The commissioner may issue to any licensee a special general distinguishing number and mark for the registration of any truck or other vehicle with a commercial registration owned by him or temporarily in his custody. Such licensee may demonstrate such motor vehicle with a capacity load, or may loan such motor vehicle, or such special number plate, or both, to any person for not more than fifteen days in any year, when a registered truck or other vehicle with a commercial registration owned by or lawfully in the custody of such person is disabled or is undergoing repairs, or when such person has purchased such a motor vehicle, the registration of which is pending, provided such person shall furnish proof to such dealer or repairer that he has liability and property damage insurance which will cover any damage to any person or property caused by the operation of such loaned motor vehicle, motor vehicle on which such special number plate is displayed or both. Each dealer and repairer shall keep a record of each loaned motor vehicle, each loaned special number plate, or both, showing the date loaned, the date returned, the name and operator's license number of the person operating such loaned motor vehicle, or motor vehicle on which such special number plate is displayed, or both. Such record shall be retained by the dealer or repairer for a period of six months from the date on which such special number plate or motor vehicle or both were loaned and such record shall be available during business hours for examination by the commissioner. The fee for such general commercial distinguishing number and mark shall be one-half the fee charged for the maximum gross weight of the vehicle on which such number or mark is used.

(1949 Rev., S. 2399; 1967, P.A. 861; 1971, P.A. 108, S. 1; 649, S. 3; P.A. 90-263, S. 61, 74.)

History: 1967 act increased allowed loan or demonstration period from 5 to 15 days per year and added detailed provisions concerning borrowing operator's insurance coverage and concerning required record-keeping, with regard to loaned vehicles; 1971 acts allowed loan of vehicle when vehicle “lawfully in the custody” of the borrower is disabled or undergoing repairs and changed references to sets of plates to refer to single plate; P.A. 90-263 substituted phrase truck or other vehicle with commercial registration for commercial motor vehicle.