Sec. 5. 29-A MRSA §462, sub-§8, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

8. Trailer transit plate. Persons in the business of delivering or servicing mobile homes or storage trailers may apply for a trailer transit license and plates for the purpose of transporting or servicing mobile homes or storage trailers temporarily in their custody. The holder of a trailer transit plate may not use the plate in lieu of registration plates issued under this Title and may not loan the plate to another person. If the trailer transit plate is used on a storage trailer, the storage trailer must be empty. Trailer transit plates may not be used on a towing vehicle.

Issuance of a trailer transit license and plate does not exempt the holder from compliance with any state law or municipal ordinance governing the movement of mobile homes or storage trailers over the highways of this State and does not exempt the holder from required permits or certificates prior to moving such vehicles.

Fees for trailer transit licenses and plates are established in section 852. Trailer transit licenses are exempt from section 951, subsection 6.

Sec. 6. 29-A MRSA §513, sub-§2, ¶A, as amended by PL 1999, c. 790, Pt. C, §14 and affected by §19, is further amended to read:

A. Class A special mobile equipment must be operated under an annual registration. The fee for a Class A special mobile equipment registration permit is as follows.

(1) For gross weight from 0 to 54,000 pounds, the fee is as in section 505, subsection 2.

(2) For gross weight from 54,001 to 60,000 pounds, the fee is $387.

(3) For gross weight from 60,001 to 65,000 pounds, the fee is $417.

(4) For gross weight from 65,001 to 70,000 pounds, the fee is $447.

(5) For gross weight from 70,001 to 75,000 pounds, the fee is $477.

(6) For gross weight from 75,001 to 80,000 pounds, the fee is $507.

(7) For gross weight from 80,001 to 90,000 pounds, the fee is $567.

(8)__For gross weight from 90,001 to 94,000 pounds, the fee is $592.

(9)__For gross weight from 94,001 to 100,000 pounds, the fee is $712.

Sec. 7. 29-A MRSA §515-A, 2nd ¶, as amended by PL 1997, c. 393, Pt. D, §2, is further amended to read:

Motorcycle plates issued under sections 457 and, 515-B, 517 and 523 are exempt from this section.

Sec. 8. 29-A MRSA §515-B, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 734, §1, is amended to read:

The Secretary of State, on application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, the registration fee required by section 515 and a one-time additional fee of $5, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of Purple Heart motorcycle registration plates plate, to be used in lieu of a regular registration plates plate, to a person who is a Purple Heart medal recipient. The one-time additional fee of $5 is credited to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs. Notwithstanding section 468, the Secretary of State may issue fewer than 2,000 of the plates authorized by this section, and this plate does not require a sponsor.

Sec. 9. 29-A MRSA §521, sub-§7, as repealed and replaced by PL 1995, c. 482, Pt. A, §4, is amended to read:

7. Registration and placard fees. There is no additional registration fee for disability plates or placards. The fee for each removable windshield placard and temporary windshield placard is $1.

Sec. 10. 29-A MRSA §522, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

3. No fee. The There is no fee for a placard issued pursuant to this section is $1.

Sec. 11. 29-A MRSA §525, sub-§10, as amended by PL 1999, c. 414, §2, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

10.__Suspension.__If a person fails to file a fuel tax report or to pay any taxes, interest, penalties or audit assessment as required pursuant to Title 36, chapter 457 or 459 or any rule adopted pursuant to this section, the Secretary of State shall suspend all fuel decals issued to the person and that person's privilege to operate any commercial vehicle.__In order to be reinstated, the person must file all delinquent tax returns and pay all assessments, interest and penalties.__In addition, the person must pay a $30 reinstatement fee.

Sec. 12. 29-A MRSA §531, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

1. Registration year. Fleets must be apportioned under the plan on a staggered basis. The registrant shall elect a common registration expiration date for all apportioned vehicles in the fleet. For purposes of this section, "fleet" means one or more vehicles registered to the same person and sharing a common registration expiration date and a common mileage report.

Sec. 13. 29-A MRSA §533-A, sub-§3, ¶¶A and B, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 505, §2, are amended to read:

A. Between July 1st and September 30th October 31st, the Secretary of State shall disburse to a participating municipality a sum equal to the difference in the amount of excise tax that would have been collected by that municipality in the prior fiscal year on each commercial motor vehicle under Title 36, section 1482, subsection 1, paragraph C, subparagraph (3) using the manufacturer's suggested retail price from the amount of that excise tax actually collected by that municipality in the prior fiscal year based on the actual purchase price. The Secretary of State shall provide supporting documentation to a municipality regarding the disbursement that municipality receives under this section.

B. By November December 1st of the fiscal year in which disbursements are made under paragraph A, the Secretary of State shall transfer from the fund to the Highway Fund a sum equal to the difference in the total revenues derived pursuant to section 531, subsection 6 in the prior fiscal year from the total disbursements made under paragraph A in the current fiscal year.

Sec. 14. 29-A MRSA §562, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 376, §3, is amended to read:

3. Powers and duties. The board shall review the records of motor carriers with significant and repeated motor carrier violations. The board may hold a hearing as part of its review and must hold a hearing if requested by the motor carrier. The board may recommend to the Secretary of State that the motor carrier's operating authority license or privilege to operate commercial vehicles be suspended.

Sec. 15. 29-A MRSA §602, sub-§2, ¶¶H and I, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, are amended to read:

H. Front fork or crankcase of a motorcycle; or

I. Cargo bed, transfer case or sleeper of a truck.; or

Sec. 16. 29-A MRSA §602, sub-§2, ¶J is enacted to read:

J.__Airbag.

Sec. 17. 29-A MRSA §602, sub-§10, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

10. Rebuild. "Rebuild" means to replace any one or more of the following component part parts of a vehicle.:

A.__Engine or motor;

B.__Transmission;

C.__Chassis, front or rear clip, frame or equivalent part;

D.__Door;

E.__Hood;

F.__Tailgate, roof, deck lid or hatchback;

G.__Quarter panel or fender;

H.__Front fork or crankcase of a motorcycle; or

I.__Cargo bed, transfer case or sleeper of a truck.

Sec. 18. 29-A MRSA §651-B is enacted to read:

§651-B.__Certificate of title permissible

A semitrailer with an unladen weight in excess of 3,000 pounds that is used for interstate or intrastate transportation may be titled in this State even if the semitrailer is registered in another jurisdiction.

Sec. 19. 29-A MRSA §652, sub-§4-A, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 470, §8, is amended to read:

4-A. Semitrailers. Semitrailers that qualify to be registered under section 512 with an unladen weight in excess of 3,000 pounds and that are used for interstate or intrastate transportation. Such vehicles may be titled in this State even if the trailer is registered in another jurisdiction and for which a current certificate of title has been issued in another state;

Sec. 20. 29-A MRSA §661, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

2. Time. The Secretary of State may not is not required to issue a an additional duplicate until 15 days after receipt of the application the previous duplicate was issued.

Sec. 21. 29-A MRSA §667, sub-§4, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

A. The identification number of the vehicle and its component parts are inspected and verified; and

Sec. 22. 29-A MRSA §667, sub-§4, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is repealed.

Sec. 23. 29-A MRSA §667, sub-§5, ¶C, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

C. The legend "rebuilt" must appear on a certificate of title for a rebuilt salvage vehicle if:

(1) A salvage vehicle has at least one, but less than 5, component parts replaced.__Notwithstanding section 602, subsection 2, for the purposes of this subsection, airbags are not considered a component part; or

(2) A certificate of title with the legend "rebuilt" issued by the Secretary of State or by any other jurisdiction accompanies an application to the State for a subsequent certificate of title.

Sec. 24. 29-A MRSA §753, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1995, c. 482, Pt. A, §17, is repealed.

Sec. 25. 29-A MRSA §957, sub-§§3 and 4, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 437, §26, are amended to read:

3. Attended sales promotion. The Secretary of State may issue to a dealer a 30-day license to operate an attended sales promotion. A request for an attended sales promotion must be submitted to the Secretary of State at least 14 days 48 hours before the proposed promotion date and must contain the proposed promotion date and location. The promotion and any use of a location must comply with applicable building codes and zoning and land use ordinances. A new vehicle dealer who requests a license under this subsection for a promotion involving new vehicles may not locate the promotion outside that dealer's area of responsibility as defined by the dealers's franchise agreement. A dealer who operates an attended sales promotion at an agricultural fair is exempt from this subsection. The fee for a 30-day attended sales promotion license is $75 per location. The license for a location may be renewed 2 times in a calendar year.

4. Unattended sales promotion. The Secretary of State may issue to a dealer a license to operate an unattended sales promotion. A request for an unattended sales promotion must be submitted to the Secretary of State at least 14 days 48 hours before the proposed promotion date and contain the proposed promotion date and location and, if applicable, a copy of a contract between the dealer and the promotion sponsor. The promotion and any use of a location must comply with applicable building codes and zoning and land use ordinances. A new vehicle dealer who requests a license under this subsection for a promotion involving new vehicles may not locate the promotion outside that dealer's area of responsibility as defined by the dealer's franchise agreement. The fee for an unattended sales promotion is:

A. Fifty dollars if the promotion runs 7 days or less;

B. One hundred dollars if the promotion runs between 8 and 60 days; or

C. One hundred fifty dollars if the promotion runs more than 60 days.

Sec. 26. 29-A MRSA §1310, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 674, §2, is amended to read:

§1310. Interim license

A person under 18 years of age who has been issued a driver's license may not carry passengers other than immediate family members unless accompanied by a licensed operator who meets the requirements of section 1304, subsection 1, paragraph E. This restriction is in effect for a period of 90 days from license issuance. A person who violates this section commits a traffic infraction.

Sec. 27. 29-A MRSA §1611, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

3. Maintenance of insurance. The owner or owners of any vehicle subject to this section shall maintain at all times the required amount of insurance or bond during the term of the vehicle's registration. Notwithstanding section 1606, the insurance provider must provide at least 30 days' notice of cancellation of insurance to the Secretary of State. For vehicles registered in this State, the Secretary of State shall immediately suspend or revoke, pursuant to chapter 23, the registration certificate and registration plates of any vehicle for which the insurance or bond in the amounts required is not maintained. Any person whose registration certificate, registration plates and operating authority license have been suspended or revoked pursuant to this section shall immediately return the registration certificate, registration plates and the operating authority license to the Secretary of State. For vehicles not required to be registered in this State, the Secretary of State shall suspend the person's operating authority license or right to operate in this State.

Sec. 28. 29-A MRSA §2482, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

1. Notification by Secretary of State. Upon determining that a person is subject to license suspension or revocation, the Secretary of State shall immediately notify the person, in writing, that of the license has been suspended or revoked suspension or revocation. The notice:

A. Must be sent to the last name and address provided under section 1407 or, if the person has not applied for a license, on record with the Secretary of State;

B. Must be sent to the address provided in the report of the law enforcement officer if that address differs from the address of record; or

C. May be served in hand.

SUMMARY

This bill makes certain changes to the motor vehicle laws, including the following.

1. It amends the definition of "classic vehicle" to include vehicles that are between 16 years and 26 years old.

2. It expands the enforcement authority of motor vehicle investigators.

3. It specifies that operating a vehicle with an expired 14- day temporary registration plate is a traffic infraction.

4. It requires that certain applicants for vehicle registration provide either a federal taxpayer identification number or an identification number issued by the Department of Transportation.

5. It removes the fee for disability placards.

6. It authorizes the Secretary of State to suspend fuel decals issued to a person who fails to file any fuel tax report or pay taxes.

7. It changes the dates by which the Secretary of State must make disbursements and transfers relating to the Municipal Excise Tax Reimbursement Fund.

8. It amends the definition of "component part" to include airbags, except for purposes of defining "rebuild" and "salvage vehicle."

9. It allows certain semitrailers to be titled in this State even if they are registered in another jurisdiction.

10. It eliminates language that establishes as a Class E crime the failure to timely deliver a certificate to the Secretary of State.

11. It requires insurance providers to notify the Secretary of State when insurance for a vehicle is cancelled.