AB 786

Under current law, persons on active duty in the U.S. armed forces are accorded

certain privileges related to vehicle registration and motor vehicle operator

licensing. Among these are the following:

1. If, on the date of expiration of a vehicle's registration, the registrant is on

active duty in the U.S. armed forces and is absent from the state, the vehicle's

registration does not expire. Instead, the vehicle's registration expires 30 days after

the registrant returns to this state or 90 days after the registrant is discharged from

active duty, whichever is earlier.

2. Upon proper application, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must

issue, without charge, a temporary operation plate that authorizes a person who is

engaged in the active military service of the United States or its allies and who has

been granted a furlough to operate a vehicle without registration of the vehicle. The

plate is valid while the applicant is on furlough and for a period not to exceed 30 days.

3. DOT must refund the unused portion of a registration fee paid for the

registration of a vehicle owned by a person who is entering active service in the naval

or military forces of the United States upon the person's providing proof that the

vehicle will not be operated in this or another state during the remainder of the

period for which the vehicle is registered and return of the certificate of registration

and registration plates.

4. If a person who holds a valid license is unable to make a renewal application

within the period declared by DOT due to serving with any branch of the armed

services, the person may apply for a renewal of the license at any time during the

person's service or within six months after the date of discharge from service.

5. If, on the expiration date of an operator's license, the licensee is on active

duty in the U.S. armed forces and is absent from this state, the license does not

expire. Instead, the license expires 30 days after the licensee returns to the state or

90 days after the licensee is discharged from active duty, whichever is earlier.

6. In general, a person must pay the vehicle registration fee for the entire

registration period. In certain cases, a person who has been in active military service

is entitled to pay a part-period fee.

Under this bill, each of the privileges listed above is also accorded to persons

on active duty in the U.S. foreign service.