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Committee advances bill allowing electronic vehicle registrations, with amendment letting officers request paper copies
Summary
The committee approved a bill to let vehicle owners present registration electronically; an amendment added language allowing law enforcement to require a paper copy if officers cannot verify the electronic document's authenticity.
The Senate Transportation and Safety Committee voted to advance legislation permitting vehicle owners to keep and present registration documents on electronic devices.
Senator Taylor, the bill sponsor, said the bill was prompted by constituents who worry that leaving a paper registration in a car reveals their home address and increases theft risk. “What this bill does… is it allows the car owner to keep their auto registration on an electronic device so that if law enforcement pulls them over, they have a copy of it on their cell phone or their iPad,” Taylor said.
The committee considered amendment 3706, which was drafted with input from the Department of Safety and the Department of Transportation. The amendment permits an officer to require a paper copy if the officer has reason to doubt the electronic registration’s authenticity; Taylor explained officers can verify electronic registration through radio checks and other verification methods.
Committee members asked about overlap with earlier bills that allowed insurance documents to be stored electronically; Taylor confirmed the committee previously permitted electronic presentation of insurance and that this bill extends similar treatment to registrations.
After discussion, the committee adopted the amendment and then took a roll call vote. The clerk recorded a unanimous 9‑0 vote in favor; the measure was reported to the calendar.
Key details: sponsor — Senator Taylor; amendment adopted — 3706 (authorizes officer to require paper if authenticity cannot be verified); who may verify — law enforcement via radio/other checks per Department of Safety procedures.
Votes at a glance: Bill (identified in committee as Senate bill 2 17 / later referenced as Senate bill 2 28 in the hearing transcript) — Committee vote: 9 ayes, 0 nays; outcome: passed and reported to calendar.
