SF 2140 (LSB 5464XS (2) 90)

SENATE FILE 2140

BY  SCHULTZ

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the display of a validation sticker on a vehicle registration plate.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.34, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  In lieu of issuing new registration plates each registration year for a vehicle renewing registration, the department may reassign the registration plates previously issued to the vehicle and may adopt and prescribe an annual validation sticker indicating payment of annual registration fees. The department shall issue one validation sticker for each set of registration plates. The sticker shall must specify the month and year of expiration of the registration plates. The sticker shall be displayed only on the rear registration plate, except that the sticker shall be displayed on the front registration plate of a truck tractor.  A validation sticker issued for the upcoming registration year prior to the expiration of the applicable current registration year does not invalidate the registration, and is not required to be displayed on the registered vehicle’s registration plate until the owner would be considered to be driving a motor vehicle with an expired registration under section 321.39.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Under current law, the department of transportation is authorized to issue validation stickers in lieu of new registration plates each registration year. The validation sticker indicates a vehicle is properly registered for the registration year described on the sticker when it is displayed on the vehicle’s registration plate. A person is authorized to apply to renew the registration of a vehicle one month prior to the expiration of the current registration year, and must apply for renewal no later than the last day of the month following the month of registration to avoid a penalty. Pursuant to Code section 321.39, a person is not considered to be driving a motor vehicle with an expired registration for a period of one month following the expiration date of the vehicle registration, which is indicated on a validation sticker.
   Code section 321.34(1) requires, as part of a transfer, the owner of a vehicle to immediately affix registration plates retained by the owner to another vehicle owned or acquired by the owner, provided the owner complies with provisions regulating the process required for new title and registration upon transfer of ownership of a vehicle.
   This bill clarifies that a validation sticker issued for the upcoming registration year to a vehicle owner prior to the expiration of the applicable current registration year does not invalidate the registration, and is not required to be displayed on the registered vehicle’s plate until the owner would be considered to be driving a motor vehicle with an expired registration under Code section 321.39.