Bill Text: MS SB2900 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Motor vehicle titles; revise certain provisions regarding.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2024-03-05 - Died In Committee [SB2900 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2024-SB2900-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Finance
By: Senator(s) DeLano
Senate Bill 2900
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-21-39, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSFERRING A MOTOR VEHICLE TO BE SCRAPPED, DISMANTLED OR DESTROYED WHEN THE OWNER OR AUTHORIZED AGENT OF THE OWNER DOES NOT HAVE THE MOTOR VEHICLE TITLED IN HIS OR HER NAME; TO AMEND SECTION 63-21-16, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF LIENS; TO AMEND SECTION 63-21-18, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE SCRAPPERS AND DISMANTLERS WITH ACCESS TO THE MISSISSIPPI AUTOMATED REGISTRATION VEHICLE INFORMATION NETWORK (MARVIN) WITH PAYMENT OF A $100.00 FEE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, WHICH SHALL BE RENEWED ANNUALLY; TO AMEND SECTION 63-21-65, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO SPECIFY THE FUND CREATED WITHIN THE STATE TREASURY FOR FUNDS USED FOR ENFORCEMENT AND PERSONNEL AS THE "MOTOR TITLES REGISTRATION ENFORCEMENT FUND"; TO AMEND SECTION 63-21-75, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE AN ENFORCEMENT DIVISION WITHIN THE MOTOR VEHICLE SERVICES BUREAU WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 63-21-39, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
63-21-39. (1) (a) An owner
who scraps, dismantles or destroys a vehicle and a person who purchases a vehicle
as scrap or to be dismantled or destroyed shall indicate same on the back of the
certificate of title and shall immediately cause the certificate of title and any
other documents required by the department * * * to be mailed or delivered to the department * * * for cancellation. A certificate of
title of the vehicle shall not again be issued except upon application containing
the information the department * * * requires, accompanied by a certificate
of inspection in the form and content specified in Section 63-21-15(5) and proof
of payment of a fee as provided in subsection (2) of this section. Before an
individual or entity acquires a vehicle from the purported owner or agent of
the owner of the vehicle being sold for purpose of scrapping, dismantling or destroying
the vehicle, the acquiring individual or entity shall perform a preliminary
background check on the vehicle to determine the validity of the vehicle's
title and registration and that any lien for said vehicle is unencumbered. The
initial title, registration and lien background check shall be performed by the
individual or entity acquiring it using the Mississippi Automated Registration
Vehicle Information Network (MARVIN) software. However, if the scrapping or
dismantling entity is not equipped with access to MARVIN, the acquiring entity shall
adhere to the attestation of owner and vehicle information required under paragraph
(b) of this subsection.
(b) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, if the owner or authorized
agent of the owner has not obtained a title in his or her name for the vehicle to
be transferred, has lost the title for the vehicle to be transferred, or has returned
the title to the department * * * in accordance with paragraph (a) of
this subsection, he or she may sign a statement swearing that, in addition to the
foregoing conditions, the vehicle is at least * * * thirteen (13) model years old and
has not been registered for at least the previous three (3) years. The statement
described in this paragraph may be used only to transfer such a vehicle to a licensed
used motor vehicle parts dealer or scrap metal processor. The department shall
promulgate a form for the statement which shall include, but not be limited to:
(i) A statement that the vehicle shall never be titled again; it must be dismantled or scrapped;
(ii) A description of the vehicle including the year, make, model and vehicle identification number;
(iii) The name, address, and driver's license number, nondriver identification card number or tribal identification card number of the owner;
(iv) A certification that the owner:
1. Never obtained a title to the vehicle in his or her name; or
2. Was issued a title for the vehicle, but the title was lost or stolen;
(v) A certification that the vehicle:
1.
Is at least * * *
thirteen (13) model years old and has not been registered for at least
the previous three (3) years; and
2. Is not subject to any security interest or lien;
(vi) An acknowledgment that the owner and buyer of the vehicle realizes this form will be filed with the department and that:
1.
It is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars
($1,000.00) or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both,
for conviction of a first offense of knowingly falsifying any information on this
statement; * * *
2. It is a felony, punishable by a fine of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or imprisonment for not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years, or both, for conviction of a second or subsequent offense of knowingly falsifying any information on this statement; and
3. The department, acting through the Motor Vehicle Services Bureau, shall enforce violations of this subsection by fines and penalties imposed and collected by the department, which shall be deposited into a special fund that is created in the State Treasury under Section 63-21-65.
(vii) The owner's signature and the date of the transaction;
(viii) The name and address of the business acquiring the vehicle;
(ix) The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System identification number; and
(x) The business agent's signature and date along with a printed name and title if the agent is signing on behalf of a corporation.
(c) Until
such time as the department makes available an internet-based system, the used motor
vehicle parts dealer or scrap metal processor shall mail or otherwise deliver the
statement required under paragraph (b) of this subsection (1) to the department * * * within three (3) business days of the
completion of the transaction, requesting that the department cancel the Mississippi
certificate of title and registration. Once the department
develops an Internet-based system, the used motor vehicle parts dealer or scrap
metal processor shall utilize such system and within two (2) business days electronically
submit the information contained in the statement using that system.
(d) Within two (2) business days of each day's close of business, the used motor vehicle parts dealer or scrap metal processor who purchases or receives motor vehicles for scrap or for parts shall deliver in a format approved by the department, by electronic means once developed and made available by the department, a list of all such vehicles purchased that day for scrap or for parts. That list shall contain the following information:
(i) The name, address and contact information for the reporting entity;
(ii) The vehicle identification numbers of such vehicles;
(iii) The dates such vehicles were obtained;
(iv) The names of the individuals or entities from whom the vehicles were obtained, for use by law enforcement personnel and appropriate governmental agencies only;
(v) A statement of whether the vehicles were, or will be, crushed or disposed of, or offered for sale or other purposes;
(vi) A statement of whether the vehicle is intended for export out of the United States; and
(vii) The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System identification number of the business acquiring the vehicle.
(e) (i) For purposes of this subsection, the term "motor vehicle" shall not include a vehicle which has been crushed or flattened by mechanical means such that it is no longer the motor vehicle as described by the certificate of title, or such that the vehicle identification number is no longer visible or accessible.
(ii) In cases in which crushed or flattened vehicles are purchased or received, the purchasing or receiving used motor vehicle parts dealer or scrap metal processor shall verify that the seller has reported the vehicles in accordance with this subsection. Such verification may be in the form of a certification from the seller or a contract between the seller and the purchasing or receiving used motor vehicle parts dealer or scrap metal processor attesting to the seller's compliance with the reporting requirements of this subsection. Such verification must clearly identify the seller by a government issued photograph identification card or employer identification number, and the verification and copy of the identification card or number shall be maintained by the purchasing or receiving used motor vehicle parts dealer or scrap metal processor for a period of not less than two (2) years.
(f) The information obtained by the department in accordance with paragraph (d) of this subsection (1) shall be reported to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, in a format that will satisfy the requirement for reporting this information, in accordance with rules adopted by the United States Department of Justice in 28 CFR 25.56.
(g) Until such time as the department develops and makes available the internet-based system described in paragraph (d) of this subsection, the used motor vehicle parts dealer or scrap metal processor who purchases or receives motor vehicles for scrap or for parts shall deliver the information required by paragraph (d) to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System through any data consolidator approved by such system, within forty-eight (48) hours of the day the vehicle was purchased or acquired by such used motor vehicle parts dealer or scrap metal processor which shall satisfy the requirements of paragraph (d).
(h) The information obtained by the department in accordance with paragraph (d) of this subsection (1) shall be made available only to law enforcement agencies and for purposes of canceling certificates of title. The information shall otherwise be considered to be confidential business information of the respective reporting entities.
(i) All records required under the provisions of this subsection shall be maintained for a period of two (2) years by the reporting entity and shall include a scanned or photocopied copy of the seller's or seller's representative's driver's license or state-issued identification card or other valid form of identification.
(j) A person who knowingly and willfully violates this subsection (1), or any person who knowingly and willfully falsifies or assists another person in falsifying the statement or information required under paragraph (b) or (d) of this subsection, or any person who knowingly and willfully sells a vehicle upon which there is an unsatisfied lien or security interest, or who purchases a vehicle without complying with either paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection and who knowingly and willfully destroys or dismantles a vehicle upon which he knows that there is an unsatisfied lien or security interest shall:
(i) Be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both, for conviction of a first offense; or
(ii) Upon conviction of a second or subsequent offense, a felony, punishable by imprisonment for not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years or a fine of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both.
In addition, the court may order each person convicted to pay restitution to any party suffering monetary loss in the amount of such loss. No part of any sentence imposed by the court shall be suspended unless such restitution has been paid in full.
(k) A person who knowingly
and willfully fails to deliver the title as required under paragraph (a) of this
subsection, or the statement required under paragraph (b) of this
subsection to the department * * * within seventy-two (72) hours of the
completion of the transaction, or who, until such time as the department
develops and makes available the Internet-based system described in paragraph (d),
fails to deliver the information required by paragraph (d) to the National Motor
Vehicle Title Information System through any data consolidator approved by such
system, within two (2) business days of the day the vehicle was purchased or acquired
by such used motor vehicle parts dealer or scrap metal processor shall be in violation
of this section, and subject to a civil penalty of up to One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00)
per violation. Actions to impose this penalty may be brought by any local or state
law enforcement agency, district attorney, or by the Attorney General, in any court
of competent jurisdiction. One-half (1/2) of the monies generated from such civil
penalties shall be deposited in a special fund created in the State Treasury for
use by the department's * * * Title Bureau,
and one-half (1/2) of the monies generated from such civil penalties shall be deposited
in the general fund of the municipality if the suit was brought in a municipal court,
or in the general fund of the county if the suit was brought in the court of a county.
(2) For the purpose of requesting
a branded title on a vehicle with a salvage certificate of title, every owner of
a vehicle that has been issued a salvage certificate of title in this state or any
other state which has been restored in this state to its operating condition which
existed prior to the event which caused the salvage certificate of title to be issued
shall make application to the department * * *, accompanied by a certificate
of inspection issued by the Department of Public Safety in the form and content
specified in Section 63-21-15(5) and the payment of a fee of Seventy-five Dollars
($75.00) for each motor vehicle for which a certificate of inspection is issued.
In addition, the Department of Public Safety may charge such a person a fee in the
amount of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) for performing any vehicle identification
number verification required by federal law or regulation for the vehicle for which
the person is applying for a title. All such monies shall be collected by the Department
of Public Safety and paid to the State Treasurer for deposit in a special fund that
is hereby created in the State Treasury to be known as the "Salvage Certificate
of Title Fund." Monies in the special fund may be expended by the Department
of Public Safety, upon appropriation by the Legislature. The department * * * shall establish
by regulation the minimum requirements by which a vehicle which has been issued
a salvage certificate of title may be issued a branded title.
(3) Before a branded title may
be issued for a vehicle for which a salvage certificate of title has been issued,
the applicant shall submit, by hand delivery or mail, such documents and information
to the Department of Public Safety as the department may require for the purpose
of determining if the vehicle complies with the requirements of this section and
all applicable regulations promulgated by the Commissioner of Public Safety and
the department * * *. The Department of Public Safety
also may require that an applicant bring a vehicle for which application for a branded
title is being made to a Highway Patrol facility for a visual inspection whenever
the department deems that a visual inspection is necessary or advisable. Nothing
in this section shall be construed to prohibit inspectors of the Mississippi Highway
Patrol from conducting on-site inspections and investigations of motor vehicle rebuilders
or motor vehicle repair businesses to determine if such businesses are in compliance
with all applicable laws relating to the motor vehicle title laws of this state
and regulations promulgated by the Commissioner of Public Safety and the department * * *.
(4) The percentage of fines and penalties imposed and collected under the authority of subsection (1)(k) by the department for violations of this section shall be deposited into a special fund that is created in the State Treasury under Section 63-21-65.
SECTION 2. Section 63-21-16, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
63-21-16. (1) All designated
agents appointed by the department * * * under Section
63-21-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, may electronically transmit to the department * * * information entered by them on applications
for a certificate of title given in connection with the sale or transfer of a motor
vehicle, manufactured home or mobile home or a loan for which the owner's motor
vehicle, manufactured home or mobile home is pledged to that institution as collateral
for the loan. The format and the data required to be transmitted shall be established
by the department * * *. Transmission of data shall
meet minimum criteria and edits established by the department * * * equal to
any edit presently existing in the statewide title registration system, or as may
be established, to which the county tax collectors shall also conform. All data
transmitted must successfully pass edits established by the department * * *, including lienholder name, mailing
address and lienholder account number assigned to a lienholder by the department * * * to identify the lienholder, for the
purpose of causing the data to appear in the certificate of title for which the
application is made.
(2) It shall be the responsibility of the designated agent to verify all data before it is electronically transmitted. It shall also be the responsibility of the designated agent to ensure that the required certification of designated agent and the certification of statement of facts that are contained on the application for certificate of title appear above the signatures of both the owner and the authorized representative of the designated agent. Data which cannot be transmitted because of error shall be corrected by the designated agent when the statewide title registration system indicates that the data is erroneous or is not valid for the purposes of titling the motor vehicle, manufactured home or mobile home or for transfer of the data.
(3) When an institution has agreed to loan money for the purchase of a motor vehicle, manufactured home or mobile home, the institution shall complete an application for certificate of title or require the borrower to provide to the institution the copy of the application for certificate of title contained in the application packet which is designated "Lienholder's Copy" according to provisions of the Motor Vehicle and Manufactured Housing Title Law, which the owner will receive from the county tax collector or any designated agent upon completion of the application for title and registration process.
(4) An application for certificate of title originating from a designated agent shall be entered on the statewide title registration system by the originating lending institution when the transaction is for the purpose of perfecting the institution's interest in a vehicle, manufactured home or mobile home currently owned or purchased by the applicant, in connection with application for certificate of title or the purchase of a license tag or both.
(5) When an institution in this state adds a second lien on a certificate of title in possession of a first lienholder institution in this state, the second lienholder institution seeking to be shown on the certificate of title shall:
(a) Prepare the application for certificate of title in accordance with the requirements of Sections 63-21-15 and 63-21-45(1)(c);
(b) Obtain all required signatures; and
(c) Forward the completed
application for certificate of title to the first lienholder together with any necessary
remittance advice, a check for the title fee payable to the department * * * and a cover
letter to the first lienholder requesting that the first lienholder attach the certificate
of title to the required documents sent by the second lienholder and then forward
the application, certificate of title and required documents to the department * * *.
(6) Upon receipt of the application
for certificate of title from the second lienholder institution to record the second
lien, the first lienholder institution shall compare the data contained in the application
for certificate of title to the information contained in the original certificate
of title. If the first lienholder institution is satisfied as to the ownership,
accuracy and order of priority of liens as shown in the application, it shall enter
the data contained on the application for certificate of title prepared by the second
lienholder on the statewide title registration system, including the designated
agent number of the second lienholder. After entering the data from the application
for certificate of title, the first lienholder institution shall immediately forward
the application for certificate of title with the certificate of title attached
to the application, the remittance advice and the second lienholder's check for
the title fee to the department * * * within three
(3) working days.
(7) In an assignment of lien
pursuant to Section 63-21-47, the assignee shall receive the notice of assignment
along with the current title attached and with the assignor's interest open.
The assignee lienholder shall prepare an application for certificate of title according
to the notice of assignment, showing the assignee institution as the lienholder,
and then shall electronically transmit the data to the department * * *. The completed application shall
be forwarded to the department * * * within three
(3) working days.
(8) The department * * *, upon receipt of applications
for certificate of title, shall verify the data by accessing it on the statewide
title registration system by the title application control number appearing on the
application for title. After receiving verification that is satisfactory to the
department * * * of Revenue that the data necessary
for the issuance of a new certificate of title exists, the department * * * shall issue
a new certificate of title that records the interests of all the parties named in
the application for certificate of title.
(9) Designated agents shall
be connected to the statewide title registration system for the purpose of electronic
transfer of applications for certificate of title data in the order of priority
established by the department * * *.
(10) If a participating designated
agent fails to comply with the provisions of this section or the rules adopted by
the department * * * to implement
this section, the department * * * may impose
a penalty of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) for each instance of noncompliance. Any
penalty imposed under this section not paid within thirty (30) days after a notice
is given shall be subject to collection from the bond of the designated agent that
is required to be provided under the provisions of Section 63-21-13(3). The penalty
provided shall also be assessable, due and collectible from any licensed motor vehicle
dealer or manufactured home or mobile home dealer for failure to accept an application
for certificate of title for each and every vehicle, manufactured home or mobile
home he sells to a consumer. These penalties shall be cumulative, supplemental
and in addition to the penalties provided by any other law.
(11) This section shall apply
to all designated agents appointed by the department * * * under Section
63-21-13, that choose to electronically transmit information on applications for
certificates of title to the department * * *. This section shall not apply
to other designated agents.
(12) Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the department * * * shall not
issue a certificate of title to a manufactured home or mobile home with respect
to which title has been retired to real property under Section 63-21-30 unless with
respect to the same manufactured home or mobile home title has been severed from
real property pursuant to Section 63-21-30.
(13) Notwithstanding any requirement
in this chapter that a lien on a motor vehicle or manufactured home shall be noted
on the face of the certificate of title, if there are one or more liens or encumbrances
on the motor vehicle or manufactured home, the department * * *may shall electronically transmit the lien to the first
lienholder and notify the first lienholder of any additional liens. Subsequent
lien satisfactions * * *
must be electronically transmitted to the department * * * and shall
include the name and address of the person satisfying the lien. When electronic
transmission of liens and lien satisfactions is used, a certificate of title need
not be issued until the last lien is satisfied and a clear certificate of title
is issued to the owner of the motor vehicle or manufactured home. When a motor
vehicle is subject to an electronic lien, the certificate of title for the motor
vehicle shall be considered to be physically held by the lienholder for purposes
of compliance with state or federal odometer disclosure requirements. A duly certified
copy of the department's * * * electronic record of the lien shall
be admissible in any civil, criminal * * * or administrative proceeding in this state as
evidence of the existence of the lien.
SECTION 3. Section 63-21-18, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
63-21-18. (1) (a) The * * * Department of Information
Technology Services shall provide equipment for the operation and maintenance
of the automated statewide motor vehicle, manufactured housing and mobile home
registration system by the * * * department.
(b) The
automated statewide motor vehicle, manufactured housing and mobile home registration
system shall provide for computer terminals and printers, as authorized by the * * * Department of Information Technology
Services, to be located in the quantity necessary in each county seat tax
collector's office and any other office in which more than fifty percent (50%)
of the motor vehicle registrations in the county are made.
(2) All county tax
collectors shall participate in such system as it applies to Chapter 19, Title
27; Chapter 51, Title 27; Chapter 21, Title 63; Mississippi Code of 1972, in
accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the * * * department. Such rules
and regulations shall provide that counties which have an existing computer
system designed to produce registration data may elect to use such existing
system to communicate title/registration data to the * * * department through the
computer furnished by the state as hereinabove provided in this section. If
the * * * department finds and determines that a county has
failed to successfully establish or update title/registration data into the
statewide vehicle, manufactured housing and mobile home title/registration
system, either through use of equipment supplied by the * * * department or
through the interfacing between the network system and county computer
equipment, the * * * department shall thereafter cause to be
withheld the county's homestead exemption reimbursement monies, except for
school districts and municipalities, until such time as the county has complied
with this provision. Such monies as are withheld from a county for failure to
comply with this provision shall be placed into a special escrow account to be
established in the State Treasury. Once the county achieves compliance by
successfully establishing or updating title/registration data into the
statewide vehicle, manufactured housing and mobile home title/registration system,
then the * * *
department shall cause to be released to the county all funds held in
escrow on the county's behalf during the period of noncompliance. All interest
earned shall accrue to the benefit of the county on any funds placed in an
escrow account. Any cost involved in interfacing between existing county
computer systems and the state-provided computer shall be paid by the county.
(3) The computer
terminals and printers placed in each county tax collector's office may be
utilized to provide additional computer functions as authorized by the * * * Department of Information Technology
Services.
(4) The State Fiscal
Officer shall issue his warrants to the State Treasurer for the expenditures for
the implementation and maintenance of the system upon requisitions signed by
the Chairman of the * * * department, as authorized by the
Legislature.
(5) (a) It is the
intent of the Legislature that the operation of the statewide motor vehicle,
manufactured housing and mobile home title registration system shall be the
responsibility of the * * * department.
(b) The * * * department shall provide
for the transfer of motor vehicle, manufactured housing and mobile home title
and lien registration information to the * * * department by electronic means
from banks and other lending institutions as provided in Section 63-21-18. The * * * Department of Information
Technology Services shall cooperate with the * * * department in
implementing the provisions of Section 63-21-18, and shall provide the * * * department with
whatever assistance the * * * commission department needs to carry out the
provisions of Section 63-21-18.
(6) Any entity engaged in the business of scrapping, dismantling or destroying vehicles, and governed under the authority of Section 63-21-39 shall, upon the payment of a fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) to the department, be provided remote or online access to the Mississippi Automated Registration Vehicle Information Network (MARVIN) to investigate the validity of the titles, registrations and unencumbered liens on vehicles purchased for scrapping or dismantling, to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter. Continued access to the MARVIN program software shall be renewed on an annual basis by the entity engaged in the scrapping business.
SECTION 4. Section 63-21-65, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
63-21-65. The department * * * shall deposit the fees collected under this chapter
into a special fund that is created in the State Treasury to be known as the
"Motor Title and Registration Enforcement Fund" to the credit of
the department. The fund shall consist of monies appropriated by the
Legislature for the enforcement of this chapter and funds from fees and fines
authorized under Sections 63-21-18 and 63-21-39. As much of those fees as
appropriated by the Legislature shall only be used by the department to
defray the cost of carrying out the duties of the department and the Motor
Vehicle Services Bureau and to defray expenses for enforcement officers' salaries
and fringe benefits and other costs to implement and enforce the provisions of
this chapter, including the maintenance of the automated statewide motor
vehicle and manufactured housing registration system. Unexpended amounts
remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the
State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts
in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.
SECTION 5. Section 63-21-75, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
63-21-75. (1) (a) The
department * * * of Revenue is charged with the enforcement of the
provisions of this chapter and * * * is * * *
authorized and empowered to:
(i) Create an enforcement division within the Motor Vehicle Services Bureau, which shall employ the necessary employees and sworn law enforcement officers to administer the enforcement of the laws prescribed under this chapter; and
(ii) Call upon
any and all law enforcement agencies and officers of this state for * * * any assistance as it may deem
necessary in order to assure such enforcement.
(b) It shall be
the duty of * * *
the enforcement officers of the bureau, law enforcement agencies and officers
to render * * * assistance to the department * * * when called upon by the * * * Motor Vehicle Services Bureau
to so do.
(2) The Associate Commissioner for Income and Property Tax may investigate, for the purpose of prosecution, any suspected criminal violation of the provisions of this chapter. For the purpose of the administration and enforcement of this chapter, the associate commissioner, director of the Motor Vehicle Services Bureau and enforcement employees have the powers of a peace officer of this state.
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.
