Assembly Bill No. 449

Assembly Bill No. 449-Assemblymen Hickey, Anderson, Chowning, Von Tobel, Cegavske, Amodei, Collins, Braunlin, Berman, Gustavson, Parks, Ohrenschall, Evans, Bache, Williams, Lee, Hettrick, Mortenson, Sandoval, Humke, Carpenter and Tiffany

May 2, 1997
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Referred to Committee on Transportation

SUMMARY--Revises provisions governing display of license plates on motor vehicles. (BDR 43-1297)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.

EXPLANATION - Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [ ] is material to be omitted.

AN ACT relating to license plates; removing the requirement that a license plate be attached to the front of a motor vehicle; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1 NRS 482.275 is hereby amended to read as follows:
482.275 1. [The] One of the license plates for a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, power cycle or motor vehicle being transported by a licensed vehicle transporter must be attached [thereto, one in the front and the other in] to the rear [.] of the motor vehicle. The second license plate may, in the discretion of the owner of the motor vehicle, be attached to the front of the motor vehicle. The license plate issued for all other vehicles required to be registered must be attached to the rear of the vehicle. The license plates must be so displayed during the current calendar year or registration period.
2. [Every] Except as otherwise provided in subsection 1, a license plate must at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle to which it is assigned so as to prevent the license plate from swinging and at a height not less than 12 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of [such] the license plate, in a place and position to be clearly visible, and must be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly legible.
3. Any license plate which is issued to a vehicle transporter or a dealer, rebuilder or manufacturer may be attached to a vehicle owned or controlled by that person by a secure means. No license plate may be displayed loosely in the window or by any other unsecured method in any motor vehicle.
Sec. 2 NRS 482.280 is hereby amended to read as follows:
482.280 1. The registration of every vehicle expires at midnight on the day specified on the receipt of registration, unless the day specified falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday. If the day specified on the receipt of registration is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the registration of the vehicle expires at midnight on the next judicial day. The department shall mail to each holder of a certificate of registration an application for renewal of registration for the following period of registration. The applications must be mailed by the department in sufficient time to allow all applicants to mail the applications to the department and to receive new certificates of registration and license plates, stickers, tabs or other suitable devices by mail before the expiration of their registrations. An applicant may present the application to any agent or office of the department.
2. An application mailed or presented to the department or to a county assessor pursuant to the provisions of this section, or presented to an authorized inspection station or authorized station pursuant to the provisions of NRS 482.281 must include:
(a) A signed declaration by the applicant that he has and will maintain, during the period of registration, insurance as required by NRS 485.185. Insurance may be provided by an operator's policy of liability insurance if the applicant and the policy meet the requirements of NRS 485.186 and 485.3091.
(b) If required, evidence of compliance with standards for control of emissions.
3. The department shall insert in each application mailed pursuant to subsection 1:
(a) The amount of privilege tax to be collected for the county pursuant to the provisions of NRS 482.260.
(b) The amount set forth in a notice of nonpayment filed with the department by a local authority pursuant to NRS 484.444.
4. An owner who has made proper application for renewal of registration before the expiration of the current registration but who has not received the license plate or plates or card of registration for the ensuing period of registration is entitled to operate or permit the operation of that vehicle upon the highways upon [displaying thereon] compliance with the provisions of NRS 482.275 regarding the display of the license plate or plates issued for the preceding period of registration for such a time as may be prescribed by the department as it may find necessary for the issuance of the new license plate or plates or card of registration.
Sec. 3 NRS 482.545 is hereby amended to read as follows:
482.545 It is unlawful for any person to commit any of the following acts:
1. To operate, or for the owner thereof knowingly to permit the operation of, upon a highway any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer which is not registered or which does not have attached [thereto] to the rear thereof and displayed thereon [the number of plate or plates] a license plate assigned thereto by the department for the current period of registration or calendar year, subject to the exemption allowed in NRS 482.316 to 482.3175, inclusive, 482.320 to 482.363, inclusive, 482.385 to 482.3965, inclusive, and 482.420.
2. To display, cause or permit to be displayed or to have in possession any certificate of registration, license plate, certificate of ownership or other document of title knowing it to be fictitious or to have been canceled, revoked, suspended or altered.
3. To lend to or knowingly permit the use of by one not entitled thereto any registration card or license plate issued to the person so lending or permitting the use thereof.
4. To fail or to refuse to surrender to the department, upon demand, any registration card or license plate which has been suspended, canceled or revoked as provided in this chapter.
5. To use a false or fictitious name or address in any application for the registration of any vehicle or for any renewal or duplicate thereof, or knowingly to make a false statement or knowingly to conceal a material fact or otherwise commit a fraud in an application. A violation of this subsection is a gross misdemeanor.
6. Knowingly to operate a vehicle which:
(a) Has an altered vehicle identification number, serial number, motor number, or other distinguishing number or identification mark required for registration; or
(b) Contains a part which has an altered identification number or other distinguishing number or identification mark which was placed or stamped on the part by the manufacturer pursuant to federal law or regulation.