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Registration criteria - 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1304

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     § 1304.  Registration criteria.
        (a)  General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this
     section, vehicles shall be registered for a flat fee.
        (b)  Classification of vehicles.--The department may identify
     vehicles by type as to weight, design, loading, use, ownership
     or other significant characteristics for purposes of
     registration.
        (c)  Trucks, truck tractors and trailers.--The department
     shall register trucks, truck tractors and trailers at the gross
     weight requested by the applicant, provided that the weight is
     not greater than allowed in subsection (d) or less than allowed
     in subsection (e).
        (d)  Maximum registered gross weight.--No truck, truck
     tractor or trailer shall be registered at a gross weight in
     excess of the lowest of:
            (1)  the limiting weights established on the basis of
        axle load, tire load, horsepower or gross weight by type of
        vehicles;
            (2)  the gross vehicle weight rating assigned by the
        manufacturer; or
            (3)  a combination weight greater than the gross
        combination weight rating.
     In the case of a vehicle in which no gross vehicle weight rating
     or gross combination weight rating is assigned by the
     manufacturer or where the vehicle has been altered subsequent to
     manufacture to change its weight bearing capacity, an equivalent
     rating shall be determined by the department on the basis of the
     vehicle's horsepower, braking ability, axle limitations and such
     other factors related to safe operation as may be established by
     regulations of the department.
        (e)  Minimum registered gross weight.--No truck, truck
     tractor or trailer shall be registered at less than the total of
     the weight of the unladen vehicle, the maximum weight of the
     proposed load, the equivalent weight of the fuel capacity, 150
     pounds times the seating capacity, and the weight of any
     permanently or temporarily attached appurtenances.
        (f)  Registered gross weight of trucks and truck tractors.--
     Every truck shall have its own registered gross weight and may
     also be registered at a registered gross weight for a
     combination. Every truck tractor shall be registered at a
     registered gross weight for a combination.
        (g)  Buses other than school buses.--The department shall
     register buses, other than school buses, on the basis of
     passenger seating capacity.

Last modified: November 27, 2007