61-3-701. Out-of-state vehicles used in gainful occupation to be registered -- reciprocity. (1) Before a motor vehicle that is registered in another jurisdiction may be operated on the highways of this state for hire, compensation, or profit or before the owner or user of the vehicle uses the vehicle if the owner or user is engaged in gainful occupation or business enterprise in the state, including highway work, the owner of the vehicle shall register the vehicle at the office of a county treasurer or an authorized agent of the department. Upon satisfactory evidence of ownership submitted to the county treasurer or the department's authorized agent and the payment of fees in lieu of taxes or registration fees, if appropriate, as required by 15-8-201, 15-8-202, 15-24-301, 61-3-529, 61-3-537, or 61-3-560 and 61-3-561, the treasurer or authorized agent shall enter the vehicle for registration purposes only on the electronic registry maintained by the department under 61-3-101.
     (2) Upon payment of the fees or taxes, the treasurer or the department's authorized agent shall issue to the vehicle owner a registration receipt and the proper license plates or other identification markers. The license plates or identification markers must at all times be displayed upon the vehicle when operated or driven upon roads and highways of this state during the registration period indicated on the receipt.
     (3) The registration receipt does not constitute evidence of ownership but must be used only for registration purposes. A Montana certificate of title may not be issued for a vehicle registered under this section.
     (4) This section is not applicable to a vehicle covered by a valid and existing reciprocal agreement or declaration entered into under Montana law.

     History: En. Sec. 7, Ch. 121, L. 1929; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 126, L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 1760.7, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 93, L. 1939; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 296, L. 1947; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 195, L. 1953; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 143, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 26, Ch. 206, L. 1963; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 290, L. 1967; R.C.M. 1947, 53-129; amd. Sec. 46, Ch. 421, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 35, Ch. 614, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 140, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 503, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 26, Ch. 516, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 34, Ch. 611, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 37, Ch. 496, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 39, Ch. 515, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 72, Ch. 477, L. 2003.