DATABASE OF DEALER-ISSUED LICENSE PLATES.

(a) The department shall develop, manage, and maintain a secure, real-time database of information on buyers to whom dealers issue a license plate or set of license plates under Section 503.063 or 503.065 that may be used by a law enforcement agency in the same manner that the agency uses vehicle registration information.

(b) The database must allow law enforcement agencies to use the information required to be included on a license plate to obtain information about the person to whom the license plate was issued.

(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), before a license plate or set of license plates issued under Section 503.063 or 503.065 may be displayed on a vehicle, a dealer must, as prescribed by the department:

(1) enter into the database through the Internet information about the buyer of the vehicle for which the license plate or set of license plates was issued; and

(2) complete and sign a form prescribed by the department stating that the dealer entered the buyer's information into the database as required by Subdivision (1).

(c-1) Except as provided by Section 503.0633(f), the department may not deny access to the database to any dealer who holds a general distinguishing number issued under this chapter or who is licensed under Chapter 2301, Occupations Code.

(d) A dealer shall obtain 24-hour Internet access at its place of business, but if the dealer is unable to access the Internet at the time of the sale of a vehicle, the dealer shall complete and sign a form, as prescribed by the department, that states the dealer has Internet access, but was unable to access the Internet at the time of sale to enter the buyer's information into the database as required by Subsection (c). Not later than the next business day after the time of sale, the dealer shall submit the information required under Subsection (c).

(d-1) The forms prescribed by the department under Subsections (c) and (d) must contain a notice to the buyer describing the procedure by which the vehicle's registration insignia will be provided to the buyer.

(d-2) Until a vehicle displaying a license plate or set of license plates issued under Section 503.063 is registered to the buyer, the buyer shall keep in the vehicle the original copy of the form provided by the dealer as required by, as applicable, Subsection (c) or (d).

(e) The department shall adopt rules and prescribe procedures as necessary to implement this section.

(f) The dealer may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed $20 for costs associated with complying with this section.