
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 49USC14504]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                 SUBTITLE IV--INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION
 
 PART B--MOTOR CARRIERS, WATER CARRIERS, BROKERS, AND FREIGHT FORWARDERS
 
                  CHAPTER 145--FEDERAL-STATE RELATIONS
 
Sec. 14504. Registration of motor carriers by a State

    (a) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``standards'' and 
``amendments to standards'' mean the specification of forms and 
procedures required by regulations of the Secretary to prove the 
lawfulness of transportation by motor carrier referred to in section 
13501.
    (b) General Rule.--The requirement of a State that a motor carrier, 
providing transportation subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I of 
chapter 135 and providing transportation in that State, must register 
with the State is not an unreasonable burden on transportation referred 
to in section 13501 when the State registration is completed under 
standards of the Secretary under subsection (c). When a State 
registration requirement imposes obligations in excess of the standards 
of the Secretary, the part in excess is an unreasonable burden.
    (c) Single State Registration System.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall maintain standards for 
    implementing a system under which--
            (A) a motor carrier is required to register annually with 
        only one State by providing evidence of its Federal registration 
        under chapter 139;
            (B) the State of registration shall fully comply with 
        standards prescribed under this section; and
            (C) such single State registration shall be deemed to 
        satisfy the registration requirements of all other States.

        (2) Specific requirements.--
            (A) Evidence of federal registration; proof of insurance; 
        payment of fees.--Under the standards of the Secretary 
        implementing the single State registration system described in 
        paragraph (1) of this subsection, only a State acting in its 
        capacity as registration State under such single State system 
        may require a motor carrier registered by the Secretary under 
        this part--
                (i) to file and maintain evidence of such Federal 
            registration;
                (ii) to file satisfactory proof of required insurance or 
            qualification as a self-insurer;
                (iii) to pay directly to such State fee amounts in 
            accordance with the fee system established under 
            subparagraph (B)(iv) of this paragraph, subject to 
            allocation of fee revenues among all States in which the 
            carrier operates and which participate in the single State 
            registration system; and
                (iv) to file the name of a local agent for service of 
            process.

            (B) Receipts; fee system.--The standards of the Secretary--
                (i) shall require that the registration State issue a 
            receipt, in a form prescribed under the standards, 
            reflecting that the carrier has filed proof of insurance as 
            provided under subparagraph (A)(ii) of this paragraph and 
            has paid fee amounts in accordance with the fee system 
            established under clause (iv) of this subparagraph;
                (ii) shall require that copies of the receipt issued 
            under clause (i) of this subparagraph be kept in each of the 
            carrier's commercial motor vehicles;
                (iii) shall not require decals, stamps, cab cards, or 
            any other means of registering or identifying specific 
            vehicles operated by the carrier;
                (iv) shall establish a fee system for the filing of 
            proof of insurance as provided under subparagraph (A)(ii) of 
            this paragraph that--
                    (I) is based on the number of commercial motor 
                vehicles the carrier operates in a State and on the 
                number of States in which the carrier operates;
                    (II) minimizes the costs of complying with the 
                registration system; and
                    (III) results in a fee for each participating State 
                that is equal to the fee, not to exceed $10 per vehicle, 
                that such State collected or charged as of November 15, 
                1991; and

                (v) shall not authorize the charging or collection of 
            any fee for filing and maintaining evidence of Federal 
            registration under subparagraph (A)(i) of this paragraph.

            (C) Prohibited fees.--The charging or collection of any fee 
        under this section that is not in accordance with the fee system 
        established under subparagraph (B)(iv) of this paragraph shall 
        be deemed to be a burden on interstate commerce.
            (D) Limitation on participation by states.--Only a State 
        which, as of January 1, 1991, charged or collected a fee for a 
        vehicle identification stamp or number under part 1023 of title 
        49, Code of Federal Regulations, shall be eligible to 
        participate as a registration State under this subsection or to 
        receive any fee revenue under this subsection.

(Added Pub. L. 104-88, title I, Sec. 103, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 902.)


                            Prior Provisions

    Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in 
section 11506 of this title prior to the general amendment of this 
subtitle by Pub. L. 104-88, Sec. 102(a).

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 13908 of this title.
