House Bill No. 580 seeks to strengthen the regulations governing temporary registration plates issued by vehicle dealers in Louisiana. Key amendments include a requirement for dealers to submit electronic notifications to the commissioner upon issuing these plates and the introduction of cease and desist orders for non-compliant dealers. The bill also increases penalties for displaying fictitious plates, with fines ranging from $100 to $500 and potential imprisonment for up to six months. Additionally, the application fee for temporary plates is raised from $4 to $20, and the term "markers" is replaced with "paper or card stock approved by the commissioner for print on demand temporary registration plates."

The bill mandates that temporary registration plates be displayed prominently on the rear of vehicles and outlines specific maintenance requirements. It allows for the issuance of print-on-demand temporary plates that must include the date of issuance, expiration, and vehicle serial number. The commissioner is granted the authority to phase out preprinted temporary plates in favor of print-on-demand options, ensuring consistency with permanent plate numbers. The bill also includes provisions for civil penalties for violations and directs the commissioner to implement emergency rule-making to enforce these changes, which will take effect upon the governor's signature or after the designated period for bills to become law without signature.

Statutes affected:
HB580 Original: 47:519(A), 47:536