HB 913 -- Certificate of Ownership on Motor Vehicles

Sponsor:  Jones (117)

This bill prohibits an entity that finances or establishes a line
of credit enabling motor vehicle dealers to purchase motor
vehicles from holding or precluding the dealer from holding any
certificate of ownership as part of the financing or line of
credit.  Any entity convicted of doing so will be guilty of a
class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a class D felony for
a subsequent offense.

The bill also changes the laws regarding the issuance of lien
titles for motor vehicles, trailers, outboard motors, aircrafts,
and vessels.  The bill:

(1)  Changes from three months to 45 days from the completion of
the requested labor when a lienholder may apply to the Director
of the Department of Revenue for a certificate of ownership or
title when the charges for the labor have not been paid;

(2)  Specifies that if the charges are for storage and/or for
towing an item and the item has not been redeemed within 45 days
after the charges for storage have commenced, the lienholder must
notify the owner and any lienholder of record, by certified mail,
that an application for a lien title will be made unless the
owner or lienholder makes satisfactory arrangements within 30
days.  Currently, the item must not have been redeemed within
three months after the charges for storage commenced and the
lienholder must make satisfactory arrangements within 45 days;

(3)  Allows a lienholder to apply for a lien title 30 days after
the notice by certified mail has been returned marked "not
forwardable" or "addressee unknown" instead of the current 45
days;

(4)  Allows a lienholder to apply for a lien title after notice
by certified mail has been sent and not returned accompanied with
an affidavit from the lienholder that written notice was provided
to all owners and lienholders and a copy of the written notice
given by certified mail evidencing the notice was sent; and

(5)  Requires the department director to issue a lien title upon
satisfaction that the application is genuine, proof of lienholder
notification is provided, and no lienholder or owner has redeemed
the item or demanded a hearing.  Currently, the department
director must notify the owner and lienholder upon receipt of the
application.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:25 am