AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Token trailers—any trailer over 6,000 pounds pulled by a truck or cab that has apportioned or combination truck registration—may be registered in Texas, but travel well beyond the state's borders.

 

The current system of registration requires license plate updating and the placement of paperwork on or in the trailer, which is a burden for the trailer owner, whose units may be in any number of locations outside the state, including traveling cross-country on a rail car or in Canada or Mexico.

 

H.B. 511 creates a nonexpiring license plate and eliminates the requirements to show the expiration date on the license plate and to carry a paper registration receipt on the trailer.

 

Trailer owners will now be able to renew trailer registration without requiring physical access or alteration to the trailer, and law enforcement can continue to verify registration through online systems.

 

H.B. 511 amends current law relating to the registration of token trailers.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles in SECTION 3 of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 502.0023, Transportation Code, by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-1), as follows:

 

(d) Provides that a license plate under this section:

 

(1) Makes no change to this subdivision;

 

(2) except as provided by Subsection (d-1), is required to include the expiration date of the registration period; and

 

(3) Makes no change to this subdivision.

 

(d-1) Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue a license plate for a token trailer registered under this section that does not expire.  Authorizes the alphanumeric pattern for a license plate issued under this subsection to remain on a token trailer for as long as the registration of the token trailer is renewed or until the token trailer is removed from service or sold.  Provides that the registration receipt required under Section 621.002 (Vehicle Registration Receipt for Certain Heavy Vehicles) is not required for a vehicle that displays a license plate issued under this subsection.

 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 502.255(i), Transportation Code, as follows:

 

(i)  Requires TxDMV to issue a license plate for a token trailer registered under this section that does not expire or require an annual registration insignia to be valid, rather than authorizing TxDMV to issue specially designed license plates for token trailers.  Authorizes the alphanumeric pattern for a license plate issued under this subsection to remain on a token trailer for as long as the registration of the token trailer is renewed or until the token trailer is removed from service or sold.  Provides that the registration receipt required under Section 621.002 is not required for a vehicle that displays a license plate issued under this subsection.

 

SECTION 3. Requires TxDMV to adopt rules for the administration of Sections 502.0023 and 502.255(i), Transportation Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as practicable after this Act takes effect.  Authorizes TxDMV to adopt the rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules for that purpose.

 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.