PRINTER'S NO. 2907
No. 2071 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY CARROLL, MARKOSEK, DENLINGER, HENNESSEY, KULA, LEACH, MAHONEY, MARSHALL, MURT, PHILLIPS, ROEBUCK, SCAVELLO, SHIMKUS, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, WHEATLEY, J. WHITE AND YOUNGBLOOD, NOVEMBER 29, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, NOVEMBER 29, 2007
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2 Statutes, further providing for biennial registration of
3 certain vehicles and registration fees for passenger cars.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 1307(a) and (a.1) Title 75 of the
7 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
8 § 1307. Period of registration.
9 (a) Staggered renewal system to be established.--The
10 department shall establish a system of staggered registration
11 renewal in a manner that an approximately equal number of
12 registrations will expire every month throughout the year. In
13 order to implement and maintain the staggered registration
14 system, the department may prorate annual or biennial
15 registration fees over registration periods of from 6 to 18
16 months.
17 (a.1) Seasonal registration.--Upon application on a form
1 prescribed by the department, the owner or lessee of a passenger 2 car, recreational motor vehicle, motorcycle, truck or farm 3 vehicle which does not have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4 more than 9,000 pounds may register the vehicle with the 5 department for a period of successive months of less than one 6 year. The applicant shall specify the period of months during 7 which the vehicle shall be registered. Except when the 8 department initially converts a currently valid annual or 9 biennial registration to a seasonal registration, the annual or 10 biennial fee prescribed for the vehicle by Chapter 19 (relating 11 to fees) shall be paid in full by the applicant regardless of 12 the number of months chosen for registration by the applicant. 13 Upon receipt of the appropriate fee and the properly completed 14 form, including all information required by this chapter, the 15 department shall issue a seasonal registration that shall expire 16 on the last day of the expiration month chosen by the 17 registrant. No insurer of a vehicle belonging to any owner or 18 lessee who obtains a seasonal registration and who applies for 19 or receives a reduced automobile insurance premium on account 20 thereof shall be required to provide any contractual coverage, 21 whether in the form of the provision of a defense or the payment 22 of first-party or third-party benefits or otherwise, to the 23 owner or lessee in connection with any event occurring during 24 that part of the year in which the vehicle is not registered; 25 and such owner or lessee shall be treated for all purposes, 26 including, without limitation, ascertaining rights to stack 27 coverages and to uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, 28 as a person who does not own that vehicle and has no duty to 29 carry financial responsibility on it for that part of the year. 30 * * * 20070H2071B2907 - 2 -
1 Section 2. Title 75 is amended by adding a section to read: 2 § 1307.2. Biennial registration of certain vehicles. 3 The department may establish a system for renewing the 4 vehicle registration of passenger cars, motorcycles, motor- 5 driven cycles, school buses and school vehicles, special mobile 6 equipment and implements of husbandry on a biennial basis to 7 owners or lessees of the vehicles and may promulgate rules and 8 regulations to implement the system. 9 Section 3. Sections 1331(f)(1), 1340(a), 1348, 1350, 1350.1, 10 1351, 1352, 1353, 1354(a), 1355, 1356, 1357, 1358, 1359(a), 11 1360, 1361, 1362, 1363, 1364, 1365(a), 1514(a), 1911 heading and 12 (a), 1912, 1914, 1915, 1918, 1921, 1922, 1930, 1931, 1931.1 and 13 1933 of Title 75 are amended to read: 14 § 1331. Issuance and reissuance of registration plates. 15 * * * 16 (f) Periodic reissuance of registration plates.--The 17 department shall develop, implement and administer a program to 18 provide for the reissuance of all current registration plates 19 previously issued under this section. The program to be 20 established under this subsection shall address all of the 21 following criteria: 22 (1) Other than the annual or biennial registration fee 23 required under sections 1305 (relating to application for 24 registration) and 1309 (relating to renewal of registration) 25 and Subchapter B of Chapter 19 (relating to registration 26 fees), the reissued registration plate shall be issued under 27 section 1934 (relating to general reissuance). 28 * * * 29 § 1340. Antique, classic and collectible plates. 30 (a) General rule.--Upon submission by a vehicle owner of 20070H2071B2907 - 3 -
1 information satisfactory to the department that a motorcycle or 2 motor vehicle is an antique motorcycle or motor vehicle or 3 classic motorcycle or motor vehicle or collectible motorcycle or 4 motor vehicle, accompanied by the appropriate fee, the 5 department may issue special plates for the motorcycle or 6 vehicle. The special plate for antique motor vehicles, except 7 antique motorcycles, shall bear the designation "antique 8 vehicle." The applicant shall provide photographic proof in a 9 manner specified by the department to demonstrate the condition 10 of the motor vehicle. No annual or biennial registration fee may 11 be charged for antique, collectible or classic motorcycles or 12 motor vehicles. A holder of the special plates may obtain 13 replacement plates bearing the designation "antique vehicle" 14 upon payment of the appropriate fee. 15 * * * 16 § 1348. Special plates for Pearl Harbor survivors. 17 Upon application of any person who is a survivor of Pearl 18 Harbor, accompanied by a fee of $20 which shall be in addition 19 to the annual or biennial registration fee and by such 20 documentation as the department shall require, the department 21 shall issue to such person a special registration plate 22 designating the vehicle so licensed as belonging to a person who 23 is a survivor of Pearl Harbor. The special registration plate 24 may be used only on a passenger car or truck with a registered 25 gross weight of not more than 9,000 pounds. 26 § 1350. Special plates for veterans of Korean War. 27 Upon application of any person who is a veteran of the Korean 28 War, accompanied by a fee of $20[,] which shall be in addition 29 to the annual or biennial registration fee[,] and by such 30 documentation as the department shall require, the department 20070H2071B2907 - 4 -
1 shall issue to the person a special registration plate 2 designating the vehicle so licensed as belonging to a person who 3 is a veteran of the Korean War. The special registration plate 4 may be used only on a passenger car or truck with a registered 5 gross weight of not more than 9,000 pounds. 6 § 1350.1. Special plates for recipients of Korean Defense 7 Service Medal. 8 Upon application of any person who is a recipient of the 9 Korean Defense Service Medal, accompanied by a fee of $20 which 10 shall be in addition to the annual or biennial registration fee 11 and by such documentation as the department shall require, the 12 department shall issue to the person a special registration 13 plate designating the vehicle so licensed as belonging to a 14 person who is a recipient of the Korean Defense Service Medal. 15 The department shall design and produce the special registration 16 plate. The special registration plate may be used only on a 17 passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight of not 18 more than 10,000 pounds. 19 § 1351. Special plates for veterans of Persian Gulf War. 20 Upon application of any person who is a veteran of the 21 Persian Gulf War, accompanied by a fee of $20[,] which shall be 22 in addition to the annual or biennial registration fee[,] and by 23 such documentation as the department shall require, the 24 department shall issue to the person a special registration 25 plate designating the vehicle so licensed as belonging to a 26 person who is a veteran of the Persian Gulf War. The special 27 registration plate may be used only on a passenger car or truck 28 with a registered gross weight of not more than 9,000 pounds. 29 § 1352. Wild resource conservation plate. 30 The department, in consultation with the Wild Resource 20070H2071B2907 - 5 -
1 Conservation Board, shall design a special wild resource 2 conservation registration plate. Upon application of any person, 3 accompanied by a fee of $35 which shall be in addition to the 4 annual or biennial registration fee, the department shall issue 5 the plate for a passenger car, motor home, trailer or truck with 6 a registered gross weight of not more than 9,000 pounds. The 7 Wild Resource Conservation Fund shall receive $15 of each 8 additional fee for this plate. 9 § 1353. Preserve our heritage registration plate. 10 The department, in consultation with the Pennsylvania 11 Historical and Museum Commission, shall design a special 12 preserve our heritage registration plate. Upon receipt of an 13 application, accompanied by a fee of $35 which shall be in 14 addition to the annual or biennial registration fee, the 15 department shall issue the plate for a passenger car, motor 16 home, trailer or truck with a registered gross weight of not 17 more than 9,000 pounds. The Historical Preservation Fund shall 18 receive $15 of each additional fee for this plate. 19 § 1354. Flagship Niagara commemorative registration plate. 20 (a) Plate.--The department, in consultation with the 21 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, shall design a 22 Flagship Niagara commemorative registration plate. Upon 23 application of any person, accompanied by a fee of $35 which 24 shall be in addition to the annual or biennial registration fee, 25 the department shall issue the plate for a passenger car, motor 26 home, trailer or truck with a registered gross weight of not 27 more than 9,000 pounds. 28 * * * 29 § 1355. Zoological plate. 30 The department, in consultation with the Pennsylvania 20070H2071B2907 - 6 -
1 Zoological Council, shall design a special zoological 2 registration plate. Upon application of any person, accompanied 3 by a fee of $35 which shall be in addition to the annual or 4 biennial registration fee, the department shall issue the plate 5 for a passenger car, motor home, trailer or truck with a 6 registered gross weight of not more than 9,000 pounds. The 7 Zoological Enhancement Fund shall receive $15 of the fee paid by 8 the applicant for the plate. 9 § 1356. Special plates for recipients of Expeditionary Forces 10 Medal. 11 Upon application of any person who is a recipient of the 12 Expeditionary Forces Medal, accompanied by a fee of $20 which 13 shall be in addition to the annual or biennial registration fee 14 and by such documentation as the department shall require, the 15 department shall issue to such person a special registration 16 plate designating the vehicle so registered as belonging to a 17 person who is a recipient of the Expeditionary Forces Medal. The 18 special registration plate may be used only on a passenger car 19 or truck with a registered gross weight of not more than 9,000 20 pounds. 21 § 1357. Special plates for World War II veterans. 22 Upon application of any person who is a veteran of World War 23 II, accompanied by a fee of $20 which shall be in addition to 24 the annual or biennial registration fee and by such 25 documentation as the department shall require, the department 26 shall issue to such person a special registration plate carrying 27 the symbol of a ruptured duck designating the vehicle so 28 registered as belonging to a person who is a veteran of World 29 War II. The special registration plate may be used only on a 30 passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight of not 20070H2071B2907 - 7 -
1 more than 9,000 pounds. 2 § 1358. DARE plate. 3 The department, in consultation with the Pennsylvania 4 Commission on Crime and Delinquency, shall design a special drug 5 abuse resistance education (DARE) registration plate which 6 utilizes the DARE logo or slogan in the design. Upon application 7 of any person, accompanied by a fee of $35 which shall be in 8 addition to the annual or biennial registration fee, the 9 department shall issue the plate for a passenger car, motor 10 home, trailer or truck with a registered gross weight of not 11 more than 9,000 pounds. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education 12 Program shall receive $15 of each additional fee for this plate. 13 § 1359. Special plates for steelworkers. 14 (a) General rule.--Upon application of any person who is a 15 steelworker, accompanied by a fee of $20 which shall be in 16 addition to the annual or biennial registration fee and by such 17 documentation as the department shall require, the department 18 shall issue to such person a special registration plate 19 designating the vehicle so licensed as belonging to a person who 20 is a steelworker. The special registration plate may be used 21 only on a passenger car or a truck with a registered gross 22 weight of not more than 9,000 pounds. The plate shall bear the 23 likeness of the official emblem of the American Iron and Steel 24 Institute. 25 * * * 26 § 1360. Special plates for veterans of Vietnam Conflict. 27 Upon application of any person who is a veteran of the 28 Vietnam Conflict as that term is defined for the awarding of the 29 Vietnam Service Medal, accompanied by a fee of $20 in addition 30 to the annual or biennial registration fee and by such 20070H2071B2907 - 8 -
1 documentation as the department shall require, the department 2 shall issue to the person a special registration plate 3 designating the vehicle so licensed as belonging to a person who 4 is a veteran of the Vietnam Conflict. The special registration 5 plate may be used only on a passenger car or truck with a 6 registered gross weight of not more than 9,000 pounds. 7 § 1361. Special motorcycle plates for veterans. 8 Upon application of any person who is an honorably discharged 9 veteran of the armed forces of the United States, or a reserve 10 component of the armed forces as defined in 51 Pa.C.S. § 7301 11 (relating to definitions), accompanied by a fee of $20 which 12 shall be in addition to the annual or biennial registration fee 13 and by such documentation as the department shall require, the 14 department shall issue to the person a special registration 15 plate designating the vehicle as belonging to a person who is a 16 veteran. The special registration plate may be used only on a 17 motorcycle. 18 § 1362. Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans plate. 19 Upon application of any person who is a veteran of the 20 liberation or occupation of Iraq, accompanied by a fee of $20 21 which shall be in addition to the annual or biennial 22 registration fee and by documentation as the department shall 23 require, the department shall issue to the person a special 24 registration plate designating the vehicle so licensed as 25 belonging to a person who is a veteran of Operation Iraqi 26 Freedom. 27 § 1363. Operation Enduring Freedom veterans plate. 28 Upon application of any person who is a veteran of the 29 liberation or occupation of Afghanistan, accompanied by a fee of 30 $20 which shall be in addition to the annual or biennial 20070H2071B2907 - 9 -
1 registration fee and by documentation as the department shall 2 require, the department shall issue to the person a special 3 registration plate designating the vehicle so licensed as 4 belonging to a person who is a veteran of Operation Enduring 5 Freedom. 6 § 1364. Special plates for veterans. 7 Upon application of any person who is an honorably discharged 8 veteran of the armed forces of the United States or a reserve 9 component of the armed forces as defined in 51 Pa.C.S. § 7301 10 (relating to definitions), accompanied by a fee of $20 which 11 shall be in addition to the annual or biennial registration fee 12 and by such documentation as the department shall require, the 13 department shall issue to the person a special registration 14 plate designating the vehicle as belonging to a person who is a 15 veteran of the armed forces of the United States. 16 § 1365. Gold Star Family plate. 17 (a) General rule.--Upon application of a family member of a 18 person who was killed while serving on active duty in the 19 military, accompanied by a fee of $20 which shall be in addition 20 to the annual or biennial registration fee and by such 21 documentation as the department shall require, the department 22 shall issue to the family member a special registration plate 23 designating the vehicle so licensed as belonging to a family 24 member of a person who was killed while serving on active duty 25 in the military. The department shall design and produce the 26 special registration plate carrying the Service Flag Gold Star 27 rimmed with blue which represents sacrifice to the cause of 28 liberty and freedom. The words "Gold Star Family" shall be 29 clearly displayed along the bottom of the plate. The special 30 registration plate may be used only on a passenger car or truck 20070H2071B2907 - 10 -
1 with a registered gross weight of not more than 10,000 pounds. 2 * * * 3 § 1514. Expiration and renewal of drivers' licenses. 4 (a) General rule.--Every driver's license shall expire on 5 the day after the licensee's birth date at intervals of not more 6 than [four] eight years as may be determined by the department. 7 Every license shall be renewable on or before its expiration 8 upon application, payment of the required fee, and satisfactory 9 completion of any examination required or authorized by this 10 chapter. 11 * * * 12 § 1911. Annual and biennial registration fees. 13 (a) General rule.--An annual or biennial fee for the 14 registration of vehicles as provided in Chapter 13 (relating to 15 [the] registration of vehicles) shall be charged by the 16 department as provided in this title. 17 * * * 18 § 1912. Passenger cars. 19 (a) General rule.--The annual fee for registration of a 20 passenger car shall be $36[.] annually or $72 biennially, except 21 for passenger cars exceeding 6,000 pounds gross vehicle weight 22 rating (GVWR), which shall be annually assessed as follows: 23 Registered Gross 24 Weight in Pounds Fee 25 6,001 - 7,000 $81 26 7,001 - 9,000 153 27 9,001 - 11,000 198 28 (b) Exception.--A clean fuel or electric vehicle determined 29 by the Internal Revenue Service to be eligible for a Federal tax 30 deduction or credit pursuant to section 30 or 179A of the 20070H2071B2907 - 11 -
1 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. § 2 30) shall be $30. 3 § 1914. Motorcycles. 4 The annual fee for registration of a motorcycle other than a 5 motor-driven cycle shall be $18. The biennial fee shall be $36. 6 § 1915. Motor-driven cycles. 7 The annual fee for registration of a motor-driven cycle shall 8 be $9. The biennial fee shall be $18. 9 § 1918. School buses and school vehicles. 10 The annual fee for registration of a school bus or school 11 vehicle shall be $24. The biennial fee shall be $48. 12 § 1921. Special mobile equipment. 13 The annual fee for registration of special mobile equipment 14 shall be $36. The biennial fee shall be $72. 15 § 1922. Implements of husbandry. 16 The annual fee for registration of an implement of husbandry 17 not exempt from registration under this title shall be $18. The 18 biennial fee shall be $36. 19 § 1930. Legislative registration plates. 20 The fee for issuance of a legislative registration plate 21 shall be $20 which shall be in addition to the annual or 22 biennial registration fee. Only one payment of the issuance fee 23 shall be charged for each legislative registration plate issued 24 or replaced. The biennial fee shall be twice the annual fee. 25 § 1931. Personal registration plates. 26 The fee for issuance of a personal registration plate shall 27 be $20 which shall be in addition to the annual or biennial 28 registration fee. Only one payment of the issuance fee shall be 29 charged for each personal registration issued or replaced. The 30 biennial fee shall be twice the annual fee. 20070H2071B2907 - 12 -
1 § 1931.1. Street rod registration plates. 2 The fee for the issuance of a street rod registration plate 3 shall be $20 which shall be in addition to the annual or 4 biennial registration fee. Only one payment of the issuance fee 5 shall be charged for each street rod registration plate issued 6 or replaced. The biennial fee shall be twice the annual fee. 7 § 1933. Commercial implements of husbandry. 8 The annual fee for registration of a commercial implement of 9 husbandry shall be $76.50 or one-half of the regular fee, 10 whichever is greater. The biennial fee shall be twice the annual 11 fee. 12 Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days. I17L75JKL/20070H2071B2907 - 13 -