§45-16-200.01. Renewal of licenses by mail; Mail Order Fee.

(a) The term "licensing officer," as used in this section, shall mean the judge of probate, commissioner of licenses, or other officer charged with the duty of issuing motor vehicle licenses, boat licenses, and business licenses in Coffee County.

(b)(1) The licensing officer may if he or she elects to do so, mail an application for renewal of motor vehicle licenses to whom such license has been previously issued. Such renewal forms may be in postcard form and with sufficient information thereon to adequately identify and process such renewal. The signature of the licensee thereon and proper remittance shall constitute sufficient authority for the licensing officer to issue such license and return to the licensee by mail. The owner of the motor vehicle, if he or she is still the owner of the motor vehicle and if he or she desires to pay his or her motor vehicle ad valorem taxes and license tax and secure this motor vehicle registration tag by mail, shall sign the application form, indicating thereon any change of address, and return the same by mail together with his or her remittance for ad valorem taxes, license taxes, and fees as shown thereon to the licensing officer.

(2) With regard to boat licenses and business licenses, and renewals thereof, the licensing officer may mail applications for renewal of licenses to whom such license has been previously issued. Such renewal forms shall contain sufficient information thereon to adequately identify and process such renewal. The boat owner or business licensee, if he or she is still the owner or is subject to business licensing and if he or she desires to pay by mail shall indicate thereon any change of address, sign the application form, and return the same by mail together with his or her remittance for fees as shown thereon to the licensing officer.

(c)(1) All applications for renewal for motor vehicle tags, boat licenses, and business licenses by mail and the correct amount of taxes and fees shall be received by the licensing officer on or before the 20th day of the month for which motor vehicle license tag, boat license, or business license renewal is due and payable, and the licensing officer shall mail such renewal on or before the last day of the month. Money orders and checks for the payment of such taxes and fees shall be made payable to the licensing officer.

(2) The signature of the licensee thereon and proper remittance shall constitute sufficient authority for the licensing officer to issue the license and return to the licensee by mail. When an application is returned to the licensing officer unsigned or when less than the correct amount of the taxes and fees due therefore have been paid, due to a change of address or other causes, such application shall be returned to the owner for correction or for signature. A return of such application or remittance shall not, however, extend the time with which the license fees are due, or taxes may be paid, or a tag secured. If more than the correct amount of taxes and fees is received, the licensing officer shall retain the correct amount of taxes and fees and return the excess.

(d) There is hereby established a fee to be entitled "Mail Order Fee" which shall be set from time to time by the county commission to pay the cost of the mailing procedure herein provided, and such fee shall be collected by the licensing officer at the time of issuance and paid over to the general fund of the county as are other fees and commissions.

(Act 90-306, p. 420, §§1-4.)