HB 1006 -- Registration of Motor Vehicles

Co-Sponsors:  Akin, Ostmann, Linton, Bartle, Blunt, Hohulin,
Wright, Alter

This bill requires that motor vehicle registrations be done
biennially, except for commercial motor vehicles, which will
remain annual.  The fee for registration will be double the
current fee, as will the fee for personalized or speciality
plates.  The first set of "former prisoner of war" plates will
be free, but each subsequent set of plates will be charged the
speciality fee ($30) in addition to the regular registration
fee.  Currently, there is no fee for this plate.

The bill changes the official motor vehicle inspection from an
annual to a biennial requirement.

The bill also establishes a Motorist Database Program for the
purpose of establishing a database to verify compliance with
motor vehicle registration requirements.  This program will be
administered by the Department of Revenue.  To implement the
program, the department must contract with a designated agent
who will develop and maintain a computer database, using the
department's guidelines, with its own computer network and with
information provided by county and township collectors, persons
operating official inspection stations, and the Department of
Revenue.  Information provided to designated agents by county
and township collectors, operators of official inspection
stations, and the department may not be disclosed except to
certain persons for certain purposes spelled out in the bill.
Any person or agency who knowingly discloses unauthorized
information from the database is guilty of a class A
misdemeanor.  Designated agents will be liable to any county or
township collector or operator of an official inspection station
damaged by a designated agent's negligent failure to protect the
confidentiality of information and data disclosed to the
designated agent.  Agents must provide to the state an errors
and omissions insurance policy covering an agent for an
appropriate amount.

Beginning September 1, 1999, all motorists must pay a $1
motorist database fee when application is made for registration
or renewal of the registration of a motor vehicle.  This fee
will never exceed $1 and will be adjusted biennially by the
Department of Revenue based upon moneys appropriated for the
operation of the motorist database program.  A Motorist Database
Account will be created where all fees will be credited.

The bill spells out the information required and the frequency
of reporting by county or township collectors and official
inspection stations to the designated agents.  The Department of
Revenue will assess fines up to $250 per day for noncompliance
by official inspection stations.  Noncompliance fines will be
excused if an operator provides acceptable proof that such
noncompliance was inadvertent, accidental, or the result of
excusable neglect.