Hunter's permit, certain commercial motor vehicles, purpose, restrictions

301.266. Hunter's permit, certain commercial motor vehicles, purpose, restrictions — application, fee — director may promulgate rules. — 1. The owner of any motor vehicle which was duly and legally proportionally registered in Missouri with the highway reciprocity commission, but which cannot legally be operated on Missouri highways because of lease cancellation, may, in lieu of the payment of other registration fee for such vehicle and upon proof of ownership, obtain a hunter's permit from the department of revenue. Such permit shall authorize the operation of the vehicle on the highways of this state and the highways of all member jurisdictions of the international registration plan for a period not to exceed thirty days. Any vehicle operated under a hunter's permit issued in accordance with this section shall only be operated while empty and shall only be operated for the purpose of securing a new lease agreement under which proper registration may be obtained. No vehicle may be operated on the highways of this state when the registration of such vehicle has been cancelled, unless the vehicle owner shall have been issued a hunter's permit for such vehicle. Operation of any vehicle without proper registration or a hunter's permit shall constitute a class A misdemeanor. No owner operating such a vehicle without proper registration or a hunter's permit shall be allowed to operate the vehicle until he has purchased a hunter's permit or otherwise obtained proper registration.

2. Application for a hunter's permit shall be made upon forms prescribed by the director. Application shall be made to the highway reciprocity commission. The applicant shall provide proof acceptable to the commission, that he has surrendered all plates, cab cards and other evidence of previous registration to the previous registrant before a permit under this section may be issued. The fee for a hunter's permit shall be twenty-five dollars and shall be collected by the department of revenue and deposited with the state treasurer to the credit of the state highway department fund. When such fee has been paid, no other registration fee shall be required for any trailer or semitrailer which is being towed by such vehicle.

3. Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, a vehicle operated on a hunter's permit shall not be subject to the laws of this state relating to motor vehicle titles during the time of operation on such permit.

4. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to change the vehicle owner's duty to timely file any necessary fuel reports and to pay any fuel taxes owed to the state of Missouri.

5. The director of revenue may prescribe rules and regulations for the effective administration of this section.