[§286-53.5]  Permanent registration of fleet
vehicles.  (a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the
registered owner or lessee of a fleet of twenty-five or more vehicles
consisting of commercial motor vehicles, commercial trailers, or passenger
automobiles may apply to the director of finance of the county in which the
vehicles are to be operated, for permanent license plates, decals, and
registration cards; provided that the vehicle shall not be registered in any
other state.



(b)  The application for initial issuance of
permanent registration shall be filed in such form as the director of finance
shall require.  Upon initial application and payment of the required fees, the
director of finance shall issue a distinguishing license plate or decal which
indicates the vehicle has been registered under this section.



(c)  Upon submission of the renewal of
registration form and payment of normally required fees, the license plates,
decals, and registration cards issued pursuant to this section for the vehicle
shall remain valid; provided that a fleet vehicle registered under this section
may be deleted from such identified fleet upon notification of the director of
finance by the registered owner on the proper form, and if the distinguishing
license plates, decals, and registration cards issued for the vehicle are
surrendered.  Failure to comply with the preceding sentence shall require
payment by the fleet owner of fees due for registration of the vehicle as
though the vehicle remained part of the fleet.  Display of the distinguishing
license plate or decal and registration card shall constitute prima facie
evidence that the vehicle is currently registered.



The registered owner or lessee of any vehicle
registered pursuant to this section shall display in a conspicuous place on
both the right and the left side of each vehicle, the name, trademark, or logo
of the company.  The display of the name, trademark, or logo shall be printed
in sharp contrast to the background of the vehicle and shall be of such size,
shape, and color as to be readily identifiable during daylight hours from a
distance of fifty feet.



(d)  Each director of finance shall adopt rules
pursuant to chapter 91 for the application, payment of fees, fleet additions or
deletions, and cancellation of distinguishing plates or decals and registration
card issued to a vehicle of a fleet owner. [L 1980, c 127, pt of §1]