Opinion ID: 1691637
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: questioned statutes

Text: The statutes under which Garber was charged are Neb.Rev.Stat. §§ 60-132 and 60-133 (Reissue 1993). In relevant part, § 60-132 makes it unlawful to [k]nowingly tamper with, adjust, alter, change, disconnect, or fail to connect an odometer of a motor vehicle, or cause any of the foregoing to occur, to reflect a mileage different than has actually been driven by such motor vehicle except as provided in section 60-133. Section 60-133 provides: If any odometer is repaired or replaced, the reading of the repaired or replaced odometer shall be set at the reading of the odometer repaired or replaced immediately prior to repair or replacement and the adjustment shall not be deemed a violation of [§ ] 60-132 ... except that when the repaired or replaced odometer is incapable of registering the same mileage as before such repair or replacement, the repaired or replaced odometer shall be adjusted to read zero and a notice in writing on a form prescribed by the Department of Motor Vehicles shall be attached to the left door frame, or in the case of a motorcycle to the registration certificate and all subsequent registration certificates, of the vehicle by the owner or his or her agent specifying the mileage prior to repair or replacement of the odometer and the date on which it was repaired or replaced and any removal or alteration of such notice so affixed shall be deemed a violation of such sections. In addition, a number of other statutes also bear on the matter. The first of these is Neb.Rev.Stat. § 60-134 (Reissue 1993), which requires the transferor of a motor vehicle less than 10 years of age which was equipped with an odometer by the manufacturer to provide the transferee with a statement signed by the transferor which sets forth the mileage on the odometer at the time of transfer and (1) shall state that, to the transferor's best knowledge, such mileage is that actually driven by the motor vehicle, (2) if the transferor has knowledge that the mileage shown on the odometer is in excess of the designated mechanical odometer limit, shall include a statement to that effect, or (3) if the transferor has knowledge that the odometer reading differs from the actual mileage and that the difference is greater than that caused by odometer calibration error, shall state that the odometer reading does not reflect the actual mileage and should not be relied upon. If a discrepancy exists between the odometer reading and the actual mileage, a warning notice to alert the transferee shall be included with the statement. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 60-301(14) (Reissue 1993), with certain exceptions not relevant to our inquiry, defines a motor vehicle as any vehicle propelled by any power other than muscular power.... Section 60-301(15) further makes clear that a motorcycle is a motor vehicle. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 60-302(1) (Reissue 1993) decrees, again with certain exceptions not relevant here, that no motor vehicle shall be operated or parked on the highways of this state unless such vehicle is registered in accordance with Chapter 60, article 3. It also provides that every owner of a vehicle required to be registered shall make application for registration.... The application shall be a copy of a certificate of title.... Neb.Rev.Stat. § 60-106(6) (Reissue 1993) requires that one purchasing a motor vehicle obtain a certificate of title. Section 60-106(7) reads, in pertinent part: In all cases of transfers of motor vehicles... the application for a certificate of title shall be filed within thirty days after the delivery of such vehicle.... A licensed dealer need not apply for certificates of title for motor vehicles ... but upon transfer of such vehicle ... the licensed dealer shall give the transferee a reassignment of the certificate of title on such vehicle ... or an assignment of a manufacturer's or importer's certificate. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 60-312 (Reissue 1993) requires the issuance of a certificate of registration to such an applicant. Penalties are provided for the violation of §§ 60-132, 60-133, and 60-134, as well as Neb.Rev.Stat. § 60-138 (Reissue 1993), and for operating an unregistered vehicle, in violation of § 60-302(1) and Neb.Rev.Stat. §§ 60-302.03 (Reissue 1993) and 60-348 (Cum.Supp.1994).