By: Watson S.B. No. 1759
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the permanent registration of fleet vehicles.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 502, Transportation Code
is amended by adding Section 502.0023 to read as follows:
Sec. 502.0023. PERMANENT REGISTRATION OF FLEET VEHICLES.
(a) As used in this section, the term "fleet" means nonapportioned
motor vehicles owned or leased by a company and used for business
purposes.
(b) Fleets shall consist of at least 50 motor vehicles to
qualify for the program created in this section.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter,
the registered owner of a fleet of vehicles consisting of
commercial motor vehicles base plated in the state, or passenger
automobiles, may, upon payment of appropriate fees, apply to the
department for license plates, permanent decals, and registration
cards.
(d) The owner or lessee of a fleet of motor vehicles shall,
upon application in the manner and at the time prescribed, be issued
permanent fleet license plates and a registration card.
(e) The plates, which shall be of a distinctive color, shall
have the word "Fleet" and/or at the registered owner's choice the
company name and/or logo appearing at the bottom and the word
"Texas" appearing at the top. The plate shall conform in all
respects to the provisions of this chapter, except as specified
herein.
(f) In addition to the license tax otherwise prescribed in
this Chapter, an annual fleet management fee of $10 per vehicle in
the fleet shall be charged. A one-time license plate manufacturing
fee of $1.50 shall be charged for plates issued for the established
number of vehicles in the fleet. Payment of all registration
license taxes and fees shall be paid in advance for a period of no
less than three years and no greater than ten years. Upon payment
of all registration license taxes and fees, no annual validation
window sticker is required for the entire period paid for in
advance. Only a registration card will be issued for the period
elected.
(g) Failure to comply with this section may result in
suspension or termination from the fleet program.
(h) The department may adopt rules to comply with this
section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2010.