61-3-412. Display of original Montana license plates on collector's item and general transportation collector's item vehicles -- definition -- validation. (1) As used in 61-3-413 and this section, "original Montana license plate" means a license plate issued according to the provisions of 61-3-331; section 53-116, R.C.M. 1947; section 1759.1, R.C.M. 1935; or section 1759, R.C.M. 1921; whichever section was effective during the year of the manufacture of the motor vehicle on which the license plate is authorized to be displayed.
     (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of 61-3-332, the department shall authorize the owner of a motor vehicle registered as provided in 61-3-411 or 61-3-413 to display original Montana license plates, with validation as required in 61-3-413 or subsection (3) of this section, after:
     (a) payment of the fee required in subsection (5);
     (b) inspection by a highway patrol officer of the original Montana license plate to be displayed on the motor vehicle and, upon payment of a $5 fee, receipt of the highway patrol officer's certification that the officer has determined that:
     (i) the license plate is legible and meets the requirements of subsection (1); and
     (ii) in the case of a license plate intended for use on a general transportation collector's item, the license plate is visible at night;
     (c) receipt of an application by the owner of the motor vehicle as provided for in 61-3-411 or 61-3-413; and
     (d) in the case of a general transportation collector's item application, certification from the department that a duplicate license plate number does not exist among currently issued license plates.
     (3) If the owner of a vehicle registered under the provisions of 61-3-314 meets the requirements of subsection (2), the department shall:
     (a) file the application and register information on the motor vehicle in the manner prescribed in 61-3-303; and
     (b) issue a validating decal inscribed with:
     (i) a unique number; and
     (ii) the letter:
     (A) "P" to designate vehicles described in 61-3-411(2)(a); or
     (B) "V" to designate vehicles described in 61-3-411(2)(b).
     (4) The owner of the motor vehicle shall permanently affix the validating decal to the windshield of the collector's item motor vehicle or, if a windshield does not exist, to another prominent and visible position on the vehicle.
     (5) The owner of the motor vehicle shall pay to the department with the application required under this section a one-time special collector's item motor vehicle license fee of $20.

     History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 150, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 217, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 168, Ch. 574, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 143, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 67, Ch. 477, L. 2003.