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Motor Vehicle Registration and Operator’s Permit Issuance Enhancement Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2002

Kevin P. Chavous

A BILL IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

To amend, on an emergency basis, the District of Columbia Revenue Act of 1937 and the District of Columbia Traffic Act, 1925 to allow individuals who have outstanding but outdated unpaid fines, fees, or taxes for their motor vehicles to register their vehicles and renew their operating permits.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Motor Vehicle Registration and Operator's Permit Issuance Enhancement Emergency Amendment Act of 2002".

Sec. 2. Section 2 of the District of Columbia Revenue Act of 1937, approved August 17, 1937 (50 Stat. 680; D.C. Official Code § 50-1501.02), is amended as follows:

(a) Subsection (c)(2) is amended by striking the phrase "Has paid all applicable fines" and inserting the phrase "Except as provided by subsection (c-1) of this section, has paid all applicable fines" in its place.

(b) A new subsection (c-1) is added to read as follows:

"(c-1)(1) For the purposes of issuing a registration certificate pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, the Mayor shall not refuse to issue a certificate and identification tag because the owner has not paid all applicable fines, fees, and taxes for the motor vehicle or trailer, if those fines, fees, or taxes were first imposed prior to January 1, 1998.

"(2) Nothing in this subsection shall relieve the owner of a motor vehicle or trailer of responsibility for paying any fines, fees, and taxes imposed for a motor vehicle or trailer.".

Sec. 3. Section 7(a) of the District of Columbia Traffic Act, 1925, approved March 3, 1925 (43 Stat. 1121; D.C. Official Code § 50-1401.01(a)), is amended by adding a new paragraph (1 A) to read as follows:

"(lA)(A) For the purposes of issuing an operator's permit pursuant to this subsection, the Mayor shall not refuse to issue an operator's permit because the applicant has not paid all applicable fines, fees, and taxes for a motor vehicle or trailer, if those fines, fees, or taxes were first imposed prior to January 1, 1998.

"(B) Nothing in this subsection shall relieve an owner of a motor vehicle or trailer of responsibility for paying any fines, fees, and taxes imposed for a motor vehicle or trailer.".

Sec. 4. This act will have no fiscal impact.

Sec. 5. This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and shall remain in effect for no longer than 90 days, as provided for emergency acts of the Council of the District of Columbia in section 412(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 788; D.C. Official Code § 1-204.12(a)).