(A) There is hereby imposed upon each resident of the county, who is the owner of a horse-drawn trailer, which horse-drawn trailer is used upon the highways or roads of the county, an annual license fee in the sum of $50. The annual license fee of $50 shall apply to each horse-drawn trailer for the owner thereof. By way of example, a county resident who is the owner of four horse-drawn trailers used upon the highways or roads of the county shall be charged an annual license fee of $50 for each trailer, for a total of $200 for the four horse-drawn trailers.
(B) Each county resident who owns a horse-drawn trailer used upon the highways or roads of the county shall pay the license fee attributable to a horse-drawn trailer 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, each owner of a horse-drawn trailer shall receive a numbered metallic tag bearing the legend “Elkhart County, Indiana,” the year of issuance and a consecutive number. With respect to subsequent renewal years for a horse-drawn trailer previously licensed under this chapter, the owner of a horse-drawn trailer 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 trailer and keep and preserve the metallic tag on the horse-drawn trailer so long as the metallic tag is effective and has not expired. With respect to subsequent renewal years for a horse-drawn trailer 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 period 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 trailer 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 section may be attached to any horse-drawn trailer 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 trailer. The registration receipt shall be carried in or on the horse-drawn trailer 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)