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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill amends provisions related to vehicle registration renewal and decals.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ requires certain agencies to establish procedures for an individual to request
14 automatic renewal of registration on a vehicle or boat;
15 ▸ allows an individual to request automatic registration renewal;
16 ▸ allows special, permanent registration decals for certain rental or fleet vehicles; and
17 ▸ makes technical changes.
18 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19 None
20 Other Special Clauses:
21 This bill provides a special effective date.
22 Utah Code Sections Affected:
23 AMENDS:
24 41-1a-209, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 47
25 41-1a-216, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 20
26 41-1a-217, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2017, Chapter 406
27 41-1a-232, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 391
28 41-22-3, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 412
29 73-18-7, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 303
30
31 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32 Section 1. Section 41-1a-209 is amended to read:
33 41-1a-209. Application for registration -- Contents.
34 (1) An owner of a vehicle subject to registration under this part shall apply to the
35 division for registration on forms furnished by the division.
36 (2) The application for registration shall include:
37 (a) the signature of an owner of the vehicle to be registered;
38 (b) the name, bona fide residence and mailing address of the owner, or business
39 address of the owner if the owner is a firm, association, or corporation;
40 (c) a description of the vehicle including the make, model, type of body, the model year
41 as specified by the manufacturer, the number of cylinders, and the identification number of the
42 vehicle; [
43 (d) other information required by the division to enable it to determine whether the
44 owner is lawfully entitled to register the vehicle[
45 (e) an indication if the applicant is applying for automatic registration renewal as
46 described in Section 41-1a-216.
47 Section 2. Section 41-1a-216 is amended to read:
48 41-1a-216. Renewal of registration.
49 (1) The division may receive applications for registration renewal and issue new
50 registration cards at any time prior to the expiration of the registration, subject to the
51 availability of renewal materials.
52 (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsections (2)(c) and (3), the new registration shall
53 retain the same expiration month as recorded on the original registration even if the registration
54 has expired.
55 (b) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(c), the year of registration expiration shall be
56 changed to reflect the renewed registration period.
57 (c) If the application for renewal of registration is for a six-month registration period
58 under Section 41-1a-215.5, the new registration shall be for a six-month registration period that
59 begins with the first day of the calendar month following the last day of the expiration month
60 of the previous registration period as recorded on the original registration even if the
61 registration has expired.
62 (3) Subsection (2) does not apply if the owner can verify to the satisfaction of the
63 division that the vehicle registration was not renewed prior to its expiration due to the fact that
64 the vehicle was in storage, inoperable, or otherwise out of service.
65 (4) If the registration renewal application is an application generated by the division
66 through its automated system, the owner need not surrender the last registration card or
67 duplicate.
68 (5) A vehicle with an "EX" or "UHP" license plate, owned by an entity described in
69 Section 41-1a-407, is exempt from registration renewal requirements.
70 (6) The division shall establish a process by which an individual may request automatic
71 renewal of registration.
72 (7) An individual may request automatic renewal of registration as provided by the
73 division.
74 (8) If the vehicle is subject to an emissions inspection as described in Section
75 41-6a-1642 for the year for which a vehicle automatic registration is requested, the automatic
76 renewal is not effective until the vehicle has passed an emissions inspection as required in
77 Section 41-6a-1642.
78 (9) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
79 commission may make rules establishing procedures for an individual to apply for and the
80 division to administer automatic renewal of registration and automatic payment of fees as
81 required in this chapter and relevant taxes.
82 Section 3. Section 41-1a-217 is amended to read:
83 41-1a-217. Application for renewal of registration.
84 (1) (a) An applicant may renew a vehicle registration by:
85 [
86 [
87 (b) If an applicant is applying for automatic registration renewal as described in
88 Section 41-1a-216, the applicant shall provide payment information and other required
89 information as described in Section 41-1a-216 and relevant administrative rules made in
90 accordance with Subsection 41-1a-216(8).
91 (2) The applicant shall ensure that the application for registration renewal and the
92 payment for applicable fees or taxes is accompanied by a certificate of emissions inspection if
93 required under Section 41-6a-1642.
94 (3) The division shall issue a new registration card that contains:
95 (a) the identical information with respect to the owner and the vehicle description
96 required by Section 41-1a-213; and
97 (b) the new expiration date.
98 Section 4. Section 41-1a-232 is amended to read:
99 41-1a-232. Special fleet registration decals and license plates.
100 (1) As used in this section:
101 (a) "Rental agreement" has the same meaning as defined in Section 31A-22-311.
102 (b) "Rental company" has the same meaning as defined in Section 31A-22-311.
103 (c) "Rental fleet" means more than 25 motor vehicles that are:
104 (i) owned by a rental company;
105 (ii) offered for rental without a hired driver through a rental agreement; and
106 (iii) designated by the registered owner of the motor vehicle as a rental fleet vehicle at
107 the time of registration.
108 (2) (a) [
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110 may obtain an alternative special registration card and registration decals for the license plates
111 if the motor vehicle is:
112 (i) (A) owned by a rental company; and
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114 (ii) owned or leased as part of a commercial fleet and is not owned or leased by a rental
115 company.
116 (b) The registration card and registration decals for the license plates issued under
117 Subsection (2)(a) are valid for the life of the motor vehicle while the motor vehicle is
118 maintained in the rental fleet or is part of a commercial fleet.
119 (3) (a) An owner that receives the alternative special registration card and registration
120 decals for the license plates issued under this section shall:
121 (i) renew the registration in accordance with Section 41-1a-216; and
122 (ii) comply with all the prerequisites for registration or registration renewal under
123 Section 41-1a-203.
124 (b) Notwithstanding the registration renewals requirement under Subsection
125 41-1a-216(2)(b), the alternative special registration card and registration decals issued under
126 this section do not expire and are valid for the life of the motor vehicle while the motor vehicle
127 is maintained in the rental fleet or is part of a commercial fleet.
128 (4) If the registration renewal requirements under Subsection (3)(a) are not complied
129 with, the registration is suspended or revoked.
130 Section 5. Section 41-22-3 is amended to read:
131 41-22-3. Registration of vehicles -- Application -- Issuance of sticker and card --
132 Proof of property tax payment -- Records.
133 (1) (a) Unless exempted under Section 41-22-9, a person may not operate or transport
134 and an owner may not give another person permission to operate or transport any off-highway
135 vehicle on any public land, trail, street, or highway in this state unless the off-highway vehicle
136 is registered under this chapter for the current year.
137 (b) Unless exempted under Section 41-22-9, a dealer may not sell an off-highway
138 vehicle which can be used or transported on any public land, trail, street, or highway in this
139 state, unless the off-highway vehicle is registered or is in the process of being registered under
140 this chapter for the current year.
141 (2) (a) The owner of an off-highway vehicle subject to registration under this chapter
142 shall apply to the Motor Vehicle Division for registration on forms approved by the Motor
143 Vehicle Division.
144 (b) An owner of an off-highway vehicle may apply for automatic registration renewal
145 as described in Section 41-1a-216.
146 (3) Each application for registration of an off-highway vehicle shall be accompanied
147 by:
148 (a) evidence of ownership, a title, or a manufacturer's certificate of origin, and a bill of
149 sale showing ownership, make, model, horsepower or displacement, and serial number;
150 (b) the past registration card; or
151 (c) the fee for a duplicate.
152 (4) (a) Upon each annual registration, the Motor Vehicle Division shall issue a
153 registration sticker and a registration card for each off-highway vehicle registered.
154 (b) The registration sticker shall:
155 (i) contain a unique number using numbers, letters, or combination of numbers and
156 letters to identify the off-highway vehicle for which it is issued;
157 (ii) be affixed to the off-highway vehicle for which it is issued in a plainly visible
158 position as prescribed by rule of the board under Section 41-22-5.1; and
159 (iii) be maintained free of foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly legible.
160 (c) At all times, a registration card shall be kept with the off-highway vehicle and shall
161 be available for inspection by a law enforcement officer.
162 (5) (a) Except as provided by Subsection (5)(c), an applicant for a registration card and
163 registration sticker shall provide the Motor Vehicle Division a certificate, described under
164 Subsection (5)(b), from the county assessor of the county in which the off-highway vehicle has
165 situs for taxation.
166 (b) The certificate required under Subsection (5)(a) shall state one of the following:
167 (i) the property tax on the off-highway vehicle for the current year has been paid;
168 (ii) in the county assessor's opinion, the tax is a lien on real property sufficient to
169 secure the payment of the tax; or
170 (iii) the off-highway vehicle is exempt by law from payment of property tax for the
171 current year.
172 (c) An off-highway vehicle for which an off-highway implement of husbandry sticker
173 has been issued in accordance with Section 41-22-5.5 is exempt from the requirement under
174 this Subsection (5).
175 (6) (a) All records of the division made or kept under this section shall be classified by
176 the Motor Vehicle Division in the same manner as motor vehicle records are classified under
177 Section 41-1a-116.
178 (b) Division records are available for inspection in the same manner as motor vehicle
179 records under Section 41-1a-116.
180 (7) A violation of this section is an infraction.
181 Section 6. Section 73-18-7 is amended to read:
182 73-18-7. Registration requirements -- Exemptions -- Fee -- Agents -- Records --
183 Period of registration and renewal -- Expiration -- Notice of transfer of interest or change
184 of address -- Duplicate registration card -- Invalid registration -- Powers of board.
185 (1) (a) Except as provided by Section 73-18-9, the owner of each motorboat and
186 sailboat on the waters of this state shall register it with the division as provided in this chapter.
187 (b) A person may not place, give permission for the placement of, operate, or give
188 permission for the operation of a motorboat or sailboat on the waters of this state, unless the
189 motorboat or sailboat is registered as provided in this chapter.
190 (2) (a) The owner of a motorboat or sailboat required to be registered shall file an
191 application for registration with the division on forms approved by the division.
192 (b) The owner of the motorboat or sailboat shall sign the application and pay the fee set
193 by the board in accordance with Section 63J-1-504.
194 (c) Before receiving a registration card and registration decals, the applicant shall
195 provide the division with a certificate from the county assessor of the county in which the
196 motorboat or sailboat has situs for taxation, stating that:
197 (i) the property tax on the motorboat or sailboat for the current year has been paid;
198 (ii) in the county assessor's opinion, the property tax is a lien on real property sufficient
199 to secure the payment of the property tax; or
200 (iii) the motorboat or sailboat is exempt by law from payment of property tax for the
201 current year.
202 (d) If the board modifies the fee under Subsection (2)(b), the modification shall take
203 effect on the first day of the calendar quarter after 90 days from the day on which the board
204 provides the State Tax Commission:
205 (i) notice from the board stating that the board will modify the fee; and
206 (ii) a copy of the fee modification.
207 (e) (i) The division may enter into an agreement with the Motor Vehicle Division
208 created in Section 41-1a-106 to administer the registration requirements described in this
209 chapter.
210 (ii) An individual may request automatic registration renewal as described in Section
211 41-1a-216.
212 (3) (a) Upon receipt of the application in the approved form, the division shall record
213 the receipt and issue to the applicant registration decals and a registration card that state the
214 number assigned to the motorboat or sailboat and the name and address of the owner.
215 (b) The registration card shall be available for inspection on the motorboat or sailboat
216 for which it was issued, whenever that motorboat or sailboat is in operation.
217 (4) The assigned number shall:
218 (a) be painted or permanently attached to each side of the forward half of the motorboat
219 or sailboat;
220 (b) consist of plain vertical block characters not less than three inches in height;
221 (c) contrast with the color of the background and be distinctly visible and legible;
222 (d) have spaces or hyphens equal to the width of a letter between the letter and numeral
223 groupings; and
224 (e) read from left to right.
225 (5) A motorboat or sailboat with a valid marine document issued by the United States
226 Coast Guard is exempt from the number display requirements of Subsection (4).
227 (6) The nonresident owner of any motorboat or sailboat already covered by a valid
228 number that has been assigned to it according to federal law or a federally approved numbering
229 system of the owner's resident state is exempt from registration while operating the motorboat
230 or sailboat on the waters of this state unless the owner is operating in excess of the reciprocity
231 period provided for in Subsection 73-18-9(1).
232 (7) (a) If the ownership of a motorboat or sailboat changes, the new owner shall file a
233 new application form and fee with the division, and the division shall issue a new registration
234 card and registration decals in the same manner as provided for in Subsections (2) and (3).
235 (b) The division shall reassign the current number assigned to the motorboat or sailboat
236 to the new owner to display on the motorboat or sailboat.
237 (8) If the United States Coast Guard has in force an overall system of identification
238 numbering for motorboats or sailboats within the United States, the numbering system
239 employed under this chapter by the board shall conform with that system.
240 (9) (a) The division may authorize any person to act as its agent for the registration of
241 motorboats and sailboats.
242 (b) A number assigned, a registration card, and registration decals issued by an agent of
243 the division in conformity with this chapter and rules of the board are valid.
244 (10) (a) The Motor Vehicle Division shall classify all records of the division made or
245 kept according to this section in the same manner that motor vehicle records are classified
246 under Section 41-1a-116.
247 (b) Division records are available for inspection in the same manner as motor vehicle
248 records pursuant to Section 41-1a-116.
249 (11) (a) (i) Each registration, registration card, and decal issued under this chapter shall
250 continue in effect for 12 months, beginning with the first day of the calendar month of
251 registration.
252 (ii) A registration may be renewed by the owner in the same manner provided for in the
253 initial application.
254 (iii) The division shall reassign the current number assigned to the motorboat or
255 sailboat when the registration is renewed.
256 (b) Each registration, registration card, and registration decal expires the last day of the
257 month in the year following the calendar month of registration.
258 (c) If the last day of the registration period falls on a day in which the appropriate state
259 or county offices are not open for business, the registration of the motorboat or sailboat is
260 extended to 12 midnight of the next business day.
261 (d) The division may receive applications for registration renewal and issue new
262 registration cards at any time before the expiration of the registration, subject to the availability
263 of renewal materials.
264 (e) The new registration shall retain the same expiration month as recorded on the
265 original registration even if the registration has expired.
266 (f) The year of registration shall be changed to reflect the renewed registration period.
267 (g) If the registration renewal application is an application generated by the division
268 through its automated system, the owner is not required to surrender the last registration card or
269 duplicate.
270 (12) (a) An owner shall notify the division of:
271 (i) the transfer of all or any part of the owner's interest, other than creation of a security
272 interest, in a motorboat or sailboat registered in this state under Subsections (2) and (3); and
273 (ii) the destruction or abandonment of the owner's motorboat or sailboat.
274 (b) Notification must take place within 15 days of the transfer, destruction, or
275 abandonment.
276 (c) (i) The transfer, destruction, or abandonment of a motorboat or sailboat terminates
277 its registration.
278 (ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (12)(c)(i), a transfer of a part interest that does not
279 affect the owner's right to operate a motorboat or sailboat does not terminate the registration.
280 (13) (a) A registered owner shall notify the division within 15 days if the owner's
281 address changes from the address appearing on the registration card and shall, as a part of this
282 notification, furnish the division with the owner's new address.
283 (b) The board may provide in its rules for:
284 (i) the surrender of the registration card bearing the former address; and
285 (ii) (A) the replacement of the card with a new registration card bearing the new
286 address; or
287 (B) the alteration of an existing registration card to show the owner's new address.
288 (14) (a) If a registration card is lost or stolen, the division may collect a fee of $4 for
289 the issuance of a duplicate card.
290 (b) If a registration decal is lost or stolen, the division may collect a fee of $3 for the
291 issuance of a duplicate decal.
292 (15) A number other than the number assigned to a motorboat or sailboat or a number
293 for a motorboat or sailboat granted reciprocity under this chapter may not be painted, attached,
294 or otherwise displayed on either side of the bow of a motorboat or sailboat.
295 (16) A motorboat or sailboat registration and number are invalid if obtained by
296 knowingly falsifying an application for registration.
297 (17) The board may designate the suffix to assigned numbers, and by following the
298 procedures and requirements of Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
299 make rules for:
300 (a) the display of registration decals;
301 (b) the issuance and display of dealer numbers and registrations; and
302 (c) the issuance and display of temporary registrations.
303 (18) A violation of this section is an infraction.
304 Section 7. Effective date.
305 This bill takes effect on January 1, 2022.