301.380. Special numbers issued, when--fee--effect--trailers, special numbers issued, when--examination required--fee.
Special numbers issued, when--fee--effect--trailers, special numbersissued, when--examination required--fee.
301.380. 1. Whenever the original, manufacturer's, or otherdistinguishing number on any motor vehicle, trailer or motor vehicle tirehas been destroyed, removed, covered, altered, defaced or is otherwisenonexistent, the director of revenue, upon application, payment of a fee ofseven dollars and fifty cents, and satisfactory proof of ownership by theowner, shall issue a certificate authorizing the owner to place a specialnumber designated by the director of revenue upon the vehicle, trailer ortire.
2. In order to properly calculate the sales tax due, in the case of atrailer which is alleged to have been made by someone who is not amanufacturer using readily distinguishable manufacturers' identifyingnumbers or a certificate of origin, the person seeking the special numberauthorized by the provisions of this section shall secure a writtenstatement from a motor vehicle inspection station that the trailer has beenexamined and that it is not one made by a regular manufacturer. Thesuperintendent of the state highway patrol shall provide such forms forinspection stations, and the person, firm, or corporation seeking theexamination shall pay a regular inspection fee for the examination. Theproceeds of the fee shall be distributed in the same manner as regularinspection fees are distributed. This subsection shall not apply totrailers inspected under section 301.191.
3. The director of revenue shall designate the special numbersconsecutively beginning with the number one preceded by the letters "DR"and followed by the letters "Mo" for each make of motor vehicle, trailer ormotor vehicle tire, or if the make be unknown, the number shall also bepreceded by the letter "X".
4. When such number has been placed upon the motor vehicle or motoror engine thereof, or trailer or motor vehicle tire, it shall be the lawfulnumber of the same for the purpose of identification, registration, and allother purposes of this chapter, and the owner may sell and transfer suchproperty under the special number. No person shall destroy, remove, cover,alter or deface any such special number.
(RSMo 1939 §§ 8396, 8397, A.L. 1945 p. 1194, A. 1949 S.B. 1110, A.L. 1984 H.B. 1045, A.L. 1998 H.B. 1528)Prior revision: 1929 § 7781