Registration of Motor Vehicles

An owner of a motor vehicle who intends to operate the motor vehicle on a road registers the vehicle with the Chief of Police before operating the vehicle. The owner applies for registration on a prescribed form signed by him showing his residence address and a brief description of the vehicle to be registered, including the name of the maker, the engine and serial number, and whether the vehicle is new or used. The owner of a vehicle presents evidence to satisfy the Chief of Police that he is the lawful owner of the vehicle. An owner of a vehicle registered in another jurisdiction and bearing valid plates may operate the vehicle for three days following its arrival in the State, after which he registers the vehicle pursuant to this chapter.

Cross-reference:

For offense see Section 13.701.

Section 17.202. Records.

(1) The Chief of Police files a received application, and registers the vehicle and the owner on an index card as follows:

(a) numerically, under a distinctive registration number assigned to the vehicle and the owner; and

(b) alphabetically, under the name of the owner.

(2) Registration and license records are kept in the office of the Chief of Police and are public records open for inspection by the public during business hours.

Section 17.203. Transfer.

An owner transferring a registered vehicle endorses the name and address of the transferee and the date of transfer upon the reverse side of the registration card issued for the vehicle and immediately forwards the card to the Chief of Police. Before operating or permitting operation of the vehicle the transferee registers the vehicle pursuant to Section 17.201. If transfer of a registered vehicle occurs by inheritance, devise, bequest, execution, sale or repossession upon default of performance of an agreement of sale, the vehicle is not operated upon a road until the person who is entitled to own the vehicle applies for and registers the vehicle.

Cross-reference:

For offense see Section 13.702.

Section 17.204. Fees.

A person registering a vehicle pays a fee according to the following schedule:

(1) Motorcycle, two dollars and fifty cents;

(2) Jeep, sedan, or other vehicle not specified in subsection (3), five dollars;

(3) Pickup, truck, bus, or other vehicle not specified in subsection (1) and (2), according to weight in pounds at the time of original sale in the State:

(a) Under two thousand pounds or fraction thereof, seven dollars and fifty cents;

(b) Two thousand to two thousand nine hundred ninety-nine pounds or fraction thereof, ten dollars;

(d) Six thousand to seven thousand four hundred ninety-nine pounds or fraction thereof, twenty dollars.

(e) Seven thousand five hundred pounds and over, twenty-five dollars

Section 17.205. Card.

The Chief of Police issues to the owner a registration card which contains upon its face the date issued, the registration number, the name and address of the owner, and a description of the registered vehicle, including the engine number. The Chief of Police issues a number plate for a registered vehicle. The registration card is in the vehicle when the vehicle is under operation on a road.

Section 17.206. Display of plate.

(1) A vehicle operated displays a number plate issued by the Chief of Police showing the registration number and year. The plate is attached to the rear of the vehicle.

(2) By regulation the Chief of Police describes terms for issuing and displaying at least three classes of number plates: Government plates, dealer plates and private owner plates.

Section 17.207. Expiration; renewal.

A registration pursuant to this chapter expires one year from the first day of the month in which the vehicle was registered. If a registration is renewed more than one month after expiring, the renewed registration shall expire one year from the date by which it should have been renewed. If a motor vehicle is registered after the expiration of its prior registration, the registration fee is one hundred ten percent of the original registration fee. By regulation the Chief of Police establishes the time for registering a vehicle.

Background

Amended by State Law 7-70.