Bill Text: MI SB0878 | 2023-2024 | 102nd Legislature | Chaptered
Bill Title: Vehicles: registration plates; special plates for dealers; modify. Amends sec. 244 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.244).
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-07-30 - Assigned Pa 0116'24 With Immediate Effect [SB0878 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2023-SB0878-Chaptered.html
Act No. 116
Public Acts of 2024
Approved by the Governor
July 23, 2024
Filed with the Secretary of State
July 23, 2024
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 23, 2024
state of michigan
102nd Legislature
Regular session of 2024
Introduced by Senator Cherry
ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 878
AN ACT to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled “An act to provide for the registration, titling, sale, transfer, and regulation of certain vehicles operated upon the public highways of this state or any other place open to the general public or generally accessible to motor vehicles and distressed vehicles; to provide for the licensing of dealers; to provide for the examination, licensing, and control of operators and chauffeurs; to provide for the giving of proof of financial responsibility and security by owners and operators of vehicles; to provide for the imposition, levy, and collection of specific taxes on vehicles, and the levy and collection of sales and use taxes, license fees, and permit fees; to provide for the regulation and use of streets and highways; to create certain funds; to provide penalties and sanctions for a violation of this act; to provide for civil liability of manufacturers, the manufacturers of certain devices, the manufacturers of automated technology, upfitters, owners, and operators of vehicles and service of process on residents and nonresidents; to regulate the introduction and use of certain evidence; to regulate and certify the manufacturers of certain devices; to provide for approval and certification of installers and servicers of certain devices; to provide for the levy of certain assessments; to provide for the enforcement of this act; to provide for the creation of and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies; to impose liability upon the state or local agencies; to provide appropriations for certain purposes; to repeal all other acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act or contrary to this act; and to repeal certain parts of this act on a specific date,” by amending section 244 (MCL 257.244), as amended by 2013 PA 231.
The People of the State of Michigan enact:
Sec. 244. (1) A manufacturer owning a vehicle otherwise required to be registered under this act may operate or move the vehicle on a street or highway primarily for the purposes of transporting or testing or in connection with a golf tournament or a public civic event, if the vehicle displays, as prescribed under section 225, 1 special plate approved by the secretary of state.
(2) A producer of a vehicle subcomponent system essential to
the operation of the vehicle or the safety of an occupant may operate or move a
motor vehicle on a street or highway solely to transport or test the
subcomponent system if the motor vehicle displays, as prescribed under section
225, 1 special plate approved by the secretary of state. To be eligible for the
special plate, the subcomponent system producer must be either a recognized
subcomponent system producer or must be a subcomponent system producer under
contract with a vehicle manufacturer.
(3) Subject to section 665, a manufacturer of automated technology may operate or otherwise move a motor vehicle or an automated motor vehicle on a street or highway solely to transport or test automated technology if the motor vehicle or automated motor vehicle displays, as prescribed under section 225, a special plate approved by the secretary of state.
(4) A dealer owning a vehicle otherwise required to be registered under this act may operate or move the vehicle on a street or highway without registering the vehicle if the vehicle displays, as prescribed under section 225, 1 special plate issued to the owner by the secretary of state. As used in this subsection, “dealer” includes an employee, servant, or agent of the dealer.
(5) A vehicle that has been donated or loaned by a licensed new motor vehicle dealer for use in a golf tournament, charity event, or public civic event may be operated during preparation for and during the event with a temporary civic event license plate.
(6) Subject to all of the following requirements, the secretary of state may issue a temporary civic license plate on application by a licensed new motor vehicle dealer that donates or loans a vehicle under subsection (5) in a form and manner prescribed by the department before the event:
(a) The licensed new motor vehicle dealer must provide in the dealer’s application for a temporary civic license plate the name of the event for which the motor vehicle will be used, the date and duration of the event, the number of vehicles to be loaned or donated, the anticipated vehicle identification number or numbers, and any other information required by the department. The application must be accompanied by a $10.00 fee for each temporary civic event license plate for which the licensed new motor vehicle dealer has applied.
(b) Any motor vehicle bearing a temporary civic event license plate authorized under this subsection is restricted to providing services for events for which approval by the department is granted. The approved services may include parades, transportation of visitors or dignitaries to and from event activities, use by event personnel or event volunteers, and any other activity for which a vehicle may be required in furtherance of the approved event.
(c) The use of a temporary civic event license plate is limited to the time set forth in the approved application. When the temporary civic event license plate expires, the licensed new motor vehicle dealer shall remove and destroy the temporary plate.
(7) A transporter may operate or move a vehicle otherwise required to be registered under this act on a street or highway solely to deliver the vehicle if the vehicle displays, as prescribed under section 225, a special plate issued to the transporter under this chapter.
(8) A licensee shall not use a special plate described in this section on service cars or wreckers operated as an adjunct of a licensee’s business. A manufacturer, transporter, or dealer making or permitting any unauthorized use of a special plate under this chapter forfeits the right to use special plates and the secretary of state, after notice and a hearing, may suspend or cancel the right to use special plates and require that the special plates be surrendered to or repossessed by this state.
(9) A transporter shall furnish a sufficient surety bond or policy of insurance as protection for public liability and property damage as may be required by the secretary of state.
(10) The secretary of state shall determine the number of plates a manufacturer, dealer, or transporter reasonably needs in its business.
(11) If a vehicle that is required to be registered under this act is leased or sold, the vendee or lessee may operate the vehicle on a street or highway for not more than 72 hours after taking possession if the vehicle has a dealer plate attached as provided under this section. The application for registration must be made in the name of the vendee or lessee before the vehicle is used. The dealer and the vendee or lessee are jointly responsible for the return of the dealer plate to the dealer within 72 hours. The vendee or lessee that fails to return or the vendor or lessor that fails to use due diligence to procure the dealer plate is guilty of a misdemeanor, and the license of the dealer may be revoked. While using a dealer’s plate, a vendee or lessee shall have in the vendee’s or lessee’s possession proof that clearly indicates the date of sale or lease of the motor vehicle.
(12) A vehicle owned by a dealer and bearing the dealer’s plate may be driven on a street or highway for demonstration purposes by a prospective buyer or lessee for a period of 72 hours.
(13) The secretary of state may issue a registration plate
upon application and payment of the proper fee to an individual, partnership,
corporation, or association that in the ordinary course of business has
occasion to legally pick up or deliver a commercial motor vehicle being driven
to a facility to undergo aftermarket modification, or to repair or service a
vehicle, or to persons defined as watercraft dealers under part 801 of the
natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.80101
to 324.80199, or to the owner of a marina to deliver a vessel or trailer to a
purchaser, to transport a vessel between a body of water and a place of
storage, to transport a vessel or trailer to and from a boat show or
exposition, to repair, service, or store a vessel or trailer, or to return a
vessel or trailer to the customer after repair, service, or storage. A
registration plate issued under this subsection must be used to move the
vehicle or trailer.
This
act is ordered to take immediate effect.
Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House of Representatives
Approved___________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Governor
