2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 42 - VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC (§§ 42-1-101 — 42-21-106) › TAXATION (§§ 42-3-101 — 42-3-314) › Article 3 - REGISTRATION, TAXATION, AND LICENSE PLATES (§§ 42-3-101 — 42-3-314) › Part 2 - LICENSE PLATES (§§ 42-3-201 — 42-3-271) › Section 42-3-203 - Standardized plates - notice of funding through gifts, grants, and donations - rules - repeal

(1)
(a)
Unless otherwise authorized by statute, the department shall issue all Class C vehicles a single type of standardized license plate. Unless otherwise authorized by statute, the department shall issue all Class B vehicles, except recreational trucks, a single type of standardized license plate.
(b)
Repealed.
(2)
An owner who has applied for renewal of registration of a vehicle but who has not received the number plates or plate for the ensuing registration period may operate or permit the operation of such vehicle upon the highways, upon displaying the number plates or plate issued for the preceding registration period, for such time as determined by the department as it may find necessary for issuance of such new plates.
(3)
(a)
(I)
The department may issue individual temporary registration number plates and certificates good for a period not to exceed sixty days upon application by an owner of a motor vehicle or the owner's agent and the payment of a registration fee of two dollars, one dollar and sixty cents to be retained by the authorized agent or department issuing the plates and certificates and the remainder to be remitted monthly to the department to be transmitted to the state treasurer for credit to the highway users tax fund.
(II)
The authorized agent may issue individual temporary registration number plates and certificates good for a period not to exceed sixty days upon application by an owner of special mobile machinery or the owner's agent and the payment of a registration fee of two dollars, one dollar and sixty cents to be retained by the authorized agent or department issuing the plates and certificates and the remainder to be remitted monthly to the department to be transmitted to the state treasurer for credit to the highway users tax fund.
(III)
It is unlawful for a person to use a number plate and certificate after it expires. A person who violates any provision of this paragraph (a) commits a class B traffic infraction.
(b)
The department may issue to licensed motor vehicle dealers temporary registration number plates and certificates in blocks of twenty-five upon payment of a fee of six dollars and twenty-five cents for each block of twenty-five. The department shall transmit any money it receives from this sale to the state treasurer for credit to the highway users tax fund and allocation and expenditure as specified in section
43-4-205
(5.5)(b), C.R.S. The department may promulgate rules creating a system for the dealer to:
(I)
Print on the temporary plates the temporary registration number, vehicle identification number, and other information required by the department; and
(II)
Print temporary registration certificates with the information required by the department.
(c)
(I)
Subject to subparagraph (III) of this paragraph (c), the department shall not issue more than two temporary registration number plates and certificates per year to a Class A or Class B motor vehicle.
(II)
Beginning July 1, 2008, the department shall track by vehicle identification number the number of temporary registration number plates and certificates issued to a motor vehicle.
(III)
The department may promulgate rules authorizing the issuance of more than two temporary registration number plates and certificates per year if the motor vehicle title work or lien perfection has caused the need for such issuance.
(d)
(I)
By July 1, 2016, the department shall make temporary registration number plates or certificates so that each complies with the requirements of section
42-3-202
, including being fastened, visible, and readable; except that a temporary plate is affixed only to the rear of the vehicle. The department shall implement an electronic issuance system for temporary license plates. The department may promulgate rules to implement this system.
(II) and (III)
Repealed.
(e)
A dealer may issue a second temporary registration number plate in accordance with this subsection (3) if the dealer:
(I)
Has issued a temporary plate to the owner when selling the motor vehicle to the owner;
(II)
Has not delivered or facilitated the delivery of the certificate of title to the purchaser or the holder of a chattel mortgage as required in section
42-6-112
or
42-6-119(3)
within sixty days after the motor vehicle was purchased; and
(III)
Has taken every reasonable action necessary to deliver or facilitate the delivery of the certificate of title.
(4)
All or part of the face of the license plates furnished pursuant to this section shall be coated with a reflective material.
Amended by 2017 Ch. 101,§ 16, eff. 8/9/2017.
Amended by 2017 Ch. 72,§ 5, eff. 3/23/2017.
Amended by 2016 Ch. 287,§ 2, eff. 8/10/2016.
Amended by 2015 Ch. 334,§ 1, eff. 1/1/2016, applicable to temporary registrations issued on or after 7/1/2016. See editor's note.
Amended by 2014 Ch. 303,§ 4, eff. 7/1/2014.
L. 2005: (3)(b) amended, p. 145, § 20, effective April 5; entire article amended with relocations, p. 1108, § 2, effective August 8. L. 2007: (3)(c) added, p. 1597, § 2, effective July 1. L. 2010: (3)(a) amended, (HB 10-1172), ch. 320, p. 1493, §16, effective October 1. L. 2014: (1) amended, (HB 14-1367), ch. 303, p. 1286, § 4, effective July 1. L. 2015: (3) amended, (SB 15-090), ch. 334, p. 1358, § 1, see subsection (3) of the editor's note following this section. L. 2016: (3)(e) added, (SB 16-140), ch. 287, p. 1169, § 2, effective August 10. L. 2017: (1)(b) repealed, (HB 17-1044), ch. 72, p. 230, § 5, effective March 23; (3)(d)(II) repealed, (HB 17-1107), ch. 101, p. 368, § 16, effective August 9.
(1) This section is similar to former § 42-3-124 as it existed prior to 2005.
(2) Subsection (3)(b) was originally numbered as §
42-3-124(3)(b)
, and the amendments to it in Senate Bill 05-041 were harmonized with § 42-3-203(3)(b) as it appears in House Bill 05-1107.
(3) Section 6(1)(b) and 6(2) of chapter 334 (SB 15-090), Session Laws of Colorado 2015, provides that changes to this section take effect only if the department of revenue receives enough gifts, grants, and donations for materials, start-up costs, and computer programming necessary to implement this act, and take effect January 1, 2016, only if the revisor of statutes receives written notice that such funds were received. The revisor of statutes received the required notice, dated February 12, 2016.
(4) Subsection (3)(d)(III)(B) provided for the repeal of subsection (3)(d)(III), effective July 1, 2017. (See L. 2015, p. 1360.)
For the penalty for a class B traffic infraction, see § 42-4-1701(3)(a)(I).