§40-12-258. Reregistration of certain stored motor vehicles; placement of license tags.

(a) Except for vehicles provided for in subsections (b) and (c), an individual reregistering a motor vehicle that has been stored in this state and not used or operated on the public highways of this state shall pay the annual license taxes and registration fees on the vehicle. The license taxes and registration fees associated with the reregistering of motor vehicles shall not be prorated.

(b) The owners of motor vehicles commonly known as self-propelled campers or house cars, when stored in this state and not used or operated on the public highways of this state, upon reregistering, shall pay license taxes and registration fees on a monthly prorated basis.

(c) The owners of farm trucks and farm truck tractors and vintage vehicles, without regard to subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of Section 40-12-290, when stored in this state and not used or operated on the public highways of this state, upon reregistering, shall pay license taxes and registration fees on a monthly prorated basis.

(d) The payment of the registration fee or license tax on motor vehicles shall be evidenced by the delivery of a license plate, which shall be placed in such position as to be lighted by the license plate lamp in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection (g) Section 32-5-242 in an upright position, right side up, on the rear of the automobile; when a semitrailer truck is operated, the plate shall be placed on the rear of the semitrailer. It shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than ten dollars ($10) and not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25) for each offense, to display the plate in any other place or in any other manner than as herein provided. The Department of Revenue shall provide plates for all motor vehicles and shall also provide receipts in triplicate, one of which shall be retained by the judge of probate, one shall be delivered to the person paying the license fee, and one legible copy shall be mailed by the judge of probate to the Department of Revenue on the day the license was issued. Every part of each receipt shall bear the same number as the plate delivered to the licensee. These receipts shall be prepared in the form to be determined by the Department of Revenue and delivered to the judges of probate of the several counties of the state under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Department of Revenue; and the Department of Revenue shall have power to prescribe rules and regulations concerning the application for and delivery to the licensee of the plate and receipt required by this article.

(e) The automobile licensee shall be required to state in his or her application the proposed use of the automobile, whether for private use or for commercial purposes.

(f) The plates furnished for commercial vehicles, except those used or rented by a U-Drive-It or similar system, shall be of a different design from those used for private or pleasure cars. In applying for license for buses, taxicabs, or U-Drive-Its or like motor vehicles, the application shall give the seating capacity and the weight of the vehicle.

(Acts 1935, No. 194, p. 256; Code 1940, T. 51, §705; Acts 1949, No. 44, p. 66; Acts 1951, No. 207, p. 469; Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 143, p. 2085, §§2, 3; Acts 1997, No. 97-177, p. 267, §1; Act 2004-292, p. 414, §1.)