§17A-6C-11. Temporary registration plates or markers.

(a) In order to permit a vehicle which is to be titled and registered to be operated on the streets and highways pending receipt of the annual registration plate, the commissioner may, subject to the following limitations, deliver temporary vehicle registration plates or markers to persons engaged in the automobile auction business for issuance to applicants for title and registration of vehicles.

(b) An application by an automobile auction business to the commissioner for temporary registration plates or markers shall be made on the form prescribed and furnished by the commissioner and shall be accompanied by a fee of $3 for each temporary registration plate or marker. No refund or credit of fees paid by automobile auction businesses to the commissioner for temporary registration plates or markers is allowed, except in the event the commissioner discontinues the issuance of temporary plates or markers. Automobile auction businesses returning temporary registration plates or markers to the commissioner may petition for and be entitled to a refund or a credit.

(c) Every automobile auction business applying for and receiving temporary registration plates or markers shall maintain in permanent form a record of all temporary registration plates or markers delivered to the licensee, a record of all temporary registration plates or markers issued and a record of any other information pertaining to the receipt or the issuance of temporary registration plates or markers which the commissioner may require. Each record shall be kept for a period of at least three years from the date issued. Every automobile auction business issuing a temporary registration plate or marker shall send to the division a copy of the temporary registration plate or marker certificate properly executed by the automobile auction business and the purchaser within five working days after the issuance of the plate or marker. No temporary registration plates or markers may be delivered to any automobile auction business until the business has fully accounted to the commissioner for the temporary registration plates or markers last delivered by showing the number issued to purchasers and the number remaining to be issued.

(d) An automobile auction business may not issue, assign, or deliver a temporary registration plate or marker to anyone other than the bona fide applicant for title and registration of the vehicle to be registered. Not more than one temporary registration plate or marker may be issued to the same bona fide applicant for the same vehicle. An automobile auction business may not issue a temporary registration or marker to anyone possessing an annual registration plate for a vehicle which has been sold or exchanged, except an automobile auction business may issue a temporary registration plate or marker to the bona fide applicant who possesses an annual registration plate of a different class and it may make application to the division to exchange the annual registration plate of a different class in accordance with the provisions of §17A-4-1 of this code. An automobile auction business may not lend to anyone or use on any vehicle which it may own, a temporary registration plate or marker. It is unlawful for any automobile auction business to issue any temporary registration plate or marker which contains a misstatement of fact or false information.

(e) Every automobile auction business issuing temporary registration plates or markers shall affix or insert clearly and indelibly on the face of each temporary registration plate or marker the date of issuance, the date of expiration and the make, model, and serial number of the vehicle.

(f) If the commissioner finds that the provisions of this section or his or her directions are not being complied with by an automobile auction business, the commissioner may suspend the right of the automobile auction business to issue temporary registration plates or markers.

(g) A temporary registration plate or marker expires upon the receipt of the annual registration plate from the division, or upon the rescission of the contract to purchase the vehicle in question, or upon the expiration of 90 days from the date of issuance, whichever event occurs first.