2007 Montana Legislature

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SENATE BILL NO. 36

INTRODUCED BY V. COCCHIARELLA

BY REQUEST OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL


AN ACT REVISING AND CLARIFYING THE PAYMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEES; AMENDING SECTION 61-3-321, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.

 

AN ACT REVISING AND CLARIFYING THE PAYMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEES; AMENDING SECTION 61-3-321, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

 

     Section 1.  Section 61-3-321, MCA, is amended to read:

     "61-3-321.  Registration fees of vehicles and vessels -- certain vehicles exempt from registration fees -- disposition of fees. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, registration fees must be paid upon registration or, if applicable, renewal of registration of motor vehicles, snowmobiles, watercraft, trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers as provided in subsections (2) through (18) (19):

     (2)  (a) Except as provided in subsection (2)(b), there is a registration fee imposed on light vehicles. The registration fee is in addition to other annual registration fees.

     (b)  The following vehicles are exempt from the registration fee imposed in this subsection (2):

     (i)  light vehicles that meet the description of property exempt from taxation under 15-6-201(1)(a), (1)(c), (1)(d), (1)(e), (1)(f), (1)(g), (1)(i), (1)(j), (1)(l), or (1)(m), 15-6-203, or 15-6-215, except as provided in 61-3-520;

     (ii) a light vehicle owned by a person eligible for a waiver of registration fees under 61-3-460;

     (iii) a light vehicle registered under 61-3-456.

     (c)  The owner of a light vehicle subject to the provisions of 61-3-313 through 61-3-316 may register the light vehicle for a period not to exceed 24 months. The application for registration or reregistration must be accompanied by the registration fee and all other fees required in this chapter for each 12-month period of the 24-month period.

     (d)  The Unless a light vehicle is permanently registered under 61-3-562, the annual registration fee for light vehicles, trucks and buses under 1 ton, and logging trucks less than 1 ton is as follows:

     (i)(a)  if the vehicle is 4 or less years old, $217;

     (ii)(b) if the vehicle is 5 through 10 years old, $87; and

     (iii)(c) if the vehicle is 11 or more years old, $28;

     (e)  The owner of a light vehicle 11 years old or older may permanently register the light vehicle as provided in 61-3-562.

     (3)  (a) Except as provided in subsection (3)(c) (14), the owner one-time registration fee based on the declared weight of a trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer that has a declared weight of less than 6,000 pounds shall pay a one-time fee of $61.25 is as follows:

     (a) if the declared weight is less than 6,000 pounds, $61.25; or

     (b) if the declared weight is 6,000 pounds or more, $148.25.

     (b)  The owner of a trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer with a declared weight of 6,000 pounds or more shall pay a one-time fee of $148.25.

     (c)  Except as provided in subsection (17), whenever a transfer of ownership of a trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer described in subsection (3)(a) or (3)(b) occurs, the one-time fee required under subsection (3)(a) or (3)(b) must be paid by the new owner.

     (4)  The annual Except as provided in subsection (14), the one-time registration fee for motor vehicles owned and operated solely as collector's items pursuant to 61-3-411, that are for motor vehicles based on the weight of the vehicle, is as follows:

     (a)  2,850 pounds and over, $10; and

     (b)  under 2,850 pounds, $5.

     (5)  (a) The Except as provided in subsection (14), the one-time registration fee for off-highway vehicles other than a quadricycle or motorcycle is $61.25. This fee is a one-time fee, except upon transfer of ownership of an off-highway vehicle. Except as provided in subsection (17), whenever a transfer of ownership of an off-highway vehicle occurs, the one-time fee required under this subsection must be paid by the new owner.

     (b)  The application for registration for an off-highway vehicle must be made to the county treasurer of the county in which the owner resides, on a form furnished by the department for that purpose. The application must contain:

     (i)  the name and home mailing address of the owner;

     (ii) the certificate of title number;

     (iii) the name of the manufacturer of the off-highway vehicle;

     (iv) the model number or name;

     (v)  the year of manufacture;

     (vi) a statement evidencing payment of the fee in lieu of property tax; and

     (vii) other information that the department may require.

     (c)  If the off-highway vehicle was previously registered, the application must be accompanied by the registration certificate for the most recent year in which it was registered. Upon payment of the registration fee, the county treasurer shall sign the application and issue a registration receipt containing the information considered necessary by the department. The owner shall retain possession of the registration receipt until it is surrendered to the county treasurer or to a purchaser or subsequent owner pursuant to a transfer of ownership.

     (6)  The annual registration fee for heavy trucks, buses, and logging trucks in excess of 1 ton is $22.75.

     (7)  (a) The owner of a motor home shall pay an annual registration fee for a motor home, based on the age of the motor home, according to the following schedule is as follows:

     (i)  less than 2 years old, $282.50;

     (ii) 2 years old and less than 5 years old, $224.25;

     (iii) 5 years old and less than 8 years old, $132.50; and

     (iv) 8 years old and older, $97.50.

     (b)  (i) Except as provided in subsection (7)(b)(ii), the age of a motor home is determined by subtracting the manufacturer's designated model year from the current calendar year.

     (ii) If the purchase year of a motor home precedes the designated model year of the motor home and the motor home is originally titled in Montana, then the purchase year is considered the model year for the purposes of calculating the fee in lieu of tax.

     (c)  (i) The owner of a motor home that is 11 years old or older and that is subject to the registration fee under subsection (7)(a) this section may permanently register the motor home upon payment of:

     (A)(i)  a one-time registration fee of $237.50; and

     (B)(ii) if applicable, five times the renewal fees for personalized license plate fees plates under 61-3-406.

     (ii) The following series of license plates may not be used for purposes of permanent registration of a motor home:

     (A)  Montana national guard license plates issued under 61-3-458(2)(b);

     (B) reserve armed forces license plates issued under 61-3-458(2)(c);

     (C)  license plates bearing a wheelchair design as a symbol of a person with a disability issued under 61-3-332(9);

     (D)  amateur radio operator license plates issued under 61-3-422;

     (E)  collegiate license plates issued under 61-3-465; and

     (F)  generic specialty license plates issued under 61-3-479.

     (iii) Except as provided in subsection (17), whenever a transfer of ownership of a permanently registered motor home occurs, the applicable fees required under this subsection (7) must be paid by the new owner.

     (8)  (a) The Except as provided in subsection (14), the one-time registration fee for motorcycles and quadricycles registered for use on public highways is $53.25, and the one-time registration fee for motorcycles and quadricycles registered for both off-road use and for use on the public highways is $114.50.

     (b)  An additional fee of $5 for a motorcycle or quadricycle with special license plates issued under 61-3-415 and, for a motorcycle or quadricycle under one-time registration, an additional fee of $16 must be collected for the registration of each motorcycle or quadricycle as a safety fee, which must be deposited in the state motorcycle safety account provided for in 20-25-1002.

     (c)  The registration fees in this subsection (8) are a one-time fee, except upon transfer of ownership of a motorcycle or quadricycle.

     (9)  (a) The Except as provided in subsection (14), the one-time registration fee for travel trailers, based on the length of the travel trailer, is as follows:

     (a) under 16 feet in length, is $72; and

     (b) the registration fee for travel trailers 16 feet in length or longer, is $152. This fee is a one-time fee, except upon transfer of ownership of a travel trailer.

     (b)  Except as provided in subsection (17), whenever a transfer of ownership of a travel trailer occurs, the one-time fee required under subsection (9)(a) must be paid by the new owner.

     (10) (a) The owner of each Except as provided in subsection (14), the one-time registration fee for a motorboat, sailboat, personal watercraft, or motorized pontoon requiring numbering by this state shall file an application for number in the office of the county treasurer in the county where the motorboat, sailboat, personal watercraft, or motorized pontoon is owned, on forms prepared and furnished by the department. The application must be signed by the owner of the motorboat, sailboat, personal watercraft, or motorized pontoon and be accompanied by the appropriate registration fee. The owner of a motorboat, sailboat, personal watercraft, or motorized pontoon shall pay a one-time fee required to be numbered under 23-2-512 is as follows:

     (i)(a)  for a personal watercraft or a motorboat, sailboat, or motorized pontoon less than 16 feet in length, $65.50;

     (ii)(b) for a motorboat, sailboat, or motorized pontoon at least 16 feet in length but less than 19 feet in length, $125.50; and

     (iii)(c) for a motorboat, sailboat, or motorized pontoon 19 feet in length or longer, $295.50.

     (b)  This fee is a one-time fee, except upon transfer of ownership of the motorboat, sailboat, personal watercraft, or motorized pontoon.

     (11) (a) Except as provided in subsection subsections (11)(b) and (14), the one-time registration fee for a snowmobile is $60.50.

     (b) (i) If a A snowmobile that is licensed by a Montana business and is owned exclusively for the purpose of daily rental to customers, the business is assessed:

     (i)(A)  a fee of $40.50 in the first year of registration; and

     (ii)(B) if the business reregisters the snowmobile for a second year, a fee of $20.

     (ii) If the business reregisters the snowmobile for a third year, the snowmobile must be permanently registered and the business is assessed the fee in lieu of tax imposed in subsection (11)(a).

     (c)  Except as provided in subsection (17), whenever a transfer of ownership of a snowmobile occurs, the applicable fee required under this subsection (11) must be paid by the new owner.

     (12) A fee of $5 must be collected when a new set of standard license plates or a new single standard license plate provided for under 61-3-332 is issued. The $5 fee imposed under this subsection does not apply when previously issued license plates are transferred under 61-3-335. All registration fees imposed under this section must be paid if the vehicle to which the plates are transferred is not currently registered.

     (13) The provisions of this part with respect to the payment of registration fees do not apply to and are not binding upon motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, snowmobiles, watercraft, or tractors owned or controlled by the United States of America or any state, county, city, or special district, as defined in 18-8-202, or to a vehicle or vessel that meets the description of property exempt from taxation under 15-6-201(1)(a), (1)(c), (1)(d), (1)(e), (1)(f), (1)(g), (1)(i), (1)(j), (1)(l), or (1)(m), 15-6-203, or 15-6-215, except as provided in 61-3-520.

     (14) When the license plates for a registered motor vehicle are transferred to a replacement vehicle under 61-3-317, 61-3-332, or 61-3-335, the owner of the motor vehicle shall pay a registration fee as follows:

     (a)  heavy trucks, buses, and logging trucks in excess of 1 ton, 75 cents;

     (b)  light vehicles, trucks and buses under 1 ton, and logging trucks less than 1 ton:

     (i)  if the vehicle is 4 years old or less, $195.75;

     (ii) if the vehicle is 5 years old through 10 years old, $65.75; and

     (iii) if the vehicle is 11 years old or older, $6.75;

     (c)  motor homes:

     (i)  less than 2 years old, $250.50;

     (ii) 2 years old and less than 5 years old, $192.25;

     (iii) 5 years old and less than 8 years old, $100.50; and

     (iv) 8 years old and older, $65.50;

     (d)  motorcycles and quadricycles registered for use on the public highways, $42, and motorcycles and quadricycles registered for both off-road use and for use on the public highways, $103.25. This fee is a one-time fee, except upon transfer of ownership.

     (e)  travel trailers under 16 feet in length, $50.50, and travel trailers 16 feet in length or longer, $130.50. This fee is a one-time fee, except upon transfer of ownership.

     (f)  trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers with a declared weight of less than 6,000 pounds, $52. This fee is a one-time fee, except upon transfer of ownership.

     (g)  trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers with a declared weight of 6,000 pounds or more, $139. This fee is a one-time fee, except upon transfer of ownership. Whenever ownership of a trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, off-highway vehicle, motorcycle, quadricycle, travel trailer, motor home, motorboat, sailboat, personal watercraft, motorized pontoon, snowmobile, or motor vehicle owned and operated solely as a collector's item pursuant to 61-3-411 is transferred, the new owner shall title and register the vehicle or vessel as required by this chapter and pay the fees imposed under this section.

     (15) A person eligible for a waiver under 61-3-460 is exempt from the fees required under this section.

     (16) Except as otherwise provided in this section, revenue collected under this section must be deposited in the state general fund.

     (17) The fees imposed by subsections (2) through (11) are not required to be paid by a dealer for the enumerated vehicles or vessels that constitute inventory of the dealership.

     (18) (a) Unless a person exercises the option in subsection (18)(b), an additional fee of $4 must be collected for each light vehicle registered for licensing pursuant to under this part. This fee must be accounted for and transmitted separately from the registration fee. The fee must be deposited in an account in the state special revenue fund to be used for state parks, for fishing access sites, and for the operation of state-owned facilities. Of the $4 fee, the department of fish, wildlife, and parks shall use $3.50 for state parks, 25 cents for fishing access sites, and 25 cents for the operation of state-owned facilities at Virginia City and Nevada City.

     (b)  A person who registers a light vehicle may, at the time of annual registration, certify that the person does not intend to use the vehicle to visit state parks and fishing access sites and may make a written election not to pay the additional $4 fee provided for in subsection (18)(a). If a written election is made, the fee may not be collected.

     (19) For each light vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, heavy truck, motor home, motorcycle, quadricycle, and travel trailer subject to a registration fee under this section, an additional fee of $5 must be collected and forwarded to the state for deposit in the account established in 44-1-504.

     (20) This section does not apply to a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer that is governed by 61-3-721."

 

     Section 2.  Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.

- END -

 


Latest Version of SB 36 (SB0036.ENR)
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