Reciprocity agreements, negotiation, provisions, limits

301.277. Reciprocity agreements, negotiation, provisions, limits — highway reciprocity fund established — deposit of fees. — 1. The commission may negotiate and enter into reciprocal agreements or arrangements with other states, the District of Columbia, territories and possessions of the United States, and foreign countries as follows:

(1) To exempt, either wholly or partially, under such terms, conditions and restrictions as it deems proper, motor vehicles and trailers licensed in other states, the District of Columbia, territories and possessions of the United States, and foreign countries or political subdivisions thereof wherein the owner is a resident, from any or all registration fees, as provided by law, but any exemption afforded hereunder shall be extended to owners whose vehicles are duly licensed in the state of their residence only to the extent that substantially equivalent exemptions are extended by that state to vehicles which are duly licensed in this state.

(2) If any state permits or requires the licensing of fleets of motor vehicles and trailers or combinations thereof operated in interstate or combined interstate and intrastate commerce and payment of license taxes and other fixed fees thereon on an apportionment basis commensurate with and determined by the miles traveled on and the use made of said state's highways or any other equitable basis of apportionment, and exempts equipment registered in other states under such apportionment basis from its own registration and other fixed fees, then said Missouri highway reciprocity commission may by agreement adopt such exemptions with respect to motor vehicles and trailers, which agreement may, under such terms, conditions and restrictions as the commission deems proper, provide that owners and operators of motor vehicles and trailers operated in interstate or combined interstate and intrastate commerce in Missouri shall be required to pay registration and other fees on an apportionment basis commensurate with and determined by the miles traveled on and the use made of Missouri highways, or any other equitable basis of apportionment, and shall provide a fair and equitable formula for apportionment whereby there shall be registered in Missouri and the Missouri registration fees paid and applied to a proper proportion of said motor vehicles and trailers operated in the fleet.

(3) Such agreements may authorize the granting of reciprocal privileges to an owner for vehicles which are not licensed in the state, District of Columbia, territory or possession of the United States, foreign country, or other place of such owner's residence when such owner maintains a bona fide place of business in a state, District of Columbia, territory or possession of the United States, foreign country or other place other than his residence and such vehicle is in fact based at such a place of business and is principally operated into and out of such a place of business as a terminal of its operation and such vehicle is duly licensed in the state, District of Columbia, territory or possession of the United States, foreign country, or other place where such place of business is located. Before reciprocal privileges are granted to an owner under such agreement authorized by this subsection, the commission may, under such conditions and terms as it deems advisable, require such owner to apply for a basing point permit which, among other things, shall name the state, District of Columbia, territory or possession of the United States, foreign country, or other place in which such vehicle is to be licensed.

2. Any agreement entered into by the commission shall require that the operator of any vehicle for which reciprocal privileges are claimed must have in his possession a valid and legal registration certificate or other evidence of proper registration issued for such vehicle by the state or other jurisdiction in which it is registered.

3. Notwithstanding section 301.090, fees collected by the commission which are subject to prorating under this section shall be immediately transmitted to the treasurer of the state for deposit to the credit of the state highway department fund except that part of such fees to be paid to other states under a reciprocal agreement shall be placed in a special fund designated a "reciprocity fund." The commission shall not less frequently* than once each month direct the payment of, and the treasurer shall pay, the reciprocal fees to the appropriate state or states. All income derived from the investment of the "reciprocity fund" by the treasurer shall be credited to the highway department fund.

4. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no reciprocity shall be granted under any statute or agreement for the operation of any commercial motor vehicle within the state of Missouri solely in intrastate commerce, but all vehicles so engaged must be duly registered and licensed in the state of Missouri.