S.B. 234

1

MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEES
2 2009 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Ralph Okerlund
5 House Sponsor: ____________
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies the Motor Vehicles Code and the Transportation Code by amending
10 provisions relating to motor vehicle registration fees.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . increases certain motor vehicle registration fees by $1 until June 30, 2012;
14 . provides that until June 30, 2012, the State Tax Commission shall retain certain fees
15 and use them to administer the motor vehicle laws;
16 . provides that certain registration fees retained by the State Tax Commission are
17 exempt from the limitation on certain Transportation Fund appropriations; and
18 . makes technical changes.
19 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
20 None
21 Other Special Clauses:
22 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2009.
23 Utah Code Sections Affected:
24 AMENDS:
25 41-1a-1201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 143
26 41-1a-1206, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 210
27 72-2-103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2002, Fifth Special Session, Chapter 13

28
29 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
30 Section 1. Section 41-1a-1201 is amended to read:
31 41-1a-1201. Disposition of fees.
32 (1) All fees received and collected under this part shall be transmitted daily to the state
33 treasurer.
34 (2) Except as provided in Subsections (3), (4), and (6), and Sections 41-1a-422 ,
35 41-1a-1220 , and 41-1a-1221 , all fees collected under this part shall be deposited in the
36 Transportation Fund.
37 (3) (a) Funds generated under Subsections 41-1a-1211 (1)(b)(i), (6)(b)(i), and (7) and
38 Section 41-1a-1212 may be used by the commission as a dedicated credit to cover the costs
39 incurred in issuing license plates under Part 4, License Plates and Registration Indicia.
40 (b) Until June 30, 2012, $1 of each registration fee collected under Subsections
41 41-1a-1206 (1)(a), (1)(b), (1)(c), (1)(d)(i), (1)(e)(i), (2)(a), and (5) shall be used by the
42 commission as a nonlapsing dedicated credit to be used toward the costs of administering this
43 title.
44 [(b)] (c) Fees for statehood centennial license plates shall be collected and deposited in
45 the Transportation Fund, less production and administrative costs incurred by the commission.
46 (4) All funds available to the commission for purchase and distribution of license
47 plates and decals are nonlapsing.
48 (5) Except as provided in Subsection (3) and Section 41-1a-1205 , the expenses of the
49 commission in enforcing and administering this part shall be provided for by legislative
50 appropriation from the revenues of the Transportation Fund.
51 (6) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(b), the following portions of the
52 registration fees imposed under Section 41-1a-1206 for each vehicle shall be deposited in the
53 Centennial Highway Fund Restricted Account created under Section 72-2-118 :
54 (i) $10 of the registration fees imposed under Subsections 41-1a-1206 (1)(a), (1)(b), (2),
55 and (5);
56 (ii) $1 of the registration fees imposed under Subsections 41-1a-1206 (1)(c)(i),
57 (1)(c)(ii), and (1)(d)(ii);
58 (iii) $2 of the registration fee imposed under Subsection 41-1a-1206 (1)(e)(ii);

59 (iv) $3 of the registration fee imposed under Subsection 41-1a-1206 (1)(d)(i); and
60 (v) $4.50 of the registration fee imposed under Subsection 41-1a-1206 (1)(e)(i).
61 (b) When the highway general obligation bonds have been paid off and the highway
62 projects completed that are intended to be paid from revenues deposited in the Centennial
63 Highway Fund Restricted Account as determined by the Executive Appropriations Committee
64 under Subsection 72-2-118 (6)(d), the portions of the registration fees deposited under
65 Subsection (6)(a) for each vehicle shall be deposited in the Transportation Investment Fund of
66 2005 created by Section 72-2-124 .
67 Section 2. Section 41-1a-1206 is amended to read:
68 41-1a-1206. Registration fees -- Fees by gross laden weight.
69 (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), at the time application is made for
70 registration or renewal of registration of a vehicle or combination of vehicles under this
71 chapter, a registration fee shall be paid to the division as follows:
72 (a) (i) [$22.50] until June 30, 2012, $23.50 for each motorcycle; and
73 (ii) beginning on July 1, 2012, $22.50 for each motorcycle;
74 (b) (i) [$21] until June 30, 2012, $22 for each motor vehicle of 12,000 pounds or less
75 gross laden weight, excluding motorcycles; and
76 (ii) beginning on July 1, 2012, $21 for each motor vehicle of 12,000 pounds or less
77 gross laden weight, excluding motorcycles;
78 (c) unless the semitrailer or trailer is exempt from registration under Section 41-1a-202
79 or is registered under Section 41-1a-301 :
80 (i) (A) [$11] until June 30, 2012, $12 for each trailer or semitrailer over 750 pounds
81 gross unladen weight; [or] and
82 (B) beginning on July 1, 2012, $11 for each trailer or semitrailer over 750 pounds gross
83 unladen weight; or
84 (ii) (A) [$8.50] until June 30, 2012, $9.50 for each commercial trailer or commercial
85 semitrailer of 750 pounds or less gross unladen weight; and
86 (B) beginning on July 1, 2012, $8.50 for each commercial trailer or commercial
87 semitrailer of 750 pounds or less gross unladen weight;
88 (d) (i) (A) [$33] until June 30, 2012, $34 for each farm truck over 12,000 pounds, but
89 not exceeding 14,000 pounds gross laden weight; [plus] and

90 (B) beginning on July 1, 2012, $33 for each farm truck over 12,000 pounds, but not
91 exceeding 14,000 pounds gross laden weight; plus
92 (ii) $9 for each 2,000 pounds over 14,000 pounds gross laden weight; and
93 (e) (i) (A) [$49.50] until June 30, 2012, $50.50 for each motor vehicle or combination
94 of motor vehicles, excluding farm trucks, over 12,000 pounds, but not exceeding 14,000
95 pounds gross laden weight; [plus] and
96 (B) beginning on July 1, 2012, $49.50 for each motor vehicle or combination of motor
97 vehicles, excluding farm trucks, over 12,000 pounds, but not exceeding 14,000 pounds gross
98 laden weight; plus
99 (ii) $18.50 for each 2,000 pounds over 14,000 pounds gross laden weight.
100 (2) (a) [The] (i) Until June 30, 2012, the initial registration fee for a vintage vehicle is
101 [$20] $21.
102 (ii) Beginning on July 1, 2012, the initial registration fee for a vintage vehicle is $20.
103 (b) A vintage vehicle is exempt from the renewal of registration fees under Subsection
104 (1).
105 (c) A vehicle with a Purple Heart special group license plate issued in accordance with
106 Section 41-1a-421 is exempt from the registration fees under Subsection (1).
107 (3) If a motor vehicle is operated in combination with a semitrailer or trailer, each
108 motor vehicle shall register for the total gross laden weight of all units of the combination if the
109 total gross laden weight of the combination exceeds 12,000 pounds.
110 (4) (a) Registration fee categories under this section are based on the gross laden
111 weight declared in the licensee's application for registration.
112 (b) Gross laden weight shall be computed in units of 2,000 pounds. A fractional part
113 of 2,000 pounds is a full unit.
114 (5) The owner of a commercial trailer or commercial semitrailer may, as an alternative
115 to registering under Subsection (1)(c), apply for and obtain a special registration and license
116 plate for a fee of [$110]:
117 (a) until June 30, 2012, $111; and
118 (b) beginning on July 1, 2012, $110.
119 (6) Except as provided in Section 41-6a-1642 , a truck may not be registered as a farm
120 truck unless:

121 (a) the truck meets the definition of a farm truck under Section 41-1a-102 ; and
122 (b) (i) the truck has a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 12,000 pounds; or
123 (ii) the truck has a gross vehicle weight rating of 12,000 pounds or less and the owner
124 submits to the division a certificate of emissions inspection or a waiver in compliance with
125 Section 41-6a-1642 .
126 (7) A violation of Subsection (6) is a class B misdemeanor that shall be punished by a
127 fine of not less than $200.
128 (8) Trucks used exclusively to pump cement, bore wells, or perform crane services
129 with a crane lift capacity of five or more tons, are exempt from 50% of the amount of the fees
130 required for those vehicles under this section.
131 Section 3. Section 72-2-103 is amended to read:
132 72-2-103. Limitations on Transportation Fund appropriations to agencies not a
133 part of the Department of Transportation -- Exceptions.
134 (1) Except as provided under Subsection (2), the amount appropriated or transferred
135 from the Transportation Fund each year may not exceed a combined total of $11,600,000 to:
136 (a) the Department of Public Safety;
137 (b) the State Tax Commission;
138 (c) the Division of Finance; and
139 (d) any other state agency that is not a part of the Department of Transportation.
140 (2) The following amounts are exempt from the appropriation and transfer limitations
141 of Subsection (1):
142 (a) amounts deposited in the Department of Public Safety Restricted Account created
143 under Section 53-3-106 ;
144 (b) revenue generated by the uninsured motorist identification fee under Section
145 41-1a-1218 ;
146 (c) revenue generated by the motor carrier fee under Section 41-1a-1219 or Section
147 72-9-706 ; [and]
148 (d) revenue generated by the Motorcycle Rider Education Program under Section
149 53-3-905 [.]; and
150 (e) amounts used by the State Tax Commission as a nonlapsing dedicated credit under
151 Subsection 41-1a-1201 (3)(b).

152 Section 4. Effective date.
153 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2009.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-24-09 11:00 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel