Car title and registration updates amended, advanced

A bill enabling car dealers to electronically provide titling and registration services was amended March 28 to include provisions of several transportation-related bills.

LB263, introduced by the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, would require the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to create an electronic dealer services system. The system would allow dealers to provide titling and registration services following the sale of a vehicle, in addition to collecting title and registration fees, sales taxes and motor vehicle taxes.
Dealer participation would be voluntary.

According to the bill’s statement of intent, the DMV currently is introducing a new vehicle and title registration (VTR) computer system. The bill would enhance the effectiveness and efficiency that the system, once implemented, will bring to the titling and registration process.

A Transportation and Telecommunications Committee amendment, adopted 34-2, would allow any car dealer participating in the electronic dealer services system to charge a service fee of up to $50.

The amendment also would allow the owner of a motor vehicle that is more than 30 years old to apply for issuance of a title when no major component parts have been replaced and the DMV shows no record of a previously issued title. A title could be issued following presentation of a notarized bill of sale, completion of a title inspection and payment of a $25 fee.

Brainard Sen. Bruce Bostelman supported the bill, saying it would address a problem currently faced by many car enthusiasts who purchase and restore classic cars.

The committee amendment also incorporated provisions of several bills, including:
• LB54, introduced by Columbus Sen. Paul Schumacher, which would exclude the owner of a vehicle equipped with a keyless ignition from the duty to lock and remove a key from the ignition before leaving a vehicle unattended on a highway;
• LB70, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, which would allow for judicial discretion to forego the current one-year revocation of operating privileges in cases of a first offense of driving with a revoked driver license;
• LB143, introduced by Henderson Sen. Curt Friesen, which would require that the vehicle registration for a vehicle with a public power district license plate be kept at the principle place of business of the public power district;
• LB164, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Suzanne Geist, which would amend several technical DMV provisions relating to commercial driver license disqualification, motor vehicle accident reports and motor vehicle records administration;
• LB294, introduced by Papillion Sen. Jim Smith, which would allow the DMV to enter into an agreement of mutual recognition of operator licenses with foreign countries;
• LB418, introduced by Albion Sen. Tom Briese, which would update state statute with federal regulations adopted within the last year;
• LB459, introduced by Smith, which would expand the responsibilities of the state fire marshall in carrying out the One-Call Notification Act;
• LB460, also introduced by Smith, which would authorize the state Department of Health and Human Services or any organization or agent contracted by the department to contract for non-medical emergency transportation with a contract carrier authorized by the Public Service Commission (PSC); and
• LB483, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Mike Hilgers, which would provide to the PSC an exemption from the Nebraska Administrative Procedures Act for purposes of granting or denying a petition for intervention.

Senators advanced the bill to select file on a 32-0 vote.