Montana Code 61-3-474. Responsibility for design of generic specialty license plates — numbering — approval — registration decal — listing of plate sponsors
61-3-474. Responsibility for design of generic specialty license plates — numbering — approval — registration decal — listing of plate sponsors. (1) The department shall:
Terms Used In Montana Code 61-3-474
- Department: means the department of justice acting directly or through its duly authorized officers or agents. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Motor vehicle: means :
(i)a vehicle propelled by its own power and designed or used to transport persons or property on the highways of the state;
(ii)a quadricycle if it is equipped for use on the highways as prescribed in chapter 9; or
(iii)a golf cart only if it is equipped for use on the highways as prescribed in chapter 9 and is operated pursuant to 61-8-391 or by a person with a low-speed restricted driver's license. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- person: means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, state agency, local government unit, another state government, the United States, a political subdivision of this or another state, or any other legal or commercial entity. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Registration decal: means an adhesive sticker produced by the department and issued by the department, its authorized agent, or a county treasurer to the owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, motorboat, sailboat, personal watercraft, or snowmobile as proof of payment of all fees imposed for the registration period indicated on the sticker as recorded by the department under 61-3-101. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Revocation: means the termination by action of the department of a person's driver's license, privilege to drive a motor vehicle on the public highways, and privilege to apply for and be issued a driver's license for a period of time designated by law, during which the license or privilege may not be renewed, restored, or exercised. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Vehicle: means a device in, on, or by which any person or property may be transported or drawn on a public highway, except devices moved by animal power or used exclusively on stationary rails or tracks. See Montana Code 61-1-101
(a)design the background and general format of generic specialty license plates, including ensuring the readability of a generic specialty license plate design;
(b)in consultation with the department of corrections, determine which license plate processing system is the most efficient and versatile manufacturing method for the production of generic specialty license plates; and
(c)use a numbering system for generic specialty license plates that is distinctive from the numbering system required under 61-3-332 or used for collegiate license plates.
(2)All sponsor names, identifying phrases, and graphics intended for use on generic specialty license plates must be approved by the department prior to the manufacture of the plates.
(3)Upon the issuance of generic specialty license plates, a registration decal must be affixed to the license plates as provided in 61-3-332.
(4)The department shall maintain a list of the sponsors that have been approved to promote the sale and issuance of generic specialty license plates, the initial distribution date for sale of each sponsored generic specialty license plate, and the donation fee established by the sponsor for each sponsored generic specialty license plate. The department shall, upon request, make copies of this list available to interested members of the public.
(5)The department shall revoke its previous approval of a sponsor’s generic specialty license plate sponsorship if:
(a)the sponsor fails to comply with the provisions of 61-3-472 through 61-3-481;
(b)within 3 years of the date of the initial distribution of the sponsored generic specialty license plate, fewer than 400 sets of a sponsor’s generic specialty license plate have been sold or renewed;
(c)any time after 3 years following the date of the initial distribution of the sponsored generic specialty license plate, there are fewer than 400 sets of the sponsored generic specialty license plate with a current registration; or
(d)the department has reliable information that the sponsor is no longer qualified for sponsorship under 61-3-472 through 61-3-481.
(6)(a) Upon revocation of a sponsor’s generic specialty license plate sponsorship status, the issuance and sale of the sponsor’s generic specialty license plates must be terminated.
(b)A person who owns a motor vehicle displaying valid generic specialty license plates affiliated with a sponsor whose sponsorship status has been revoked may continue to display those generic specialty license plates on the person’s motor vehicle until the motor vehicle’s registration is renewed.
(c)Following revocation of a sponsor’s sponsorship status, the department may not issue replacements or duplicates of generic specialty license plates affiliated with that sponsor.