(a) Within 30 days of commencing residence in the city, a person shall obtain a wheel tax license for any vehicle required to be licensed under this chapter. Within 30 days of purchasing or otherwise acquiring ownership of a vehicle, a person shall obtain a wheel tax license for such vehicle if the vehicle is required to be licensed under this chapter. In all other cases, the required purchase date for any wheel tax license required under this chapter shall be as set forth in rules and regulations duly promulgated by the city clerk.
(b) Any person alleged to have violated either the license requirement set forth in Section 3-56-020 or the license display requirement set forth in Section 9-64-125 may raise as an affirmative defense that (1) such person resided in the city for less than 30 days at the time he or she was cited for violation, or (2) the cited vehicle was purchased or ownership of the vehicle was otherwise acquired less than 30 days prior to the issuance of the violation. If the alleged violator can demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, that he or she resided in the city for less than 30 days or owned the vehicle for less than 30 days at the time the citation was issued, and that the appropriate fee was paid in accordance with Chapter 3-56 no later than 30 days following the commencement of city residence or purchase of the vehicle no liability shall exist. A showing of recent residency may be made by a lease, utility billing records or other appropriate documents. A showing of recent vehicle purchase or acquisition may be made by applicable vehicle registration or title documents issued by the Secretary of State or other appropriate documents. Any person who knowingly provides inaccurate information in connection with this subsection shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500.00 nor more than $1,000.00.
(Added Coun. J. 7-10-96, p. 24532; Amend Coun. J. 12-8-04, p. 38063, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-07, p. 16793, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-13, p. 51189, § 4)