Motor Vehicles And Traffic Regulation - Digest of Bills

Digest of Bills - 2007

MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC REGULATION

S.B. 07-27 Registration - special license plates - United States Coast Guard - appropriation. Creates a United States Coast Guard special license plate for motor vehicles that do not exceed 16,000 pounds. Authorizes issuance of the plate to persons who pay the appropriate fees, plus a one-time fee of $25. Credits the one-time fee to the highway users' tax fund. Makes an appropriation of $804 from the license plate cash fund to the division of motor vehicles.

APPROVED by Governor April 30, 2007
EFFECTIVE August 3, 2007
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see page vi of this digest.

S.B. 07-62 Registration - motor carriers - enforcement - civil penalties. Directs the department of revenue to cancel the registration of a motor carrier who fails to pay civil penalties imposed for violating commercial vehicle standards. Exempts interstate carriers until July 1, 2009.

Prohibits the state from contracting with a motor carrier who has a registration canceled.

APPROVED by Governor May 14, 2007
EFFECTIVE May 14, 2007

S.B. 07-67 Registration - special license plates - "share the road" plates - appropriation. Creates the "share the road" special license plate for motor vehicles that do not exceed 16,000 pounds. Authorizes issuance of the plate to persons who pay the appropriate fees, plus a one-time fee of $25, and who have a certificate issued by Bicycle Colorado, Inc., confirming donation to a bicycle education and crash prevention fund. Requires that the fund be used for bicycle education and crash prevention. Requires Bicycle Colorado, Inc., to verify its nonprofit status annually. Credits the one-time fee to the highway users' tax fund.

Appropriates $16,080 to the department of revenue to be allocated to the division of motor vehicles for the implementation of the act.

APPROVED by Governor June 3, 2007
EFFECTIVE August 3, 2007
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see page vi of this digest.

S.B. 07-70 Recycling and receiving - theft prevention - appropriation. Authorizes a motor vehicle recycler to receive a vehicle when:

● The seller or transferor is the owner on the certificate of title, an operator, or a licensed motor vehicle dealer;

● The seller or transferor provides a completed bill of sale on a form prescribed by the department of revenue; or

● The receiver or purchaser checks whether the vehicle has been stolen and holds the vehicle for 7 days.

Creates the Colorado motor vehicle verification system, which is a database that the public may use, upon payment of a fee, to check whether a vehicle has been stolen. Requires a person who discovers a vehicle is stolen to report the incident to law enforcement and imposes misdemeanor criminal penalties for failing to report. Grants immunity for acts committed in reliance on the verification system.

Requires a person giving a motor vehicle to a dealer or garage to present an identification document. Requires the dealer or garage to keep a copy of the document in its daily record.

Appropriates $74,389 and 1.0 FTE to the department of public safety for implementation of the act.

APPROVED by Governor May 31, 2007
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2007

S.B. 07-77 Driver's licenses - education requirements. Replaces a requirement that driver's education courses include 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a requirement that a person who received their instruction permit for driver's education have such training or complete an additional 12 hours of additional driving time before being issued a driver's license. Requires a person who is under 15½ years of age to complete driver's education, but not behind-the-wheel training, prior to obtaining a permit.

APPROVED by Governor April 20, 2007
EFFECTIVE April 20, 2007

S.B. 07-154 Drunk driving - test to determine blood or breath alcohol content - extraordinary circumstances preventing completion. Requires a law enforcement officer who has requested a suspected drunk driver to take a test to determine blood or breath alcohol content to request and direct the driver to take a test other than what the driver has elected if the officer determines there are extraordinary circumstances that prevent the completion of the elected test within the required 2-hour time period. Specifies that the driver's decision to change the test election to comply with the officer's request shall not be deemed a refusal to submit to testing. Specifies that the failure to comply with the officer's request shall be deemed a refusal to submit to testing.

APPROVED by Governor May 22, 2007
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2007

S.B. 07-241 Driver's licenses - registration - fees - licensing services cash fund - appropriation. Increases the fees for the issuance of a driver's license, instruction permit, or identification card. Creates the licensing services cash fund for the deposit of such fees. Requires that the money in the fund be used for personal services and operating expenses of driver's license offices.

Adds a $25 fee for the issuance of most special license plates except certain military license plates exempt from such fees.

Appropriates $5,758,929 from the licensing services cash fund to the department of revenue for driver's license offices and related expenses, and decreases the general fund appropriation to the department of revenue in the annual general appropriation act by the same sum.

APPROVED by Governor May 31, 2007
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2007

H.B. 07-1020 Registration - temporary registrations - penalties for failure to register - appropriation. Increases to a class 1 misdemeanor the penalty for failing to register a motor vehicle 2 or more times in 5 years. Prohibits the issuance of more than 2 temporary registrations per year to a Class A or Class B motor vehicle unless the delay is caused by a title or lien problem as specified by rule promulgated by the department of revenue.

Appropriates $66,809 and 1.7 FTE to the department of revenue for allocation to the information technology division to implement the act.

APPROVED by Governor May 31, 2007
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2007

H.B. 07-1063 Insurance - disclosure - uninsured motorist database. Clarifies that the department of revenue shall disclose only motor vehicle insurance information under the uninsured motorist identification database.

APPROVED by Governor March 26, 2007
EFFECTIVE August 3, 2007
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see page vi of this digest.

H.B. 07-1097 Registration - collectors' item - original plates. Authorizes a motor vehicle that is registered as a collectors' item to use the original license plates if such plates are at least 30 years old.

APPROVED by Governor May 30, 2007
EFFECTIVE August 3, 2007
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see page vi of this digest.

H.B. 07-1105 Registration - special license plates - Korean war. Expands eligibility to be issued a veteran of the Korean war special license plate to include June 27, 1950, to January 31, 1955.

APPROVED by Governor April 9, 2007
EFFECTIVE August 3, 2007
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see page vi of this digest.

H.B. 07-1113 Titles and registration - personal identification number. Requires the owner of a class A or class B motor vehicle to submit a personal identification number when applying for a certificate of title. Repeals the requirements that a title applicant must submit the date the vehicle was sold at retail and the amount of debt upon the obligation secured by the vehicle when the title application is filed.

Requires the owner of a class B motor vehicle to submit a personal identification number when registering the vehicle.

APPROVED by Governor April 16, 2007
EFFECTIVE August 3, 2007
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see page vi of this digest.

H.B. 07-1117 Motorcycles - motorized bicycles - protective helmet requirement. Prohibits a person under 18 years of age from operating or carrying a passenger on a motorcycle or motorized bicycle unless the person and passenger are wearing a protective helmet that is designed according to certain specifications. Sets the penalty and surcharge for failing to wear a protective helmet at $100 and $15, respectively. Sets an additional $10 surcharge for each violation to be deposited in the Colorado traumatic brain injury trust fund.

APPROVED by Governor May 31, 2007
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2007

H.B. 07-1120 Registration - special license plates - Italian-American heritage - appropriation. Creates the Italian-American heritage special license plate for motor vehicles that do not exceed 16,000 pounds. Authorizes issuance of the plate to persons who pay the appropriate fees, plus a one-time fee of $25. Credits the one-time fee to the highway users' tax fund.

Appropriates $16,080 from the license plate cash fund to the department of revenue for the implementation of this act.

APPROVED by Governor May 18, 2007
EFFECTIVE August 3, 2007
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see page vi of this digest.

H.B. 07-1148 Registration - multiple vehicles - simultaneous expiration. Authorizes the registration of certain types of vehicles for intervals less than one year for purposes of allowing the owner of multiple vehicles to have vehicle registrations expire simultaneously.

APPROVED by Governor April 16, 2007
EFFECTIVE August 3, 2007
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see page vi of this digest.

H.B. 07-1166 Driver's license revocation - minors - blood alcohol content - probationary license - issuance of driver's license to individual under restraint. Modifies the driver's license revocation statute by adding a previously omitted reference to the 0.02 blood alcohol content minor driver's license revocation. Clarifies that minors subject to the 0.08 driver's license revocation do not qualify for a probationary license. Clarifies the prohibition against issuing a driver's license to an individual under restraint. Clarifies provisions concerning the mandatory revocation of driver's licenses and permits.

APPROVED by Governor April 16, 2007
EFFECTIVE July 1, 2007

H.B. 07-1200 Registration - special license plates - Air Force - appropriation. Creates a United States Air Force special license plate for motor vehicles that do not exceed 16,000 pounds. Integrates the new plate into existing provisions authorizing issuance of the plate to persons who pay the appropriate fees, plus a one-time fee of $25, and crediting the one-time fee to the highway users' tax fund.

Appropriates $15,240 to the department of revenue for allocation to the division of motor vehicles for the implementation of the act.

APPROVED by Governor June 4, 2007
EFFECTIVE August 3, 2007
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see page vi of this digest.

H.B. 07-1205 Size and weight - truck trailer - unladen. Clarifies that a truck trailer that is designed to carry cargo but is not carrying cargo is not laden.

APPROVED by Governor March 29, 2007
EFFECTIVE March 29, 2007

H.B. 07-1229 Commercial motor vehicles - snow and mud restrictions. Enhances the penalties for failing to comply with snow and mud restrictions while operating a commercial vehicle by:

● Raising the fine for a violation to $500; and

● Raising the fine for a violation that closes a lane to $1,000.

Authorizes the department to establish or authorize a roadside assistance program to enable commercial carriers to get chains applied to comply with snow and mud restrictions.

APPROVED by Governor May 29, 2007
EFFECTIVE August 3, 2007
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see page vi of this digest.

H.B. 07-1313 Driver's licenses and identification cards - issuance - proof. Establishes which documents or document combinations are valid forms of identification for obtaining a driver's license or identification card. Creates an exception process for people who may not have any of the appropriate documents. Authorizes an applicant who is denied a driver's license, permit, or identification card to request a hearing to determine whether the applicant is qualified.

VETOED by Governor June 1, 2007

H.B. 07-1352 Registration - special license plates - fallen service members - Army special forces - specific ownership tax exemption - appropriation. Authorizes the sibling or grandparent of a fallen service member to be issued and to use the fallen service member special license plate. Exempts the fallen service member special license plate from the additional $25 fee for military special license plates.

Creates the Army special forces license plate for motor vehicles that do not exceed 16,000 pounds. Authorizes issuance of the plate to persons who pay the appropriate fees, plus a one-time fee of $25, and who have served in the Army special forces. Credits the one-time fee to the highway users' tax fund.

Repeals a requirement that the owner of a disabled veteran special license plate send a disabled application to the department of revenue when transferring the plate to another vehicle.

Clarifies when certain personal property is not taxable when a service member is in Colorado in compliance with a military order.

Appropriates $16,080 to the department of revenue for allocation to the division of motor vehicles for the implementation of the act.

APPROVED by Governor May 26, 2007
EFFECTIVE August 3, 2007
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see page vi of this digest.

H.B. 07-1378 Registration - special license plates - retirement. Extends to July 1, 2008, the retirement date of the following special license plates:

● Alumni special license plates;

● Agriculture and natural resources special license plates; and

● Special license plates issued pursuant to rules promulgated by the executive director of the department of revenue.

APPROVED by Governor June 1, 2007
EFFECTIVE June 1, 2007