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

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

(c)  Upon submission of the renewal ofregistration form and payment of normally required fees, the license plates,decals, and registration cards issued pursuant to this section for the vehicleshall remain valid; provided that a fleet vehicle registered under this sectionmay be deleted from such identified fleet upon notification of the director offinance by the registered owner on the proper form, and if the distinguishinglicense plates, decals, and registration cards issued for the vehicle aresurrendered.  Failure to comply with the preceding sentence shall requirepayment by the fleet owner of fees due for registration of the vehicle asthough the vehicle remained part of the fleet.  Display of the distinguishinglicense plate or decal and registration card shall constitute prima facieevidence that the vehicle is currently registered.

The registered owner or lessee of any vehicleregistered pursuant to this section shall display in a conspicuous place onboth the right and the left side of each vehicle, the name, trademark, or logoof the company.  The display of the name, trademark, or logo shall be printedin 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 adistance of fifty feet.

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