§ 401-a. In-transit permits. The owner of a vehicle intended to be operated upon a public highway or street only for the purpose of transporting the same to a jurisdiction, within this state or to any other state, where the same is to be registered, may file with the commissioner or any agent of the commissioner an application for issuance of an in-transit permit for such vehicle. The application shall be made on a form furnished by the commissioner for such purpose and shall contain such information as the commissioner shall require. If satisfied that the vehicle is to be operated as provided in this section, the commissioner shall upon payment of a fee of twelve dollars and fifty cents assign to such vehicle a distinctive number and issue and deliver to the applicant an in-transit permit, valid for a period of thirty days from the date of issuance, in such form as the commissioner shall prescribe, indicating the extent to which the vehicle covered by such permit may be operated on the public highways and such vehicle may be operated only as so indicated. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this section, the difference collected between the fees set forth in this paragraph in effect on and after September first, two thousand nine and the fees set forth in this paragraph in effect prior to such date shall be deposited to the credit of the dedicated highway and bridge trust fund.

If an in-transit permit is issued by a county clerk, acting as agent of the commissioner, such county clerk shall be entitled to the sum of thirty-five cents for each such in-transit permit issued, which sum shall be deducted before remitting the fee for such in-transit permit to the commissioner.

The provisions of this chapter with respect to the issuance and display of number plates shall not apply to vehicles operated only as provided in this section, and which display the in-transit permit issued by the commissioner.