(a) Application for new plate.--The registrant of the vehicle shall within 48 hours of discovering the loss, theft or defacement apply to the department for a new plate and report the loss or theft of a plate to the police.

(b) Substitute registration.--Where the registration plate has been lost or stolen and in any other case in which the department may deem it advisable, the original registration shall be cancelled and substitute registration issued under a new registration number other than that originally issued. Upon receipt of substitute registration, it shall be the duty of the registrant to return the old registration plates and card to the department, unless lost or destroyed.

(b.1) Illegible registration plate.--The department may reissue a registration plate upon request by a registrant when it is determined by an authorized representative of the department or law enforcement that the registration plate is illegible from a reasonable distance. The department may select the style of the reissued registration plate and, except in the case of personal registration plates issued under section 1341 (relating to special registration plates), the registration plate number.

(c) Affidavit to avoid penalty.--No owner or operator of a vehicle shall be subject to a fine for the reason that the registration plate is missing if they have in their possession an affidavit that the plate was lost or stolen and that application for new plate or plates was made within 48 hours as required in this section.

(Nov. 26, 2008, P.L.1658, No.133, eff. 60 days; Mar. 19, 2014, P.L.361, No.23, eff. 120 days)

2014 Amendment. Act 23 amended subsec. (b.1).