Bill > HB235

This bill provides a framework for voluntary cancellation and suspension of vehicle registration in Montana, giving vehicle owners more flexibility in managing their vehicle registrations. Under the proposed law, vehicle owners can voluntarily cancel or suspend their vehicle registration through a process to be defined by the department's rulemaking, with the requirement that if a vehicle is registered to multiple adults, all must consent to the cancellation or suspension. Once a registration is canceled or suspended, the vehicle may not be driven on public roads. The bill also establishes important legal provisions regarding liability, specifying that the user of a vehicle with a canceled or suspended registration is responsible for all tolls, fines, and damages arising from its operation. Furthermore, the vehicle's owner is granted the right to implead (legally bring in) the driver in any lawsuit related to the vehicle's operation. The bill amends existing motor vehicle law to give the state's department of motor vehicles explicit rulemaking authority to create procedures for voluntary registration cancellation and suspension, ensuring a clear, standardized process for vehicle owners who wish to temporarily or permanently remove their vehicle from active registration.