341.35 Municipal or county vehicle registration fee.

(1) Annual registration fee. In this section “municipality" means a town, village or city and “motor vehicle" means an automobile or motor truck registered under s. 341.25 (1) (c) at a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds. The governing body of a municipality or county may enact an ordinance imposing an annual flat municipal or county registration fee on all motor vehicles registered in this state which are customarily kept in the municipality or county. A registration fee imposed under this section shall be in addition to state registration fees.

(2) Exemptions. The following vehicles are exempt from any municipal or county vehicle registration fee:

(a) All vehicles exempted by this chapter from payment of a state vehicle registration fee.

(b) All vehicles registered by the state under s. 341.26 for a fee of $5.

(3m) County and municipal fees. If a municipality and the county in which the municipality is located enact ordinances under this section, a motor vehicle customarily kept in the municipality shall be subject to a municipal registration fee and a county registration fee.

(4) Notice of fees. The governing body of a municipality or county which enacts a municipal or county vehicle registration fee shall notify the department that it has so elected and report the amount of such fee. The municipality or county shall report any change in such amount to the department. The notification shall be made at the time and in the form prescribed by the department.

(5) Payment of fees. At the time a motor vehicle is first registered or at the time of registration renewal, the applicant shall pay to the department any fee imposed by a county or municipality under this section in addition to fees required under this chapter.

(6) Department to remit fees to municipalities and counties. Beginning July 1, 1984, and annually thereafter, the department shall remit those moneys collected under this section, less administrative costs under sub. (6m), to any municipality or county which has imposed a fee under this section. The department may by rule provide that the moneys be remitted at more frequent intervals if the department deems it advisable.

(6m) Administrative costs. The department shall retain a portion of the moneys collected under this section equal to the actual administrative costs related to the collection of these fees. The department shall establish the method for computing the administrative costs by rule and review the methodology annually to ensure full reimbursement of its expenses.

(6r) Use of fee proceeds. Any municipality or county receiving moneys under sub. (6) shall use the moneys only for transportation related purposes.

(7) Replacements. No municipal or county vehicle registration fee may be imposed on a motor vehicle which is a replacement for a motor vehicle for which a current municipal or county vehicle registration fee has been paid.

(8) Rules. The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section.

History: 1971 c. 125 s. 521; 1971 c. 164 s. 83; 1977 c. 29 ss. 1446, 1654 (7) (a); 1977 c. 273; 1979 c. 221; 1983 a. 27; 1987 a. 216; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 80.