2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 29-A: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC › Chapter 5: VEHICLE REGISTRATION › Subchapter 1: REGISTRATION › Article 4: REGISTRATION PROVISIONS › 29-A §512. Semipermanent and permanent registration plates for trailers and semitrailers

§512. Semipermanent and permanent registration plates for trailers and semitrailers
The Secretary of State may establish an 8-year and 12-year semipermanent registration plate program for trailers and semitrailers and a 20-year semipermanent registration plate program and a 25-year permanent registration program for semitrailers and under these programs may issue registration plates of a design determined by the Secretary of State. A person registering a semitrailer in accordance with this section may register a semitrailer for fewer than 5 years only to maintain a common expiration date for a fleet.   [PL 1997, c. 776, §14 (AMD).]
The Secretary of State may establish rules for the extension of registrations issued pursuant to this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.   [PL 2007, c. 703, §11 (RPR).]
A nonresident registrant shall designate a resident agent for the service of process. A resident agent must be a resident of this State. For the purposes of this section, a resident includes a person registered with the Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions to do business in this State.   [PL 1997, c. 437, §9 (NEW).]
The application for registration must contain the information prescribed in section 401, except that the Secretary of State may waive or modify the signature requirements.   [PL 1997, c. 437, §9 (NEW).]
1.  Eight-year and 12-year semipermanent registration plate program for trailers and semitrailers.
Any person may apply on a form supplied by the Secretary of State for a semipermanent registration plate.
A.   [PL 1997, c. 437, §10 (RP).]
B. The fee is $12 for each semitrailer, and the fee is $5 for each trailer of not more than 2,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.
Fees for the first 3 years of a registration may not be refunded. Fees for the 4th and subsequent years may be refunded prior to the start of the registration year provided that the registration plate and certificate are returned to the Secretary of State. After the start of the registration year, fees for the current year may be refunded if the plate and certificate are returned within 120 days and the Secretary of State is satisfied that the credentials were not used during the registration period.   [PL 2003, c. 253, §2 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 253, §5 (AFF).]
C. With the agreement of the Commissioner of Transportation, the Secretary of State may adopt rules for the payment of the fees in annual or biennial installments. In adopting those rules, the Secretary of State shall consider the financial effect of the registration fee on the registrants, the benefit or burden of installment payment on state revenues and the difficulty of administering this subsection.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
D. Notwithstanding section 401, an application for registration must be signed by the owner or lessee applying for registration, the person authorized by the applicant or the applicant's designated agent.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
E. On approval of an application, the Secretary of State shall:
(1) Record the registration of the semitrailer or trailer described in the application and assign a distinguishing number or other mark;
(2) Issue a certificate of registration that contains the name and address of the owner or lessee or the address of its designated agent; and
(3) Furnish one semipermanent registration plate for each trailer or semitrailer.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
F. Semipermanent registration plates expire at the end of the semipermanent plate program or, in the case of a new semitrailer or new trailer, at the end of the 12th registration year following the year of issuance. The registration plates issued for the next program may be displayed on and after December 1st of the preceding calendar year. A registration plate issued after the commencement of the plate program may be displayed either beginning on the date of purchase or on the February 1st following issuance, depending upon the number of paid registration years.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
[PL 2003, c. 253, §2 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 253, §5 (AFF).]
2.  Twenty-year semipermanent semitrailer registration plate program.
Corporations applying for a minimum of 1,000 registrations in a registration year may apply for semipermanent semitrailer registration plates which may be issued for periods of up to 20 years.
A. The fee for each registration is $12 per year or portion of a year. The Secretary of State shall establish a procedure to bill each registrant using semipermanent semitrailer registrations once annually except the billing at the time of purchase of a full 20-year registration must be for a 3-year period. Fees for the first 3 years are nonrefundable. A fee for a registration of less than 20 years must be prorated accordingly. If any registrant fails to remit the payment in a timely manner, the Secretary of State shall suspend all registrations issued to that registrant pursuant to this subsection.   [PL 2003, c. 253, §3 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 253, §5 (AFF).]
B.   [PL 1997, c. 437, §12 (RP).]
C. The Secretary of State may authorize resident agents to receive unassigned registration plates and registration certificates on behalf of registrants. Resident agents are responsible for all registration plates and registration certificates in their possession pursuant to this subsection.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
D. Registration plates issued pursuant to this subsection are valid and may be displayed upon issue for renewal purposes only. Registrations issued pursuant to this subsection remain active unless canceled or reported lost.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
E. All registration certificates issued pursuant to this subsection must be signed by the owner, lessee, corporate officer, resident agent or other authorized person.   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
[PL 2003, c. 253, §3 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 253, §5 (AFF).]
3.  Permanent registration program.
A person registering 20,000 or more semitrailers may be issued 25-year permanent registrations. For the purposes of this subsection, "permanent registration" means a long-term trailer registration certificate and plate with an expiration date of December 31st, 25 years from the year of issue.
A. The fee for each registration is $80. The fee is nonrefundable.   [PL 1997, c. 776, §16 (NEW).]
B. All registrations expire on December 31st, 25 years from the year of issue.   [PL 1997, c. 776, §16 (NEW).]
C. The registrant may transfer an unexpired registration to a semitrailer not previously registered to the registrant in this State. The transfer fee is $20.   [PL 1997, c. 776, §16 (NEW).]
D. The Secretary of State may adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.   [PL 2019, c. 397, §10 (AMD).]
[PL 2019, c. 397, §10 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 645, §B9 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 437, §§9-12 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 683, §A17 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 776, §§13-16 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 253, §§2,3 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 253, §5 (AFF). PL 2007, c. 703, §11 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 397, §10 (AMD).