Tow truck license plates - conditions for use - transitional provisions

(1) The tow truck license plate is hereby established. The plate consists of black letters on a yellow background and features the words "Colorado" across the top and "Tow Truck" across the bottom of the plate. (2) A person who is authorized to operate as a towing carrier under article 10.1 of title 40, C.R.S., shall register a motor vehicle used for towing purposes under this article and display either tow truck license plates or apportioned plates on the vehicle. Upon registration, the department shall issue tow truck license plates for the vehicle in accordance with this section. The department shall not issue tow truck license plates unless the person either submits a verification document or the public utilities commission electronically verifies the authorization as provided in section 40-10.1-402, C.R.S. (3) Repealed. (4) A person shall not operate a motor vehicle with tow truck license plates or temporary tow truck license plates unless the motor vehicle to which the plates are attached is required by subsection (2) of this section to bear tow truck license plates. (5) If the person who owns the motor vehicle with tow truck license plates is not the person under whose authority the motor vehicle operates under article 10.1 of title 40, C.R.S., the person with the authority may request that the department require the plates to be replaced. Within thirty days after receiving the request, the department shall require the owner of the motor vehicle to return the tow truck license plates and be issued new license plates. The owner of the motor vehicle shall surrender the tow truck license plates to the department within ten days after receiving notice from the department unless the owner of the motor vehicle obtains authority to operate a tow truck under part 4 of article 10.1 of title 40, C.R.S., either directly or as an agent, and either the person submits a verification document or the public utilities commission electronically verifies the authorization as provided in section 40-10.1-402, C.R.S. (6) A person who violates this section commits a class B traffic infraction, punishable by a fine of seventy-five dollars. (7) This section is effective January 1, 2013.