HB 275

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to motor vehicle, mobile home, and vessel
3	registration; amending s. 320.01, F.S.; redefining the
4	term "registration period"; defining the term "extended
5	registration period"; amending s. 320.055, F.S.;
6	establishing an extended registration period and renewal
7	period for certain motor vehicles and mobile homes;
8	amending s. 320.06, F.S.; extending the time period and
9	revising the fee for replacement of registration license
10	plates; extending the period of validity of license plates
11	and validation stickers to provide for an extended
12	registration period; amending s. 320.07, F.S.; providing
13	for the semiannual, annual, or biennial renewal of motor
14	vehicle and mobile home registrations; authorizing the
15	biennial renewal of certain motor vehicle and mobile home
16	registrations upon payment of the cumulative total of
17	license taxes, service charges, surcharges, and other
18	fees; amending s. 320.071, F.S.; specifying that the
19	registration period for a motor vehicle or mobile home may
20	not exceed a specified number of months; amending s.
21	328.72, F.S.; providing for an extended registration
22	period for certain vessel owners; providing an effective
23	date.
24
25	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
26
27	Section 1.  Subsection (19) of section 320.01, Florida
28	Statutes, is amended to read:
29	320.01  Definitions, general.--As used in the Florida
30	Statutes, except as otherwise provided, the term:
31	(19)(a)  "Registration period" means a period of 12 months
32	or 24 months during which a motor vehicle or mobile home
33	registration is valid.
34	(b)  "Extended registration period" means a period of 24
35	months during which a motor vehicle or mobile home registration
36	is valid.
37	Section 2.  Subsection (1) of section 320.055, Florida
38	Statutes, is amended to read:
39	320.055  Registration periods; renewal periods.--The
40	following registration periods and renewal periods are
41	established:
42	(1)(a)  For a motor vehicle subject to registration under
43	s. 320.08(1), (2), (3), (5)(b), (c), (d), or (f), (6)(a), (7),
44	(8), (9), or (10) and owned by a natural person, the
45	registration period begins the first day of the birth month of
46	the owner and ends the last day of the month immediately
47	preceding the owner's birth month in the succeeding year. If
48	such vehicle is registered in the name of more than one person,
49	the birth month of the person whose name first appears on the
50	registration shall be used to determine the registration period.
51	For a vehicle subject to this registration period, the renewal
52	period is the 30-day period ending at midnight on the vehicle
53	owner's date of birth.
54	(b)  A motor vehicle or mobile home that is subject to
55	registration under s. 320.08(1), (2), (3), (4)(a) or (b), (6),
56	(7), (8), (9), (10), or (11) is eligible for an extended
57	registration period as defined in s. 320.01(19)(b).
58	(c)(b)  Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph (a),
59	the owner of a motor vehicle subject to paragraph (a) who has
60	had his or her driver's license suspended pursuant to a
61	violation of s. 316.193 or pursuant to s. 322.26(2) for driving
62	under the influence must obtain a 6-month registration as a
63	condition of reinstating the license, subject to renewal during
64	the 3-year period that financial responsibility requirements
65	apply. The registration period begins the first day of the birth
66	month of the owner and ends the last day of the fifth month
67	immediately following the owner's birth month. For such
68	vehicles, the department shall issue a vehicle registration
69	certificate that is valid for 6 months and shall issue a
70	validation sticker that displays an expiration date of 6 months
71	after the date of issuance. The license tax required by s.
72	320.08 and all other applicable license taxes shall be one-half
73	of the amount otherwise required, except the service charge
74	required by s. 320.04 shall be paid in full for each 6-month
75	registration. A vehicle required to be registered under this
76	paragraph is not eligible for the extended registration period
77	under paragraph (b).
78	Section 3.  Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) of
79	section 320.06, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
80	320.06  Registration certificates, license plates, and
81	validation stickers generally.--
82	(1)
83	(b)  Registration license plates bearing a graphic symbol
84	and the alphanumeric system of identification shall be issued
85	for a 6-year 5-year period. At the end of that 6-year said 5-
86	year period, upon renewal, the plate shall be replaced. The fee
87	for such replacement is $12 shall be $10, $2 of which shall be
88	paid each year before the plate is replaced, to be credited
89	towards the next $12 $10 replacement fee. The fees shall be
90	deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund. A credit
91	or refund shall not be given for any prior years' payments of
92	such prorated replacement fee if when the plate is replaced or
93	surrendered before the end of the 6-year 5-year period, except
94	that a credit may be given when a registrant is required by the
95	department to replace a license plate under s. 320.08056(8)(a).
96	With each license plate, there shall be issued a validation
97	sticker showing the owner's birth month, license plate number,
98	and the year of expiration or the appropriate renewal period if
99	the owner is not a natural person. The validation sticker shall
100	is to be placed on the upper right corner of the license plate.
101	Such license plate and validation sticker shall be issued based
102	on the applicant's appropriate renewal period. The registration
103	period is shall be a period of 12 months, the extended
104	registration period is a period of 24 months, and all
105	expirations shall occur based on the applicant's appropriate
106	registration period. A vehicle with an apportioned registration
107	shall be issued an annual license plate and a cab card that
108	denote the declared gross vehicle weight for each apportioned
109	jurisdiction in which the vehicle is authorized to operate.
110	(c)  Registration license plates equipped with validation
111	stickers subject to the registration period are shall be valid
112	for not more than 12 months and shall expire at midnight on the
113	last day of the registration period. A registration license
114	plate equipped with a validation sticker subject to the extended
115	registration period is valid for not more than 24 months and
116	expires at midnight on the last day of the extended registration
117	period. For each registration period after the one in which the
118	metal registration license plate is issued, and until the
119	license plate is required to be replaced, a validation sticker
120	showing the month and year of expiration shall be issued upon
121	payment of the proper license tax amount and fees and is shall
122	be valid for not more than 12 months. For each extended
123	registration period occurring after the one in which the metal
124	registration license plate is issued and until the license plate
125	is required to be replaced, a validation sticker showing the
126	year of expiration shall be issued upon payment of the proper
127	license tax amount and fees and is valid for not more than 24
128	months. When license plates equipped with validation stickers
129	are issued in any month other than the owner's birth month or
130	the designated registration period for any other motor vehicle,
131	the effective date shall reflect the birth month or month and
132	the year of renewal. However, when a license plate or validation
133	sticker is issued for a period of less than 12 months, the
134	applicant shall pay the appropriate amount of license tax and
135	the applicable fee under the provisions of s. 320.14 in addition
136	to all other fees. Validation stickers issued for vehicles taxed
137	under the provisions of s. 320.08(6)(a), for any company that
138	which owns 250 vehicles or more, or for semitrailers taxed under
139	the provisions of s. 320.08(5)(a), for any company that which
140	owns 50 vehicles or more, may be placed on any vehicle in the
141	fleet so long as the vehicle receiving the validation sticker
142	has the same owner's name and address as the vehicle to which
143	the validation sticker was originally assigned.
144	Section 4.  Section 320.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to
145	read:
146	320.07  Expiration of registration; annual renewal
147	required; penalties.--
148	(1)  The registration of a motor vehicle or mobile home
149	expires shall expire at midnight on the last day of the
150	registration or extended registration period. A vehicle shall
151	not be operated on the roads of this state after expiration of
152	the renewal period unless the registration has been renewed
153	according to law.
154	(2)  Registration shall be renewed semiannually, annually,
155	or biennially, as provided in this subsection, during the
156	applicable renewal period, upon payment of the applicable
157	license tax amounts amount required by s. 320.08, service
158	charges required by s. 320.04, and any additional fees required
159	by law.
160	(a)  However, Any person who owns owning a motor vehicle
161	registered under s. 320.08(4), (6)(b), or (13) may register
162	semiannually as provided in s. 320.0705.
163	(b)  Any person who owns a motor vehicle or mobile home
164	registered under s. 320.08(1), (2), (3), (4)(a) or (b), (6),
165	(7), (8), (9), (10), or (11) may renew the vehicle registration
166	biennially during the applicable renewal period upon payment of
167	the 2-year cumulative total of all applicable license tax
168	amounts required by s. 320.08 and service charges or surcharges
169	required by ss. 320.03, 320.04, 320.0801, 320.08015, 320.0802,
170	320.0804, and 320.08046 and payment of the 2-year cumulative
171	total of any additional fees required by law for an annual
172	registration.
173	(3)  The operation of any motor vehicle without having
174	attached thereto a registration license plate and validation
175	stickers, or the use of any mobile home without having attached
176	thereto a mobile home sticker, for the current registration
177	period shall subject the owner thereof, if he or she is present,
178	or, if the owner is not present, the operator thereof to the
179	following penalty provisions:
180	(a)  Any person whose motor vehicle or mobile home
181	registration has been expired for a period of 6 months or less
182	commits a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a
183	nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.
184	(b)  Any person whose motor vehicle or mobile home
185	registration has been expired for more than 6 months, shall upon
186	a first offense, is be subject to the penalty provided in s.
187	318.14.
188	(c)  Any person whose motor vehicle or mobile home
189	registration has been expired for more than 6 months, shall upon
190	a second or subsequent offense, commits be guilty of a
191	misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
192	775.082 or s. 775.083.
193	(d)  However, an no operator shall not be charged with a
194	violation of this subsection if the operator can show, pursuant
195	to a valid lease agreement, that the vehicle had been leased for
196	a period of 30 days or less at the time of the offense.
197	(e)  Any servicemember, as defined in s. 250.01, whose
198	mobile home registration has expired while he or she was serving
199	on active duty or state active duty shall not be charged with a
200	violation of this subsection if, at the time of the offense, the
201	servicemember was serving on active duty or state active duty 35
202	miles or more from the mobile home. The servicemember must
203	present to the department either a copy of the official military
204	orders or a written verification signed by the servicemember's
205	commanding officer to receive a waiver of waive charges.
206	(f)  The owner of a leased motor vehicle is not responsible
207	for any penalty specified in this subsection if the motor
208	vehicle is registered in the name of the lessee of the motor
209	vehicle.
210	(4)(a)  In addition to a penalty provided in subsection
211	(3), a delinquent fee based on the following schedule of license
212	taxes shall be imposed on any applicant who fails to renew a
213	registration prior to the end of the month in which renewal
214	registration is due. The delinquent fee shall be applied
215	beginning on the 11th calendar day of the month succeeding the
216	renewal period. The delinquent fee does shall not apply to those
217	vehicles that which have not been required to be registered
218	during the preceding registration period or as provided in s.
219	320.18(2). The delinquent fee shall be imposed as follows:
220	1.  License tax of $5 but not more than $25:  $5 flat.
221	2.  License tax over $25 but not more than $50:  $10 flat.
222	3.  License tax over $50 but not more than $100:  $15 flat.
223	4.  License tax over $100 but not more than $400:  $50
224	flat.
225	5.  License tax over $400 but not more than $600:  $100
226	flat.
227	6.  License tax over $600 and up:  $250 flat.
228	(b)  A person who has been assessed a penalty pursuant to
229	s. 316.545(2)(b) for failure to have a valid vehicle
230	registration certificate is not subject to the delinquent fee
231	authorized by this subsection if such person obtains a valid
232	registration certificate within 10 working days after such
233	penalty was assessed. The official receipt authorized by s.
234	316.545(6) constitutes proof of payment of the penalty
235	authorized in s. 316.545(2)(b).
236	(c)  The owner of a leased motor vehicle is not responsible
237	for any delinquent fee specified in this subsection if the motor
238	vehicle is registered in the name of the lessee of the motor
239	vehicle.
240	(5)  Any servicemember, as defined in s. 250.01, whose
241	motor vehicle or mobile home registration has expired while he
242	or she was serving on active duty or state active duty may,
243	shall be able to renew his or her registration upon return from
244	active duty or state active duty without penalty, if the
245	servicemember served on active duty or state active duty 35
246	miles or more from the servicemember's home of record prior to
247	entering active duty or state active duty. The servicemember
248	must provide to the department either a copy of the official
249	military orders or a written verification signed by the
250	servicemember's commanding officer to receive a waiver of waive
251	delinquent fees.
252	(6)  Delinquent fees imposed under this section are shall
253	not be apportionable under the International Registration Plan.
254	Section 5.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
255	320.071, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
256	320.071  Advance registration renewal; procedures.--
257	(1)(a)  The owner of any motor vehicle or mobile home
258	currently registered in this state may file an application for
259	renewal of registration with the department, or its authorized
260	agent in the county wherein the owner resides, any time during
261	the 3 months preceding the date of expiration of the
262	registration period. The registration period may not exceed 27
263	months.
264	Section 6.  Subsections (1), (3), (9), and (12) of section
265	328.72, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
266	328.72  Classification; registration; fees and charges;
267	surcharge; disposition of fees; fines; marine turtle stickers.--
268	(1)  VESSEL REGISTRATION FEE.--Vessels that are required to
269	be registered shall be classified for registration purposes
270	according to the following schedule, and the registration
271	certificate fee shall be in the following amounts:
272	Class A-1--Less than 12 feet in length, and all canoes to
273	which propulsion motors have been attached, regardless of
274	length....$3.50 for each 12-month period registered.
275	Class A-2--12 feet or more and less than 16 feet in
276	length....10.50 for each 12-month period registered.
277	(To county)....2.85 for each 12-month period registered.
278	Class 1--16 feet or more and less than 26 feet in
279	length....18.50 for each 12-month period registered.
280	(To county)....8.85 for each 12-month period registered.
281	Class 2--26 feet or more and less than 40 feet in
282	length....50.50 for each 12-month period registered.
283	(To county)....32.85 for each 12-month period registered.
284	Class 3--40 feet or more and less than 65 feet in
285	length....82.50 for each 12-month period registered.
286	(To county)....56.85 for each 12-month period registered.
287	Class 4--65 feet or more and less than 110 feet in
288	length....98.50 for each 12-month period registered.
289	(To county)....68.85 for each 12-month period registered.
290	Class 5--110 feet or more in length....122.50 for each
291	12-month period registered.
292	(To county)....86.85 for each 12-month period registered.
293	Dealer registration certificate ....16.50 for each 12-month
294	period registered.
295
296	The county portion of the vessel registration fee is derived
297	from recreational vessels only.
298	(3)  ALIEN OR NONRESIDENT LICENSE FEE.--An additional
299	license fee of $50 for each 12-month period registered shall be
300	required of all aliens or nonresidents of the state on all
301	vessels not subject to a specific reciprocal agreement with
302	another state, which vessels are used for commercial purposes
303	and owned in whole or in part by such aliens or nonresidents.
304	Such fee shall be in addition to the vessel registration fee
305	required by this section.
306	(9)  SURCHARGE.--In addition, there is hereby levied and
307	imposed on each vessel registration fee imposed under subsection
308	(1) a surcharge in the amount of $1 for each 12-month period of
309	registration, which shall be collected in the same manner as the
310	fee and deposited into the State Agency Law Enforcement Radio
311	System Trust Fund of the Department of Management Services.
312	(12)  REGISTRATION.--
313	(a)  "Registration period" is a period of 12 months during
314	which a vessel registration is valid.
315	(b)  Any vessel owner who is subject to registration under
316	subparagraph (c)1. is eligible for an extended registration
317	period that begins the first day of the birth month of the owner
318	and ends the last day of the month immediately preceding the
319	owner's birth month 24 months after the beginning of the
320	registration period. If the vessel is registered in the name of
321	more than one person, the birth month of the person whose name
322	first appears on the registration shall be used to determine the
323	extended registration period. For a vessel subject to this
324	extended registration period, the renewal period is the 30-day
325	period ending at midnight on the vessel owner's date of birth.
326	"Renewal period" is a period of 30 days during which renewal of
327	a vessel registration is required, except as otherwise provided
328	by law.
329	(c)  The following registration periods and renewal periods
330	are established:
331	1.  For vessels owned by individuals, the registration
332	period begins the first day of the birth month of the owner and
333	ends the last day of the month immediately preceding the owner's
334	birth month in the succeeding year. If the vessel is registered
335	in the name of more than one person, the birth month of the
336	person whose name first appears on the registration shall be
337	used to determine the registration period. For a vessel subject
338	to this registration period, the renewal period is the 30-day
339	period ending at midnight on the vessel owner's date of birth.
340	2.  For vessels owned by companies, corporations,
341	governmental entities, and registrations issued to dealers and
342	manufacturers, the registration period begins July 1 and ends
343	June 30. The renewal period is the 30-day period beginning June
344	1.
345	Section 7.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2008.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.