Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §351, as amended by PL 1995, c. 584, Pt. B, §4, is further amended to read:

§351. Registration required

The owner of a vehicle that is operated or remains on a public way is responsible for registering the vehicle.

1. Failure to register. A person commits a Class E crime if that person vehicle owner who fails to register a vehicle that is operated or remains on a public way as provided by this Title. commits:

A.__A civil violation for which a forfeiture of not more than $50 may be adjudged if the vehicle was registered and the registration has been expired for more than 30 days but less than 120 days; or

B.__A Class E crime if the vehicle was not registered or the registration has been expired for 120 days or more.

1-A. Residents required to register. An owner of a vehicle who becomes a resident of this State shall register that vehicle in this State within 30 days of establishing residency. A person An owner who operates or allows a vehicle that is not registered in accordance with this subsection to remain on a public way commits a Class E crime pursuant to violates subsection 1.

2. Operating a vehicle with an expired registration. The owner or operator of a vehicle stopped by a law enforcement officer and having a registration that had has expired within the last 30 days must be issued a warning, rather than a summons, in a form designated by the Chief of the State Police. This warning must state that:

A. Within 2 business days, the owner or operator must register the vehicle;

B. The renewed registration expires on the same month as the previous registration; and

C. The registration fee is the same as for a full year year's registration.

3. Temporary permit to tow unregistered vehicle. A law enforcement officer or an employee of the bureau designated by the Secretary of State may issue a permit in writing to allow: