Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 4.

Under present law, motor vehicle registration plates issued under the dealer category may be issued to manufacturers, dealers, and transporters of motor vehicles or boats. Present law authorizes the commissioner of revenue to design, issue and regulate the use of temporary plates for use in cases where dealer plates cannot be used. This bill requires, beginning January 1, 2023, the commissioner to cause to be issued new temporary plates of a distinctive design directed by the commissioner. The redesign of any temporary plates will be effectuated upon the existing inventory of the temporary plates issued being utilized by the department. Under this bill, a person who counterfeits, copies, duplicates, manufactures, or assists in the counterfeiting, copying, duplicating, or manufacturing of a temporary plate with the intent to defraud commits a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of $1,000 and imprisonment for not less than 30 days. ON MARCH 14, 2022, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND RE-REFERRED HOUSE BILL 2754, AS AMENDED, TO COMMITTEE. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to make it a Class E felony to: (1) Counterfeit, copy, duplicate, manufacture, or assist in the counterfeiting, copying, duplicating, or manufacturing of a temporary plate with the intent to defraud; (2) Use a temporary plate that contains the language "tag applied for"; or (3) Use a temporary plate with a color scheme other than black and white. ON MARCH 21, 2022, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2790, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to make it a Class E felony to: (1) Counterfeit, copy, duplicate, manufacture, or assist in the counterfeiting, copying, duplicating, or manufacturing of a temporary plate with the intent to defraud; or (2) Sell a counterfeit or forged temporary plate or a plate that includes the language “tag applied for."