(a) Purpose and scope. Transportation Code, Chapter
502, Subchapters C and I, charge the department with the responsibility
of issuing special registration permits which shall be recognized
as legal registration for the movement of motor vehicles not authorized
to travel on Texas public highways for lack of registration or for
lack of reciprocity with the state or country in which the vehicles
are registered. For the department to efficiently and effectively
perform these duties, this section prescribes the policies and procedures
for the application and the issuance of temporary registration permits.
(b) Permit categories. The department will issue the
following categories of special registration permits.
  (1) Additional weight permits. The owner of a truck,
truck tractor, trailer, or semitrailer may purchase temporary additional
weight permits for the purpose of transporting the owner's own seasonal
agricultural products to market or other points for sale or processing
in accordance with Transportation Code, §502.434. In addition,
such vehicles may be used for the transportation without charge of
seasonal laborers from their place of residence, and materials, tools,
equipment, and supplies from the place of purchase or storage, to
a farm or ranch exclusively for use on such farm or ranch.
    (A) Additional weight permits are valid for a limited
period of less than one year.
    (B) An additional weight permit will not be issued
for a period of less than one month or extended beyond the expiration
of a license plate issued under Transportation Code, Chapter 502.
    (C) The statutory fee for an additional weight permit
is based on a percentage of the difference between the owner's annual
registration fee and the annual fee for the desired gross vehicle
weight computed as follows:
      (i) one-month (or 30 consecutive days)--10 percent;
      (ii) one-quarter (three consecutive months)--30 percent;
      (iii) two-quarters (six consecutive months)--60 percent;
or
      (iv) three-quarters (nine consecutive months)--90 percent.

    (D) Additional weight permits are issued for calendar
quarters with the first quarter to begin on April 1st of each year.
    (E) A permit will not be issued unless the registration
fee for hauling the additional weight has been paid prior to the actual
hauling.
    (F) An applicant must provide proof of the applicant's
Texas Agriculture or Timber Exemption Registration Number issued by
the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Proof of the registration
number must be:
      (i) legible;
      (ii) current;
      (iii) in the name of the person or dba in which the
vehicle is or will be registered; and
      (iv) verifiable through the online system established
by the Comptroller.
  (2) Annual permits.
    (A) Transportation Code, §502.093 authorizes the
department to issue annual permits to provide for the movement of
foreign commercial vehicles that are not authorized to travel on Texas
highways for lack of registration or for lack of reciprocity with
the state or country in which the vehicles are registered. The department
will issue annual permits:
      (i) for a 12-month period designated by the department
which begins on the first day of a calendar month and expires on the
last day of the last calendar month in that annual registration period;
and
      (ii) to each vehicle or combination of vehicles for
the registration fee prescribed by weight classification in Transportation
Code, §502.253 and §502.255.
    (B) The department will not issue annual permits for
the importation of citrus fruit into Texas from a foreign country
except for foreign export or processing for foreign export.
    (C) The following exemptions apply to vehicles displaying
annual permits.
      (i) Currently registered foreign semitrailers having
a gross weight in excess of 6,000 pounds used or to be used in combination
with commercial motor vehicles or truck tractors having a gross vehicle
weight in excess of 10,000 pounds are exempted from the requirements
to pay the token fee and display the associated distinguishing license
plate provided for in Transportation Code, §502.255. An annual
permit is required for the power unit only. For vehicles registered
in combination, the combined gross weight may not be less than 18,000
pounds.
      (ii) Vehicles registered with annual permits are not
subject to the optional county registration fee under Transportation
Code, §502.401; the optional county fee for transportation projects
under Transportation Code, §502.402; or the optional registration
fee for child safety under Transportation Code, §502.403.
  (3) 72-hour permits and 144-hour permits.
    (A) In accordance with Transportation Code, §502.094,
the department will issue a permit valid for 72 hours or 144 hours
for the movement of commercial motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers,
and motor buses owned by residents of the United States, Mexico, or
Canada.
    (B) A 72-hour permit or a 144-hour permit is valid
for the period of time stated on the permit beginning with the effective
day and time as shown on the permit registration receipt.
    (C) Vehicles displaying 72-hour permits or 144-hour
permits are subject to vehicle safety inspection in accordance with
Transportation Code, §548.051, except for:
      (i) vehicles currently registered in another state
of the United States, Mexico, or Canada; and
      (ii) mobile drilling and servicing equipment used in
the production of gas, crude petroleum, or oil, including, but not
limited to, mobile cranes and hoisting equipment, mobile lift equipment,
forklifts, and tugs.
    (D) The department will not issue a 72-hour permit
or a 144-hour permit to a commercial motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer,
or motor bus apprehended for violation of Texas registration laws.
Apprehended vehicles must be registered under Transportation Code,
Chapter 502.
  (4) Temporary agricultural permits.
    (A) Transportation Code, §502.092 authorizes the
department to issue a 30-day temporary nonresident registration permit
to a nonresident for any truck, truck tractor, trailer, or semitrailer
to be used in the movement of all agriculture products produced in
Texas:
      (i) from the place of production to market, storage,
or railhead not more than 75 miles from the place of production; or
      (ii) to be used in the movement of machinery used to
harvest Texas-produced agricultural products.
    (B) The department will issue a 30-day temporary nonresident
registration permit to a nonresident for any truck, truck tractor,
trailer, or semitrailer used to move or harvest farm products, produced
outside of Texas, but:
      (i) marketed or processed in Texas; or
      (ii) moved to points in Texas for shipment from the
point of entry into Texas to market, storage, processing plant, railhead
or seaport not more than 80 miles from such point of entry into Texas.
    (C) The statutory fee for temporary agricultural permits
is one-twelfth of the annual Texas registration fee prescribed for
the vehicle for which the permit is issued.
    (D) The department will issue a temporary agricultural
permit only when the vehicle is legally registered in the nonresident's
home state or country for the current registration year.
    (E) The number of temporary agricultural permits is
limited to three permits per nonresident owner during any one vehicle
registration year.
    (F) Temporary agricultural permits may not be issued
to farm licensed trailers or semi-trailers.
  (5) One-trip permits. Transportation Code, §502.095
authorizes the department to temporarily register any unladen vehicle
upon application to provide for the movement of the vehicle for one
trip, when the vehicle is subject to Texas registration and not authorized
to travel on the public roadways for lack of registration or lack
of registration reciprocity.
    (A) Upon receipt of the $5 fee, registration will be
valid for one trip only between the points of origin and destination
and intermediate points as may be set forth in the application and
registration receipt.
    (B) The department will issue a one-trip permit to
a bus which is not covered by a reciprocity agreement with the state
or country in which it is registered to allow for the transit of the
vehicle only. The vehicle should not be used for the transportation
of any passenger or property, for compensation or otherwise, unless
such bus is operating under charter from another state or country.
    (C) A one-trip permit is valid for a period up to 15
days from the effective date of registration.
    (D) A one-trip permit may not be issued for a trip
which both originates and terminates outside Texas.
    (E) A laden motor vehicle or a laden commercial vehicle
cannot display a one-trip permit. If the vehicle is unregistered,
it must operate with a 72-hour or 144-hour permit.
  (6) 30-day temporary registration permits. Transportation
Code, §502.095 authorizes the department to issue a temporary
registration permit valid for 30 days for a $25 fee. A vehicle operated
on a 30-day temporary permit is not restricted to a specific route.
The permit is available for:
    (A) passenger vehicles;
    (B) motorcycles;
    (C) private buses;
    (D) trailers and semitrailers with a gross weight not
exceeding 10,000 pounds;
    (E) light commercial vehicles not exceeding a gross
weight of 10,000 pounds; and
    (F) a commercial vehicle exceeding 10,000 pounds, provided
the vehicle is operated unladen.
(c) Application process.
  (1) Procedure. An owner who wishes to apply for a temporary
registration permit for a vehicle which is otherwise required to be
registered in accordance with this subchapter, must do so on a form
prescribed by the department.
  (2) Form requirements. The application form will at
a minimum require:
    (A) the signature of the owner;
    (B) the name and complete address of the applicant;
and
    (C) the vehicle description.
  (3) Fees and documentation. The application must be
accompanied by:
    (A) statutorily prescribed fees;
    (B) evidence of financial responsibility:
      (i) as required by Transportation Code, Chapter 502,
Subchapter B, provided that all policies written for the operation
of motor vehicles must be issued by an insurance company or surety
company authorized to write motor vehicle liability insurance in Texas;
or
      (ii) if the applicant is a motor carrier as defined
by §218.2 of this title (relating to Definitions), indicating
that the vehicle is registered in compliance with Chapter 218, Subchapter
B of this title (relating to Motor Carrier Registration); and
    (C) any other documents or fees required by law.
  (4) Place of application.
    (A) All applications for annual permits must be submitted
directly to the department for processing and issuance.
    (B) Additional weight permits and temporary agricultural
permits may be obtained by making application with the department
through the county tax assessor-collectors' offices.
    (C) 72-hour and 144-hour permits, one-trip permits,
and 30-day temporary registration permits may be obtained by making
application either with the department or the county tax assessor-collectors'
offices.
(d) Display of registration insignia. The department
will issue a specially designed tag or windshield validation sticker,
upon receipt of a complete application for a permit.
  (1) Tags shall be displayed in a manner that is clearly
visible and legible when viewed from outside of the vehicle. The tag
shall be attached to or displayed in the vehicle to allow ready inspection.

  (2) Windshield validation stickers shall be displayed
on the inside of the front windshield in the lower left corner.
  (3) A receipt will be issued for each registration
insignia as evidence of registration to be carried in the vehicle
during the time the permit is valid. If the receipt is lost or destroyed,
the owner must obtain a duplicate from the department or from the
county office who issued the original receipt. The fee for the duplicate
receipt is the same as the fee required by Transportation Code, §502.058.

(e) Transfer of temporary registration permits.
  (1) Temporary registration permits are non-transferable
between vehicles and/or owners.
  (2) If the owner of a vehicle displaying a temporary
registration permit disposes of the vehicle during the time the permit
is valid, the permit must be returned to the county tax assessor-collector
office or department immediately.
(f) Replacement permits. Vehicle owners displaying
annual permits may obtain replacement permits if an annual permit
is lost, stolen, or mutilated.
  (1) The fee for a replacement annual permit is the
same as for a replacement number plate, symbol, tab, or other device
as provided by Transportation Code, §502.060.
Cont'd...