The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter,
shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise.
(1) Affidavit for alias exempt registration--A form
prescribed by the director that must be executed by an exempt law
enforcement agency to request the issuance of exempt registration
in the name of an alias.
(2) Agent--A duly authorized representative possessing
legal capacity to act for an individual or legal entity.
(3) Alias--The name of a vehicle registrant reflected
on the registration, different than the name of the legal owner of
the vehicle.
(4) Alias exempt registration--Registration issued
under an alias to a specific vehicle to be used in covert criminal
investigations by a law enforcement agency.
(5) Axle load--The total load transmitted to the road
by all wheels whose centers may be included between two parallel transverse
vertical planes 40 inches apart, extending across the full width of
the vehicle.
(6) Border commercial zone--A commercial zone established
under Title 49, C.F.R., Part 372 that is contiguous to the border
with Mexico.
(7) Bus--A motor vehicle used to transport persons
and designed to accommodate more than 10 passengers, including the
operator; or a motor vehicle, other than a taxicab, designed and used
to transport persons for compensation.
(8) Carrying capacity--The maximum safe load that a
commercial vehicle may carry, as determined by the manufacturer.
(9) Character--A numeric or alpha symbol displayed
on a license plate.
(10) County or city civil defense agency--An agency
authorized by a commissioner's court order or by a city ordinance
to provide protective measures and emergency relief activities in
the event of hostile attack, sabotage, or natural disaster.
(11) Current photo identification--a government-issued
photo identification that is currently valid or is expired not more
than 12 months, or a state-issued personal identification certificate
issued to a qualifying person if the identification states that it
has no expiration.
(12) Digital license plate--As defined in Transportation
Code, §504.151.
(13) Digital license plate owner--A digital license
plate owner is a person who purchases or leases a digital license
plate from a department-approved digital license plate provider.
(14) Director--The director of the Vehicle Titles and
Registration Division, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
(15) Division--Vehicle Titles and Registration Division.
(16) Executive administrator--The director of a federal
agency, the director of a Texas state agency, the sheriff of a Texas
county, or the chief of police of a Texas city that by law possesses
the authority to conduct covert criminal investigations.
(17) Exempt agency--A governmental body exempted by
statute from paying registration fees when registering motor vehicles.
(18) Exempt license plates--Specially designated license
plates issued to certain vehicles owned or controlled by exempt agencies.
(19) Exhibition vehicle--
(A) An assembled complete passenger car, truck, or
motorcycle that:
(i) is a collector's item;
(ii) is used exclusively for exhibitions, club activities,
parades, and other functions of public interest;
(iii) does not carry advertising; and
(iv) has a frame, body, and motor that is at least
25-years old; or
(B) A former military vehicle as defined in Transportation
Code, §504.502.
(20) Fire-fighting equipment--Equipment mounted on
fire-fighting vehicles used in the process of fighting fires, including,
but not limited to, ladders and hoses.
(21) Foreign commercial motor vehicle--A commercial
motor vehicle, as defined by 49 C.F.R. §390.5, that is owned
by a person or entity that is domiciled in or a citizen of a country
other than the United States.
(22) GPS--A global positioning system tracking device
that can be used to determine the location of a digital license plate
through data collection by means of a receiver in a digital license
plate.
(23) Highway construction project--That section of
the highway between the warning signs giving notice of a construction
area.
(24) International symbol of access--The symbol adopted
by Rehabilitation International in 1969 at its Eleventh World Congress
of Rehabilitation of the Disabled.
(25) Legend--A name, motto, slogan, or registration
expiration notification that is centered horizontally at the bottom
of the license plate.
(26) Make--The trade name of the vehicle manufacturer.
(27) Metal license plate--A non-digital license plate
issued by the department under Transportation Code Chapter 502, 503,
or Chapter 504.
(28) Nonprofit organization--An unincorporated association
or society or a corporation that is incorporated or holds a certificate
of authority under the Business Organizations Code.
(29) Nominating State Agency--A state agency authorized
to accept and distribute funds from the sale of a specialty plate
as designated by the nonprofit organization (sponsoring entity).
(30) Optional digital license plate information--Any
information authorized to be displayed on a digital license plate
in addition to required digital license plate information when the
vehicle is in park, including:
(A) an emergency alert or other public safety alert
issued by a governmental entity, including an alert authorized under
Subchapter L, M, or P of Government Code Chapter 411;
(B) vehicle manufacturer safety recall notices;
(C) advertising; or
(D) a parking permit.
(31) Park--As defined in Transportation Code, §541.401.
(32) Political subdivision--A county, municipality,
local board, or other body of this state having authority to provide
a public service.
(33) Primary region of interest--The field on a metal
or digital license plate with alphanumeric characters representing
the plate number. The primary region of interest encompasses a field
of 5.75 inches in width by 1.75 inches in height on metal license
plates manufactured for motorcycles, mopeds, golf carts, or off-highway
vehicles. The primary region of interest encompasses a field of 8.375
inches in width by 2.5625 inches in height on metal license plates
manufactured for all other vehicles.
(34) Registration period--A designated period during
which registration is valid. A registration period begins on the first
day of a calendar month and ends on the last day of a calendar month.
(35) Required digital license plate information--The
minimum information required to be displayed on a digital license
plate: the registration expiration month and year (unless the vehicle
is a token trailer as defined by Transportation Code, §502.001),
the alphanumeric characters representing the plate number, the word
"Texas," the registration expiration notification if the registration
for the vehicle has expired; and the legend (if applicable).
(36) Secondary region of interest--The field on a metal
or digital license plate with the word "Texas" centered horizontally
at the top of the plate. The secondary region of interest encompasses
a field of 2.5 inches in width by 0.5625 inches in height on metal
license plates manufactured for motorcycles, mopeds, golf carts, or
off-highway vehicles. The secondary region of interest encompasses
a field of 6 inches in width by 1.9375 inches in height on metal license
plates manufactured for all other vehicles.
(37) Service agreement--A contractual agreement that
allows individuals or businesses to access the department's vehicle
registration records.
(38) Specialty license plate--A special design license
plate issued by the department.
(39) Specialty license plate fee--Statutorily or department
required fee payable on submission of an application for a specialty
license plate, symbol, tab, or other device, and collected in addition
to statutory motor vehicle registration fees.
(40) Sponsoring entity--An institution, college, university,
sports team, or any other non-profit individual or group that desires
to support a particular specialty license plate by coordinating the
collection and submission of the prescribed applications and associated
license plate fees or deposits for that particular license plate.
(41) Street or suburban bus--A vehicle, other than
a passenger car, used to transport persons for compensation exclusively
within the limits of a municipality or a suburban addition to a municipality.
Cont'd... |
