismiss an action brought for a violation of Subsection (2)(a) or
             238      (b) because the defendant has obtained the appropriate registration subsequent to violating
             239      Subsection (2)(a) or (b).
             240          (ii) Upon proof of proper registration on the date of the citation, the court may reduce
             241      the fine to $300.
             242          (4) The revenue from a fine imposed under this section shall be deposited in


             243      accordance with Sections 78-3-14.5 and 78-5-116 .
             244          Section 8. Section 41-1a-1307 is amended to read:
             245           41-1a-1307. Operation of motor vehicles, trailers, or semitrailers without
             246      payment of fees -- Class B misdemeanor.
             247          (1) It is a class [C] B misdemeanor for a person to operate a motor vehicle, trailer, or
             248      semitrailer upon the highways without having paid the title and registration or transfer fees and
             249      taxes required by law.
             250          (2) In addition to any other penalty, the owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer
             251      operated in violation of this section shall pay the greater of:
             252          (a) a penalty equal to title and registration fees in addition to any other fee required
             253      under this chapter[.]; or
             254          (b) the fine specified in Section 41-1a-1303 .
             255          (3) A court may require proof of proper vehicle registration as part of any sentence
             256      imposed under this section.
             257          Section 9. Section 78-3-14.5 is amended to read:
             258           78-3-14.5. Allocation of district court fees and forfeitures.
             259          (1) Except as provided in this section, district court fines and forfeitures collected for
             260      violation of state statutes shall be paid to the state treasurer.
             261          (2) Fines and forfeitures collected by the court for violation of a state statute or county
             262      or municipal ordinance constituting a misdemeanor or an infraction shall be remitted 1/2 to the
             263      state treasurer and 1/2 to the treasurer of the [government] state or local governmental entity
             264      which prosecutes or which would prosecute the violation.
             265          (3) Fines and forfeitures collected for violations of Title 23, Wildlife Resources Code
             266      [of Utah], or Title 73, Chapter 18, State Boating Act, shall be paid to the state treasurer.
             267          (a) For violations of Title 23, the state treasurer shall allocate 85% to the Division of
             268      Wildlife Resources and 15% to the General Fund.
             269          (b) For violations of Title 73, Chapter 18, the state treasurer shall allocate 85% to the
             270      Division of Parks and Recreation and 15% to the General Fund.
             271          (4) (a) Fines and forfeitures collected for violation of Section 72-7-404 or 72-7-406 ,
             272      less fees established by the Judicial Council, shall be paid to the state treasurer for deposit in
             273      the B and C road account.


             274          (b) Fees established by the Judicial Council shall be deposited in the state General
             275      Fund.
             276          (c) Money deposited in the class B and C road account is supplemental to the money
             277      appropriated under Section 72-2-107 but shall be expended in the same manner as other class B
             278      and C road funds.
             279          (5) (a) The first $200 of a fine collected by a court for a violation under Section
             280      41-1a-1303 and the first $100 of a fine collected by a court for a violation under Section
             281      41-1a-1305 shall be deposited in accordance with Subsection (2).
             282          (b) The remaining fine collected by a court for a violation under Sections 41-1a-1303
             283      and 41-1a-1305 shall be deposited in the License Plate Reissue Account created under Section
             284      41-1a-401.6 .
             285          [(5)] (6) Fines and forfeitures collected for any violations not specified in this chapter
             286      or otherwise provided for by law shall be paid to the state treasurer.
             287          [(6)] (7) Fees collected in connection with civil actions filed in the district court shall
             288      be paid to the state treasurer.
             289          [(7)] (8) The court shall remit money collected in accordance with Title 51, Chapter 7,
             290      State Money Management Act.
             291          Section 10. Section 78-5-116 is amended to read:
             292           78-5-116. Disposition of fines.
             293          (1) Except as otherwise specified by this section, fines and forfeitures collected by a
             294      justice court shall be remitted, [one-half] 1/2 to the treasurer of the local government
             295      responsible for the court and [one-half] 1/2 to the treasurer of the local government which
             296      prosecutes or which would prosecute the violation.
             297          (2) (a) For violation of Title 23, the court shall allocate 85% to the Division of Wildlife
             298      Resources and 15% to the general fund of the city or county government responsible for the
             299      justice court.
             300          (b) For violation of Title 73, Chapter 18, State Boating Act, the court shall allocate
             301      85% to the Division of Parks and Recreation and 15% to the general fund of the city or county
             302      government responsible for the justice court.
             303          (3) The surcharge established by Section 63-63a-1 shall be paid to the state treasurer.
             304          (4) Fines, fees, court costs, and forfeitures collected by a municipal or county justice


             305      court for a violation of Section 72-7-404 or 72-7-406 regarding maximum weight limitations
             306      and overweight permits, minus court costs not to exceed the schedule adopted by the Judicial
             307      Council, shall be paid to the state treasurer and distributed to the class B and C road account.
             308          (5) Revenue deposited in the class B and C road account pursuant to Subsection (4) is
             309      supplemental to the money appropriated under Section 72-2-107 but shall be expended in the
             310      same manner as other class B and C road funds.
             311          (6) (a) The first $200 of a fine collected by a court for a violation under Section
             312      41-1a-1303 and the first $100 of a fine collected by a court for a violation under Section
             313      41-1a-1305 shall be deposited in accordance with Subsection (1).
             314          (b) The remaining fine collected by a court for a violation under Sections 41-1a-1303
             315      and 41-1a-1305 shall be deposited in the License Plate Reissue Account created under Section
             316      41-1a-401.6 .
             317          Section 11. Effective date.
             318          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2004.
             319          Section 12. Coordinating H.B. 321 with S.B. 72.
             320          If this H.B. 321 and S.B. 72, Disposition of Fines for Registration Violations, both pass,
             321      it is the intent of the Legislature that the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel in
             322      preparing the Utah Code database for publication, shall:
             323          (1) rewrite Subsections 78-2-14.5 (5) and (6) to read as follows:
             324          "(5) Except as provided in Subsection (6):
             325          (a) the first $200 of a fine collected by a court for a violation under Section 41-1a-1303
             326      and the first $100 of a fine collected by a court for a violation under Section 41-1a-1305 shall
             327      be deposited in accordance with Subsection (2); and
             328          (b) the remaining fine collected by a court for a violation of Sections 41-1a-1303 and
             329      41-1a-1305 shall be deposited in the License Plate Reissue Account created under Section
             330      41-1a-401.6 .
             331          (6) Until July 1, 2007, fines and forfeitures collected by the court for a violation of
             332      Subsection 41-1a-1303 (2) related to registration of vehicles after establishing residency shall
             333      be remitted:
             334          (a) 50% to the state or local governmental entity which issued the citation for a
             335      violation to be used for law enforcement purposes; and


             336          (b) 50% in accordance with Subsection (2)."
             337          (2) rewrite Subsections 78-5-116 (6) and (7) to read as follows:
             338          "(6) Except as provided in Subsection (7):
             339          (a) the first $200 of a fine collected by a court for a violation under Section 41-1a-1303
             340      and the first $100 of a fine collected by a court for a violation under Section 41-1a-1305 shall
             341      be deposited in accordance with Subsection (1); and
             342          (b) the remaining fine collected by a court for a violation under Sections 41-1a-1303
             343      and 41-1a-1305 shall be deposited in the License Plate Reissue Account created under Section
             344      41-1a-401.6 .
             345          (7) Until July 7, 2007, fines and forfeitures collected by the court for a violation of
             346      Subsection 41-1a-1303 (2) related to registration of vehicles after establishing residency shall
             347      be remitted:
             348          (a) 50% to the state or local governmental entity which issued the citation for a
             349      violation to be used for law enforcement purposes; and
             350          (b) 50% in accordance with Subsection (1)."


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