61-3-412. Display of original Montana license plates or collector reproduction license plates on collector's item and general transportation collector's item motor vehicles -- definitions -- validation. (1) As used in 61-3-413 and this section, the following definitions apply:

(a) "Collector reproduction license plate" means a license that is a reproduction of the original license plate issued according to the provisions of 61-3-331; section 53-116, R.C.M. 1947; section 1759.1, R.C.M. 1935; or section 1759, R.C.M. 1921; whichever section was effective during the year of the manufacture of the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer on which the license plate is authorized to be displayed. To qualify as a collector reproduction license plate, the reproduction plate must be made of metal, must be the same size and color as the original license plate, and must have the same design, including any embossed or raised letters or numbers, as the original license plate.

(b) "Original Montana license plate" means a license plate issued according to the provisions of 61-3-331; section 53-116, R.C.M. 1947; section 1759.1, R.C.M. 1935; or section 1759, R.C.M. 1921; whichever section was effective during the year of the manufacture of the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer on which the license plate is authorized to be displayed.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of 61-3-332, the department shall authorize the owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer registered as provided in 61-3-411 or 61-3-413 to display original Montana license plates or collector reproduction license plates, with validation as required in 61-3-413 or subsection (4) of this section, after:

(a) payment of the fee required in subsection (6);

(b) inspection by a highway patrol officer of the original Montana license plate or collector reproduction license plate to be displayed on the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer and, upon payment of a $5 fee, receipt of the highway patrol officer's certification that the officer has determined that:

(i) the license plate is legible and meets the requirements of subsection (1); and

(ii) in the case of a license plate intended for use on a general transportation collector's item, the license plate is visible at night;

(c) receipt of an application by the owner of the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer as provided for in 61-3-411 or 61-3-413; and

(d) in the case of a general transportation collector's item application, certification from the department that a duplicate license plate number does not exist among currently issued license plates.

(3) The owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer manufactured in the year 1948, 1949, or 1950 may display a single original Montana license plate that is affixed to the rear of the vehicle. The original Montana license plate must be legible and must bear the year that matches the year in which the vehicle was manufactured.

(4) If the owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer meets the requirements of subsection (2), the department shall:

(a) register the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer as prescribed in 61-3-303; and

(b) issue a validating decal inscribed with:

(i) a unique number; and

(ii) the letter:

(A) "P" to designate motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers described in 61-3-411(2)(a); or

(B) "V" to designate motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers described in 61-3-411(2)(b).

(5) The owner of the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer shall permanently affix the validating decal to the windshield of the collector's item motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer or, if a windshield does not exist, to another prominent and visible position on the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer.

(6) The owner of the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer shall pay to the department with the application required under this section a one-time special collector's item motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer license fee of $20.

History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 150, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 217, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 168, Ch. 574, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 143, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 67, Ch. 477, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 92, Ch. 542, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 73, Ch. 596, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 106, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 295, L. 2019.