[§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]