(A) There is hereby imposed upon each resident of the county who is the owner of a horse-drawn vehicle, which horse-drawn vehicle is used upon the highways or roads of the county, an annual license fee in the sum of $100. The annual license fee of $100 shall apply to each horse-drawn vehicle for the owner thereof. By way of example, a county resident who is the owner of four horse-drawn vehicles used upon the highways or roads of the county shall be charged an annual license fee in the sum of $100 for each vehicle, for a total of $400 for the four horse-drawn vehicles.
(B) Each county resident who owns a horse-drawn vehicle used upon the highways or roads of the county shall pay the license fee attributable to the horse-drawn vehicle or vehicles as set forth by this chapter to the County Treasurer. The required license fee or fees required under this chapter shall be paid after January 1 and before May 15 of each year. Upon payment of the license fee, the owner of a horse-drawn vehicle shall receive a numbered metallic tag bearing the legend “Elkhart County, Indiana,” the year of issue and a consecutive number. With respect to subsequent renewal years for a horse-drawn vehicle previously licensed under this chapter, the owner of a horse-drawn vehicle may receive a self-adhesive label tag bearing the year of issue. The form of the plate shall be with a color scheme providing for a white or light background and black or dark numerals and legends. The owner shall thereafter affix the numbered metallic tag to the horse-drawn vehicle and keep and reserve the metallic tag on the vehicle so long as the metallic tag is effective and has not expired. With respect to subsequent renewal years for a horse-drawn vehicle previously licensed under this chapter for which a self-adhesive label tag was received, the owner shall thereafter affix the self-adhesive label tag to the existing numbered metallic tag.
(C) Each numbered metallic tag shall be valid from January 1 to May 15 of the following year for a maximum of 16.5 months only, and all numbered metallic tags shall expire at midnight on May 15 of the year following the date stamped on the numbered metallic tag; provided, however, the expiration date shall be extended an additional year for a horse-drawn vehicle properly licensed under this chapter for which a self-adhesive label tag was received and which is affixed to the metallic tag. Only one metallic tag provided by this chapter may be attached to any horse-drawn vehicle at any time.
(D) At time of collection of the annual license fee, and the issuance of the number of metallic tags or self-adhesive label tags for subsequent renewal years aforedescribed, a registration receipt shall be issued for each numbered metallic tag or self-adhesive label tag so purchased. The registration receipt shall be countersigned by the owner of the horse-drawn vehicle. The registration receipt shall be carried in or on the horse-drawn vehicle at all times of operation upon the highways or roads of the county.
(Prior Code, § 8-17-15-1) (Res. passed 10-10-1955, 27 COM REC 361; Ord. 83-681, passed 12-27-1983, 83 COM REC 681–685; Ord. 86-935, passed 11-17-1986, 86 COM REC 934–936; Ord. 89-350, passed 4-3-1989, 89 COM REC 349–351; Ord. 94-118, passed 2-14-1994, 94 COM REC 117–122; Ord. 95-107, passed 2-6-1995, 95 COM REC 106A–114; Ord. 03-409, passed 9-15-2003, 2003 COM REC 408–414; Ord. 05-765, passed 12-19-2005, 2005 COM REC 764A–771; Ord. 09-37, passed 2-2-2009; Ord. 2010-420, passed 12-20-2010; Ord. CO-2021-38, passed 12-6-2021)